Something I really appreciate about trails is how willing they are to present unlikeable characters to the player before peeling back the layers to those characters and/or developing them further. It’s definitely a product of being able to develop these characters over multiple games and even arcs, but there’s something truly special about seeing these characters change over time and become incredible.
That is a distinct Trails advantage over other games, although I have seen other games pull it off. I admire writers (game, book, show, or movie) who are fine writing a character that will be initially disliked that will get better later.
Totally agree Falcom has been doing Kevin dirty lately, here’s hoping best boy makes a return in Calvard, on that note I was also annoyed with Agate at the start. But he grew on me in SC
Something's gotta give for the few characters who haven't reappeared lately, but I do suspect Kevin and Zin show up in Calvard (the latter especially). Yeah Agate's arc seemed purposeful to me, but I still fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
I came here as a messenger from the grim future, where we already have 2 established Dominions in Calvard (both of whom are completely new additions to the cast), so chances of Kevin appearing there are quite slim. That being said, Calvard arc will most likely have at least 4 dedicated games, so Kevin will probably appear in the 3d or 4th installment, although I highly doubt that he will have an active role(
I haven't played Kuro yet, but I heard they straight up forgot he existed when introducing the dominions. They had to add him retroactively to a an image showing all of the "known" dominions at that point in the series.
I think that other than Patrick, my top is Shirley. Shirley wasn't bad in Crossbell, but she wasn't anything amazing either. In CS3 she had some interesting scenes but still wasn't amazing. Then CS4 happened and it made Shirley absolutely top tier
Tough to make a list for this because Falcom has a knack for adding progression that really changes the complexion of a character and their role. That said, I gotta agree with a ton of characters on this list. For me though, I would say Jusis grew the most on me and you nailed why. Close 2nd for me would be Juna, as she starts off so hard to like, on top of being a tsundere, which is a trope I can live without. But finding out the reason why as well as dealing with the mother of all crushing revelations made it make sense for me. Seeing her grow from that to becoming the true leader of the new class 7 was one of the most satisfying arcs for me.
Juna is a good entry as well, she was disqualified since I did like her from the start, but I can definitely see how she'd make someone else's list of this type. I also really liked her stepping up as the New Class VII leader in Cold Steel 4.
@@CommRio Her speech to old Class VII in Cold Steel 4 gave me goosebumps, and I think that moment as well as her journey from abrasive insecure girl with a chip on her shoulder to a badass leader who takes charge while the others are feeling down and doubting themselves was beautiful. Hell, dare I say it, I personally prefer her over Rean. I mean, Rean's not the worst and he is pretty decent, but the whole harem thing can quickly wear thin. The first half of Cold Steel 4 is one of my personal favorite prologues, because of her newfound experience through her field studies and time as Rean's student. I'd love to see a game with her acting as a mentor/mother figure to first year Class VII students as well as future potential Police Academy/SSS cadets. I think what helped me connect with Juna easier was the Post game Crossbell scenario where you play as Lloyd for a brief time and fight Rean and Altina. It's understandable why she was always so wary and abrasive of him, because of his role in Crossbell's annexation, but after Chapter 2, she finally accepts him.
For me it's Machias. At the start he was just so overly pig-headed and hostile. Like, the type of person you could prove factually wrong and give all the evidence, and he'd still just cross his arms and state that he is right. Then, slowly getting to know him, and eventually finding out the root cause of his obsessive hatred for the nobility, AND seeing him change his mind as he met new people and had new experiences, finally coming to realize that hating a class system can be justified, but hating every individual in that system, is simply the wrong way to think. His big bonding event in Cold Steel 4, was simply amazing.
Yeah I imagine Machias improved for quite a few people in that same way. He wasn’t eligible for me cause I liked him from the start, but yeah he got even better over the arc.
I on the other hand had liked Machias in CS1, but after 1 ended, his character arc ended with it and in 3 and 4 especially he felt lke he was overstaying his welcome
As others pointed out all of that takes place in his introduction game. Machias is a cool character in cs1 but he becomes pretty much irrelevant to anything in the sequels. Even his father ended up being unimportant to the story.
@@luminous3558 Glad to hear you get my point of criticism against Machias. Almost no one seems to get it. Machias seriously needed to stop appearing in 3, if not already in 2.
I don't watch your videos but i will say that this is pretty damn good top ten video.The video isn't neither too short nor too long,you do a good job in explaining why these characters have grown on you and you don't drag the video like other lists.Very impressive
Pretty much the exact same reasons I disliked Estelle at first. Going through SC is when I stopped seeing her as complete naive bimbo, and now after all the other games, she's one of my favourites. And Kevin is one of the best who seriously needs to make a return.
