Falcom have massively shot themselves in the foot over the years by limiting the release of this series and having it be quite confusing for newcomers. Hopefully this is the start of fixing that.
These improved updates probably wouldn't exist without the delay in localization. Since we live in 2022 rather than 2010 we actually benefit from this.
Nisa took half the blame, getting the script so damn late. Fyi CLE (Clouded Leopard Entertainment) licensed the series for Asia releases (Chinese / Korean) and they released Falcom's latest game - Kuro no Kiseki 2 Crimson Sin just one month AFTER japanese release, and they even have promotion materials for that game IN ENGLISH too, it's honestly very unfortunate for western Kiseki fans
Very good game and well worth playing for the Incredible Trails to Azure coming next year. Enjoy folks! Big thanks to Geofront for making this happen! :) Crossbell is finally localised for the west!
Doubt it since it's been available for years with good translation and features. It doesn't really need some remaster or rerelease. Sure it'd be nice to have on more platforms, but there's other games that need to even be released at all. Hajimari for instance is long overdue, but thankfully we're getting it next year
As much as I would like to have the remaster features, xseed hasn’t touched the games in a long time and every update afaik is meant to counter mods more than actually improve anything in the game. If NiS America got their hands on the rest of the games, then maybe we’d get rereleases of sky 1/2/3 and cs1&2, but I’m not betting on it.
@@alphblishtarl9374 wait. I'm kinda new on the series, I've played about halfway through CS1 before deciding to play from the very first game instead. Does the community have a problem with CS1 and 2? And yes, I also don't think that the Sky series needs a remaster right now. It will be welcome but shouldn't really be a priority, until the localization catches up with all the games I guess.
I’d like to respectfully disagree with you on the SSS bonding feeling inorganic. Their bond naturally develops throughout their missions, bonding doesn’t necessarily only happen when you’re chilling out and are on vacation with your buds. There’s that first mission to Armorica Village where they had a picnic, that race between them and local gangs was also a big bonding moment between the two guys and of course the introduction of an important character halfway though the game pretty much cements them as a family unit towards the end of the game
It's a odd critique to me as well, tho as long as he don't think old class vii is better as a family unit with what we see, as personally I think usually smaller casts help them interact more in meaningful ways including this arc, I'll find it a Interesting point lol
I share your opinion, Elie's rofftop and IBC conversation, Randy's bonding after race in the sunset, Renne coming from closet, is in my humble opinions is the best Trails story beat ever. it feels natural and profound, I like it even more than what I see from Class VII.
Those bonding moments you say you wish there were more of are there in the game. You just have to go looking for them. If you did side quests and talked to people throughout the city between the main quest you wouldn’t have missed them.
To be fair he probably had to go thru the game quickly to put a review out. Not sure if a guide would've alleviated that but it's also good to see the perspective of someone who isn't 100% thorough EDIT: However you're right that making the claim that there should be more when he just didn't find it was wrong
@@Walamonga1313 He said in the review that he spoke to every NPC after every change of dialoge... If he had the time to do that, he probably had the time to do all the sidequests.
4:40 You said a whole bunch of stuff about this game’s scale seeming small, but I actually think these games were so REFRESHING due to the compactness and focus on just a few areas. I’ve been playing Cold Steel 3 and 4 and they get so, so tedious and exhausting with the amount of different countries/regions you visit. So much unnecessary bloat. In terms of enjoyment, what you mentioned here didn’t even have a negative impact imo. Quite the opposite - I enjoyed these games so much more than Sky and CS
Besides that. If you compare crossbell to any City in sky besides liber. It's not that small even. I also like that you are free to go to any District while in the early sky and cs games you were always played to a City and than had to stay there....
I'm just happy to finally have physical copies of these dang games... I've played many trash official translations, so, even if the PS4 version was my only option, I'd get it... It's better than nothing, and you eventually end up regretting not getting it, because they NEVER print enough copies... I'm picking up the Switch version... I hope they eventually work out the publishing issues with Cold Steel 1 and 2 on Switch...
I might buy these in a few months. I still have to beat all of the Trails of Cold Steel games first though. I bought Trails of Cold Steel 4 for my Switch OLED a couple years ago. For some reason I didn't realize what a great game it was until a couple weeks ago when I started back playing. I was 38 hours into it but I was in the PlayStation store and I saw that they had Trails of Cold Steel three and four and a collection for $60 so I purchased that. Then a couple hours later I saw that they also had Trails of Cold Steel one and two for $19 a piece and trails into Reverie for $39 so I bought all five games. I just started at Trails of Cold Steel I two days ago. I plan on beating the whole series but it's probably going to take me around 6 months at least because I'm 47 years old and I work almost everyday and I don't have a lot of time to play except on weekends. I had no idea how great the game was until 3 weeks ago and it's even more fun planning on my PlayStation 5 because the visuals are much better and the performance is much better.