I wasn't a huge fan of Alisa until Cold Steel 3 because it felt like she was being shoved in my face a lot (Which happens even more in 3/4) but at the same time, 3 and 4 also made her relationship with Rean A LOT more realistic and a lot more heartwarming. By the end of CS4, I was almost wishing they had simply made Rean/Alisa canonical the same way they did Estelle/Joshua
We'll have to see how Rean's relationships are handled post Hajimari because of the lack of player control anymore. They could choose to keep it ambiguous or just make Alisa canon
I started off liking Jusis Al-bro-a. As well as making him my main healer, I had him as much as possible and brought him to final battle in CS1 and CS2, so I got really attached to him.
There's one truly excellent thing that Falcom did with Duvalie in CS4, one that shows their writing prowess, is what her change of sides did to her relationship with other knights and Lianne. Which is... It didn't change. She was still fiercely loyal to them, still devoted to her mentor with the same passion as always. She never lost a pinch of respect for any of them, appreciating what they've been through together and what the group meant to her. They didn't shoehorn an "I hate you! You monsters!" where it wasn't needed. She still loved her lord and her fellow knights - she simply came to her own conclusions about the conflict they were a side in, and chose a different path. The mutual respect between all four involved was amazing. Also Jusis is one of the best-written characters across the ENTIRE series and him punching Rufus in the face was the best moment in gaming history-
My problem with ColdSteel characters is how everything felt out of place. In my opinion the harem/shipping is a waste of time in the main story. I want a good story and better developed characters. There's already a dating sim system and it's OK ( I don't dislike it cause I hate alisa) but for some reason there's a lot of ''obligatory'' harem stuff meanwhile good story moments is exclusive to some side quests or bonding events. Another stupid decision is how they nerfed Emma's potential to become a great character just because they wanted a ''generic pretty face tsundere'' as the main girl in the cover. Alisa is *most of the time* useless and her drama with her mother is a big waste of time that went nowhere after 5 games meanwhile Emma is more qualified to guide the main narrative as the ''female lead'' in major events. And most important: Her personality don't force ''love misunderstanding'' every 5 minutes and don't invade the player's romantic choice.
Imagine if schools could create such bonds on a wide and consistent scale. Also! I thought Agate was that word, but focused on g instead of a. And pushing et at the end.
I first hated Juna. Especially when she got angry at Rean on the top of orchis tower (When they fought against Campnaella and McBurn). But when I played cold steel 4, and when I saw how Juna brought back all class 7 members together to search for Rean, I immediately put her on my "most favorite character" list
Renne Duvalie Rean Kevin Crow CS1 CS2 only Fie Musse Juna Rixia Laura Emma Most of class 7 is done pretty well outside of maybe Elliot idk he doesn't feel intresting depends on the game because some characters became obsolete after CS2 honestly
I'd probably put Alisa on here, because that one scene with her landing on top of Rean with her boobs on his face, despite him trying to catch her and break her fall, only to end up in an awkward position and slapping him really soured my first impressions of her that I went for both Laura and Emma in both playthroughs of Cold Steel 1 and 2 and 3 for Laura. I can't stand Tsunderes in general, but after several playthroughs and her moments with Rean outside the bonding mechanic, she started to win me over and replaying 3 and 4 especially, became one of my personal favorites. I wish Altina was taken out of the romance options, because I always felt more of a father/daughter connection between her and Rean, and I think it would've been nice to have Alisa take on the motherly role for her.
Alisa definitely fits for some people, but since this was my personal list she wasn't going to be here because in spite of that scene I really liked Alisa early on (I even have a video on her on the channel). So I also like her a lot. Also I agree so much on leaving Altina out of romance, she is Rean's daughter and nothing will convince me otherwise.
Altina isn't really a romance option though. She simply struggles with emotions and Rean is the closest person to her. The actual bond event feels like Rean puts her mental and emotional wellbeing over his own ephemeral romance. I still prefer how azure handled things because it actually provided a canon choice via the way the confessions go. All the female characters except for elie confess to lloyd while he acts oblivious like usual. Lloyd himself confesses to elie because she was the only girl on his mind since ch2 of zero.
Unlike your rules, I do take utility in battle in consideration. Here are my comments on some of your list and my top two Trails characters that grew on me. Mild Trails into Reverie spoilers alert. Duvalie: I really disliked her during Cold Steel 2. The way she kept antagonizing Laura and balking when Victor offered to spar with her to settle her animosity... sounds like you're a bully, Duvalie. But as the story went on in Cold Steel 3 and 4, when she defected to Class VII, I knew we had a rare woman of principles. You can always trust an honest enemy over a dishonest friend. Plus her evasion rate is amazing. Jusis: There was always signs early in Cold Steel 1 that Jusis is not the ice prince he makes himself out to be. I sided with Machias during that first schoolhouse trial, but I always pitied Jusis that his pride forced him to fight alone. But in Chapter 2, when you go to Bareahard, we learn more about Jusis's life, but most importantly, the local children have no fear of him and they like him. That's my smoking gun that Jusis always had a good heart within him. His growth and diverging paths from his brother Rufus only reinforced the theme that Class VII is the best thing to happen to every member of it, old and new. Plus Noble Command is like chocolate; it's always welcome! Estelle: I always loved Estelle from the very start when Cassius brought Joshua into their house at the very beginning. From her energy and using the term "illi-jit-mate child" and her eagerness to throw down and her red/blue oni dynamic with Joshua, I knew from the get-go that this is a hell of a fun character. Renne: She had one hell of an introduction in SC. With the metal theme of The Enforcers playing during her epic reveal as the Angel of Slaughter, she made an unforgettable antagonist during SC. Soon, we learned of her backstory, bit by grisly bit. But when we finally defeated her at the Liber Ark, Bestelle Estelle showed her compassion and love that Renne likely never got in years. I have seen tales of villains being reformed but never like this. Cut to the Crossbell arc where we finally see Renne settle her emotional past with the parents and little brother she lost. Both Estelle and Joshua were right behind her along the way and the SSS. I have always loved the theme of kindness and compassion saving the world in more ways than one. KeA chose to make Renne the link between the Brights and the SSS. If Estelle never wanted to help Renne, Renne would never have gone to Crossbell to confront her past and meet the SSS in the process. If the SSS never knew Renne, the Brights would never have joined them at the Sun Fort, and the story of the SSS would have died there. Finally, there's the backstory of Renne as a former enforcer. In Reverie, when the Emperor tried to guilt-trip Swin and Nadia in to giving up and joining him, Renne was *exactly* the sort of person who could deny him right there and then. Renne was living proof that anyone could live a fresh start and the exact sort of person who could deny the Emperor's lies with absolute conviction. And my number one character that grew on me: Altina! She started off as an antagonist that I had no problems ass-kicking. While I liked her character growth throughout Cold Steel 3 as a member of New Class VII, I never paid much attention to her compared to better utility characters like Juna and Kurt. I didn't feel too much during the climax at the Gral of Erabos. I was a little elated during the plot of Cold Steel 4, what with Altina learning she has a beautiful singing voice and learning to be more honest with her relationship with Millium. No, the real moment that changed my mind was Altina during the postgame plot in the True Reverie Corridor. At that point, I still didn't particularly like her, but I brought her by coincidence during one of the second-last levels of the Corridor because I wanted to rotate everyone and give all 50-plus characters some time in action. When I saw Altina having an emotional stake with OzXX because of her similarities with her, her character growth hit me in the face all at once. I then realized I saw Altina starting gaining a life and a place to belong all throughout Cold Steel 3 and 4, to the point when she can start paying the kindness and compassion she got forward in Reverie, just like Renne had done too. It all hit me at once, all the little character moments Altina had in Cold Steel 3. Her decision she made of her own will to join the swimming club, her willingness to share her pancakes with Millum and Rean even though she wants it all to herself, that shift from professional distance from Rean to requesting the usual reward from him after a link attack victory (a headpat). Now I weep with joy (not hyperbole) for Altina whenever I see her during the ending credits of Cold Steel 4. Joining Class VII did more for her than I ever first imagined. Class VII gave Altina a life. They gave her a soul. Whoever sent Altina to Class VII, be it Claire or Osborne or even Alberich, they did a damn fine thing for her. A damn fine thing.