This was 6.5 to 7 range game for me. However, Azure is closer to a 9.5 and requires this game to be played in order to appreciate the world building and characters. It is absolutely worth playing both entries in this arc even though this one struggles a bit for a Trails game...or at least it did for me. The issues I had with it were poor pacing between NPC chatter and combat. The core group takes WAY too long to become more interesting and making you invested in them. The early chapters were slow...which is par for the course in this franchise but it was a less interesting slow to me than both the Sky and Cold Steel arcs because the protagonists weren't winning me over nearly as quickly. The game has other flaws such as it basically must be played with a guide to have a sane experience and to get the most out of the story. That's true of the franchise as a whole though and doesn't bother me personally.
before you start check out the Ring of Judgment manga. It details the whereabouts of Estelle and Joshua between 3rd and Zero and introduces characters that will show up in later arcs. I'll try and post a link to the translation in a reply in case youtube deletes it. lol if it does you can google it and find it easily.
The PSP was such a beast and I'm glad it's legacy still lives on! Great review again! But yeah don't get the PS4 version! The graphics looks way better on PC and Switch
I'm on sky 3rd, and riding high off of literally some of the best writing I've ever experienced in JRPGs, and I'm excited to play zero next, as I loves its concept, character designs, and music. I'm a little worried about what you said about its character writing, though. The Sky Trilogy's most stellar achievement was its meticulous and ongoing weaving together of deep and empathetic character writing, down to even its most peripheral cast members, with its wider narrative. If the Crossbell arc that I've been so hyped for fails to follow up on that, I'll be pretty disappointed. It'll be quite unfortunate if Falcom got it absolutely perfect during the first arc and then left it unmatched for the rest of the series so far.
Don’t worry, the Zero/Azure duology seamlessly ties in the plot threads from the Sky trilogy. It’s not even far into the game before you meet some familiar faces. So don’t worry, it’s still the same world from the Sky trilogy that we all love but a different and more intriguing side to it.
If you can get either the Switch or the PC version instead of PS4 then do so. Ps4 is just a straight up translation of the japanese PS4 port and has a ton of technical and graphical flaws that were fixed for Switch and PC.
Is it okay to start with this duology? I want to get into Skies but I don’t have a PC and a Mac that need repairs and Zero and CS are just more accessible
Idk if you know but ps4 will be just a port but the switch one will be new and updated and be newer and better. I had bought both too but feel some people dont know that. Cause I was gonna play on ps4 but now going to on switch
@@statesminds yup. I'm happy the Switch actually is getting a superior version! But buying both physically for my complete physical collection of the series anyway.
6:55 Ugh, the missables are my biggest complaint with the Trails series and it's disappointing that Trails from Zero has them too. Although from the review sounds to be at least somewhat mitigated at least.
I get your point Stephen. What I got from reading Nihon's Falcom's view about the sidequests is that they see is as a way to reward completionists without punishing players who don't have/take the time to explore the game fully or as intended. From experience, I think it's the right approach to take. Honestly, mosts of the side-quests slow the game's pacing down to a crawl and they only benefit players who really, REALLY take their time talking to every NPC. This in turn, prevents them from missing of the sidequests. Maybe you can enlightment me on this, but I currently don't see any way they could do otherwise to satisfy both types of gamers.
Or just don’t care about them? I play these games multiple times, 1st is blind play, after that i use guide and even use cheat to speed up some process, like trails of cold steel 1 instead of doing 3-4 playthrough to get all 15 ng+ pts i use cheat to get all 15pts on 2nd playthrough right away. I prefer they keep the missables since it rewards me to some extend on 1st playthrough even though i didn’t get all of them but those were nice surprises.
@@sdtrawick i don’t like cheating in game too, but don’t you think it’s reasonable when Cold steel 1 works that way? Instead of doing 3-4 playthrough because you want to experience game blind without any guides, I use cheat to get 15 point to carry over all stats, records, item and outfits with me in 2nd playthrough and I can reduce my play time that way because my items are still with me, i don’ have to grind from level 1 again and i don’t miss out on any optional cosmetics too. I agree with you that missing out something is terrible feeling but if I know i can get everything under 2 playthrough then i’m fine with it. But if i don’t use cheat on 2nd playthrough I can carry over my stats and items but i’m still missing out on costumes and few others that requires 10 more pts which is another 2 playthroughs, that’s kinda too much don’t you agree?
@@mogberry2139 The PS4 is a straight port of the JP PS4 release, which will still be good but the PC and Switch versions are ported from scratch with a large number of QoL improvements.
So excited for these. Such a good series. I am super upset tho that the Switch and PC versions get the new updated ones while PS4 gets a vita port basically. And for the same price. Kind of bs tbh.
i’m planning on getting the PS4 version. Does anyone know what’s the difference between the switch and PC is it just about the graphics or is it something with gameplay or dialogue because I can’t seem to find the answer.
Basically PS4 is the japanese release of Zero and Ao no Kiseki Kai with a translation. The Switch and Steam versions are based on that same version but have been heavily overhauled by Durante and his team who also did the ports for all of coldsteel. So expect a ton of bugfixes, performance and graphic updates to be missing from PS4. Its probably not gonna crash but you will miss out on a smoother experience.
This is not a negative take, but you spent most of the review in a neutral approach to the features of the game, with a short personal bit regarding immersion and character development being slightly more biting and showing that, at least, some of your expectations were not met. My point? Good review, very well written and narrated, but feel free to let a more personal input show. Unless, of course, that's not what you are going for.
He’s played nearly every patch that has been available for this game. This is a review of the NISA version. First the Geofront team is listed in the credits so it looks like they helped with this.
@@Ponaru No, I get what you're saying Poison, but unless you've played this new version already, you're not clearing up anything. If however you have played it: Have you noticed any written text or story details being omitted or removed from the overall narrative? Are the infamous "chest messages" included in this adaptation? Was there a dialectical readjustment for the characters and NPC's between the Geo script and this one? Is there any content that was censored? That's what I'm asking. I know I'm not the only one wondering about this since as stated in the review, we are indeed a niche gaming group. ;) This isn't me criticizing without aim, I just feel like in my eyes, a 9 minute review should've covered more than the very basics most potential buyers of Zero will already know. I truly think that's a reasonable ask, especially from a Noisy Pixel review. Anyway, I've said my first piece. Now I need to move on to the glaring PS4 '"quasi-downgrade'', and why it wasn't even mentioned as a word of caution in the review, but I'll address that straight to N-P themselves. Cheers,
@@NoisyPixelNews I've just bumbled a lot of words in the comments and I'm almost done I promise. ;) BUT... In observing that this is indeed a review of the NISA version, is it possible for you guys to pin a "buyer beware" comment about the PS4 version? It's a pretty big deal as it WILL sour the experience for potential buyers. Thanks for reading. Just in case, this is the issue that I am referring to: www.pushsquare.com/news/2022/09/trails-from-zero-on-ps4-is-graphically-inferior-to-nintendo-switch-pc-ports
@@charliebee5154 I see. No I have not played this version yet. I do know that its not just a copy and paste of their fan translation. That original script was used as a base, but there have been changes and rewrites. What that all entails I cant say until I get my hands on it.
Nice review. As an aside, try to eliminate a lot of your adverbs. They are choking your thoughts. Your reviews are good just need a bit more editing. Love the channel.
The PS4 is based off of an inferior version of the game with noticeably less enhancements. If you have a choice, go for the Switch / PC ports which have better graphics quality overall.
I don't know why but they did a super lazy work with the PS4 port. Now it's the worst version by far. That wasn't mentioned here. Was it on purpose? Who knows but I don't recommend getting the PS4 version. It should've been cheaper at least but no, it costs the same. I don't know what NISA is doing
Huh that's interesting. I see a lot of people who say Zero/Azure are the best by far, you're one of very few I've seen that they're worse than Sky. I don't expect to like it as much as CS (I prefer the soundtrack style, combat and qol features in them) to be honest but I'm sure I'll still love it as I've liked every single Trails I've played
@@Walamonga1313 Cant go wrong with any sky or crossbell games. All great. Zero and sky fc are a bit slow but set up the story well for all the awesome stuff that happens in sky sc and azure. :)
@@Walamonga1313 Odd, most people I see put Sky and Zero/Azure on nearly the exact same pedestal. The only ones that don't are the ones who really like Cold Steel, and therefore dislike Sky as a result. I personally prefer Sky, but only slightly. There were just a bit *too* many anime tropes in Zero/Azure for my tastes. Fanservice that just left a bad taste in my mouth. Yet my boyfriend still prefers Zero/Azure to Sky. The only thing we have in common is our complete dislike of Cold Steel, which isn't even remotely unique to us.
50 buck for this? and playstation isnt even getting the best version we are getting the garbage version while switch port gets the best looking version wtf
Well this is funny coz u got the same quality of graphic in psp emu with high upscale to the reso,but the only problem the english fan patch is horrible
JRPG is not in the same format as games like Mass Effect, Fallout, Knights or the Old Republic or Baldur's Gate. I know. Took me a while to figure it out.
RPG have multiple subgenre in them Final fantasy and trails are "JRPG" where you play as a fixed charecter instead of making your own SW Kotor and baldurs gate are "CRPG" which follow the rules of dungeons and dragons and allow you to make your own charecter
RPGs were not about choosing the protagonist's gender. It's a feature in recent RPGs and don't get me wrong, that's good. But that was never the goal in the first place when making RPGs.