Before watching this video, it occurred to me to write my own 10 characters who grew on me to see if we had any similarities, in no particular order, same rules. 10. Schera 9. Elliot 8. Gaius 7. Kurt 6. Tio 5. Ellie 4. Emma 3. (Im gonna cheat a bit and nominate a Hajimari character), C. 2. Altina Orion 1. Kevin Graham
@@CommRio bruh I loved your video! Even if we had some disagreements here and there, your commentary was spot on. The main thing in which we differed is that I tend to flock towards rude characters, sometimes being surrounded with too many goody-two-shoes can get a bit tiring for me. Which is why Gaius, Elliot, Ellie and Tio were on the list. So I ended up liking Agate, Wazy, Jusis and Ash right off the bat. I especially loved Ash like holy Aidios lmfao, who the hell gives the middle finger to their friggin INSTRUCTOR? Of course I ended up loving them even more after their character growth, the little ray of sunshine coupled with the angsty and moody big guy, I'll never NOT love that trope! And Kevin dear god, what a phenomenal character. He truly did a 180 on the majority of us, probably the biggest plot twist of playable characters. I think a big part on why we love Kevin so much is that his single appearance in TC gave him a masterful introduction, development and conclusion. I dont think there is much more room for him to grow. I reckon a big part of his character arc is already concluded, which is the same reason why Bestelle and Joshua havent been in the spotlight for more than half of this series, their story is already over. Of course I'd love to take control of Kevin once more in battles, maybe in Calvard fingers crossed?
@@Panchito2696 I'm surprised you included Wazy on that list because he never struck me as rude like Agate or Ash. I'll have to reevaluate once I replay Crossbell. I really hope for a Kevin return, I know 3rd really did a good job at doing his whole arc, but he can still play a role helping others over the journey, and if Kevin comes we get Ries as well which is even better.
Wazy is the mildest of the "rude" bunch but hes quite cunning in the subtle ways he phrases his jabs. The thing about Wazy is he knows exactly which buttons to push to set off Wald, Lloyd, Noel or anyone else really. And he tends to do so at the most inopportune moments where everyone within earshot, to inflict the most embarrassment possible to his target, which it's Lloyd most of the time. He may be a difficult person to associate with depending on who you are, he's a master at teasing people. And not everyone takes teasing as well. He's kind of like Olivier in a way, which is another "rude" character i forgot to mention and i ended up liking from the start too.
@@Panchito2696 I would put Olivier, Wazy, and to a lesser degree Lechter and Shirley into the likes to make people uncomfortable instead of rude category.
I agree with your list more than disagree. I never really disliked Kevin, he just was kinda average for me to begin with, and after 3rd, I liked him but not a ton, so he wouldn't make the list in any way but I wouldn't say his spot is misplaced on yours. I disliked Macchius more than Jusis at first, and it took longer for me to end up liking him too, probably not until CS2 did I say I liked him, but Jusis I kinda liked as early as CS1's chapter in Bareahard, where you learn that despite being a noble, he is still not really treated like one by his own family, yet has a noble heart. I completely agree with Emma. I still don't like her compared to most of class 7, but I actively felt like she was a bad friend by the end of CS1 for being the only classmate who doesn't tell anyone about any of her secrets. But her strong remorse the moment you meet up with her again made me forgive her instantly. I instantly liked Altina. I'm a sucker for deadpan kuudere type characters (and long-white hair, eek, though that outfit in CS2, good god, ick), and the way she had seemingly 'no story', I knew instantly that she had a story that was just waiting to unfold. Her comment about being loaned, to the fact that she is the only character in the entire series that I can think of that HAS THEIR OWN BGM, I just knew she was going to be interesting right away and was interested as a result right away. The fact her purpose is to replace a sacrificial lamb because bad guys found themselves learning to like said lamb, so they decide to make another and keep it distant for no sense of loss is just sick. Likely for this reason Altina shut her emotions off longer and harder than Millium, and then opened up when they started to be potentially positive. If she wasn't fictional, I would have great respect for someone who was treated so poorly, and then well, and came out with all the good and none of the bad. I agree with Ash, though I started to like him late CS3, and in CS4, he turned good guy just a little bit too much for me to believe. Not enough to really ruin it, but just sometimes he would say something that seemed a little too positive or 'power of friendship' like that I just thought it didn't suit him. I WANTED Musse to be such a character for me. But in CS3 she is a one trick pony pretty much, it gets really annoying and old fast, and in CS4...I dunno. I haven't seen a story 'write' some kind of super-genius terribly well (other than Renne, but even she doesn't count cuz they don't really focus on her being a genius like they do Musse), and Musse is just another one on the conveyor belt IMO, Falcom didn't work their magic with her IMO. The fact her big moments are her 'she's still just a normal girl' moments kinda fall flat too because she never really WAS just a girl in the game. She was a 1 dimensional rean flirt maniac for one game, then suddenly a super genius t he next, and we are supposed to connect with this 'just a girl' notion when she was never presented as one pretty much ever. UGH =P. So yeah, even after CS4, Mussee is still boring for me.
Machias just missed out on placing on the list, it was a bit of a reversal for me I liked Machias before I liked Jusis. As for Musse, she's a character I have such a mixed relationship with because I like her attitude and design when interacting with anyone other than Rean in Cold Steel 3, and they introduced the super genius Cold Steel 4 role and I think it really hampered her. I think she suffered from having a less clear path towards development as Juna, Ash, and Altina did. The writers just didn't know what to do with her and what they cobbled together didn't quite work for me.
I really cannot bear playing when musse is together with rean in a group. I sometimes close musse with my hand and pretend she not exist during dialogs since she is damn annoying. Rean agree to date musse if she get no1 in test and then she just easily do it in hajimari is totally shit.
Alisa is one my least liked characters. Well that might be harsh but it is how much they try to force her relationship with Rean rather than let the player decide for themselves. Yes bonding events will ultimately decide who Rean has relationships with but it is still off putting. This is response to your Emma. For me who has only played TCOS I think my top for this list would be Altina. from TCOS 2 when she kidnaps' the girls and lack of remorse to how she ends up is amazing writing. I also agree with Jusis, I barely used him at all mostly because I didn't see him as a strong fighter but I didn't like his character at the start of the game. Oh Estelle, one reason I have barely touched Trails in the sky. Maybe I should give it another go.
Sky is a very good game and Estelle develops so much so I'd say give it a chance. Cold Steel did try to have its cake and eat it too with Rean and the romance system. It is clear the writer's intentions were that Alisa and Rean would be together like other canon relationships in the series, but gameplay wise they don't stick to it by letting people choose. They really should have stuck with either you get to choose and that's the one, or you don't get to choose at all like in previous Trails games.
Finally I've see the video tonight. I will talk about the ten characters so I will spoil the list. For the first one, it's my only total opposition opinion. I hate Millium, since the start and it was better at the end but I still really dislike her personality/gimmick I find that unbearable. So Hate to dislike and then she is alive again (like almost everyone in CS4)... and it's a big disappointment. (Not only because I don't like her, it's the same for Crow that I don't really care). Same as you Duvalie was a little bit fun but not that much in CS2 but she grows stronger in CS3 and even playable (my reaction : wtfff) and she was great at the end, I do really love her and I use her a lot, great improvement for a random character at the start. Same for Emma too. She was meh at the start. Not bad, but there is nothing to say about her. The typical head of the class from manga. But she grows a lot, she gain confidence, became an interesting (and beautiful) witch. I still prefer her sister, but good improvement. For Agate I agree but just a little. It's not that I don't like it at the start, I was displease when he trash Estelle the first time, but he became more reliable fast so I can't say that I don't care about him since (almost) the start. Same for Ash, I love him in CS3, the only moment I dislike him (as Agate) it was really at the beginning before he join the classes, but at the end of CS3 he already was in my top 5 from all Cold Steel series. Jusis was the only one I like with Laura since his first apparition on OC7. (Now my favorite is Fie tho) And same as you for Kevin&Estelle. Not that I dislike Kevin at first, he was "ok" but then he became reaaally good. And I'm not a big fan of shounen protagonist so it takes time for me to like Estelle but at the mid of FC it was probably already the case. And for my personal favorites of the series it's Renne in first and Loewe in second of the whole series. I do love Kloe, Tita, Joshua, Estelle and the others. I think Joshua is my third of Trails in the sky and probably around top 5 of the series. I love the SSS + Rixia too they are all in my top 15 and some of them are contenders for the top 5. I love all crossbell people tbh. It's more difficult for cold steel, I dislike or don't care about almost everyone in CS1/CS2. It's far better now, but my favorite member of the old class 7 isn't in my top 10 of the series even with CS3/CS4 and I love Vita but she doesn't have the screentime for being in my top 10 too. I was pretty disappointing by Arianrhod, she could make it but don't like how she is used in CS3/CS4. But I love the NC7. Ash and Altina are amazing, and I think Juna is my only Cold Steel character that can concour for my top 5.
Right the Crossbell cast is great, which unfortunately disqualified them from the list, but still a highly regarded group of characters. I'd be interested to see how Fie moved up in your esteem over time, I liked her from the start.
I dont think that Agate and Tita will be pushed together as an actual romantic relationship. Tita has a crush and that's great tbh. It's a lot of fun and kids are allowed to have crushes on adults. I dont think they'll make agate reciprocate those feelings though. I think he'll always just see Tita as his cute little sister.
I mean the reason people are starting to sound alarm bells about this is that there were hints in Cold Steel 4 that Agate does reciprocate. Until he sits down and tells Tita her crush is never going to go anywhere I can't help but wonder why they keep bringing it up and having other characters openly ship it if they're not prepping the audience for them to get together. I hope to high heavens it doesn't happen and you're right, but I have my doubts that it is all innocent.
