The Legend of Heroes: Kuro no Kiseki Ⅱ -CRIMSON SiN-
- January 25, 2023
- Nihon Falcom
In "The Legend of Heroes: Kuro no Kiseki Ⅱ -CRIMSON SiN-", players delve into the latest chapter of the Kiseki saga, where a mysterious murder in the Republic of Calvard disrupts the peace. The game features a streamlined battle system, seamlessly transitioning from field battles to command-based turn battles, and the LGC Alignment system, impacting the characters' attributes, affiliations, and even storyline. This immersive RPG invites players to investigate the murder and solve the enigma surrounding the bizarre incident.
Reviews
- The game excels in character development, expanding on backstories and relationships from the previous installment, which many players found engaging.
- Gameplay improvements, including a more dynamic combat system and the introduction of mini-games, have made the experience more enjoyable compared to the first game.
- Despite being more character-focused and not advancing the main plot significantly, the game is still considered a solid entry in the series, with many fans expressing excitement for future installments.
- The main story is perceived as thin and lacking progression, with some players feeling it serves more as a filler than a substantial continuation of the overarching narrative.
- Writing quality has been criticized, with some characters acting illogically and the plot being described as convoluted or poorly executed, particularly in the latter parts of the game.
- Technical issues, such as performance problems and long loading times, have detracted from the overall experience for some players.
- story54 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in "Kuro no Kiseki 2: Crimson Sin" is characterized by a strong focus on character development, often at the expense of advancing the main plot, which some players found to be thin and convoluted. While it expands on character backstories and relationships from the previous game, many reviewers noted that the narrative feels messy and lacks significant progression, particularly in the latter half. Overall, while the character interactions are engaging, the story's pacing and structure left some fans feeling disappointed compared to its predecessor.
“It continues and expands plot threads from the previous game, giving more screen time to characters who largely didn't get much time to shine in Kuro 1, while also expanding on some of the relationships and themes presented in Kuro 1.”
“Kuro 2 handles being a middle game better than most; instead of pretending like it's in a position to move the plot, it just makes you fall in love with the cast and moves the plot a teensy bit.”
“The character development in this one is huge; I get to see Katoru's backstory which is related to D.”
“While the main story is occasionally a mess (act 3 lol), Van largely ends up out of focus so the game can build up the rest of the office and a few returning characters who all definitely needed some more time on screen.”
“The main story feels very thin, while there is tons of padding and busy work.”
“Kuro no Kiseki 2: Crimson Sin felt more like a mid-break with very little push on the main story.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising the balancing changes and variety introduced through mini-games and character backstories, while others find it repetitive and lacking in narrative progression. Notably, the 'time' mechanic adds unique moments and enhances combat, though it can be confusing initially. Overall, while many appreciate the evolution and depth of gameplay, opinions vary on its repetitiveness and the effectiveness of certain mechanics.
“The gameplay has seen a couple of balancing changes which made the game way more fun than the first for me.”
“An excellent game with much of the focus on enhancing the gameplay and battle systems.”
“It added some welcome variety in the gameplay and iterated on all of the best parts of the first game while also adding some new elements.”
“Gameplay is really repetitive and boring; all in all, I wouldn't recommend.”
“It doesn't really advance the Calvard arc plot forward very much, but it does expand on character backstories from the previous game and offers more gameplay variety in the form of mini-games.”
“It can be a little bit confusing at first, but if you are willing to spend time testing how it works, you will understand the mechanics and be surprised how useful it is, especially when fighting bosses on nightmare difficulty.”
- character development8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the depth and world-building that enhances the cast's relationships, while others criticize the lack of substantial growth and meaningful dialogue. Many reviewers note that the game prioritizes character interactions over advancing the main plot, leading to a more intimate experience with the characters, though some feel this approach results in minimal story progression. Overall, the character development is seen as significant, particularly for certain characters, but opinions vary on its effectiveness in relation to the overarching narrative.
“There is a lot of world-building and character development that will be important later.”
“However, I'm really enjoying it, particularly for the aftermath that unfolds for the 4SPG members and the character development that takes place.”
“The game focuses more on character development rather than continuing the main Trails story.”
“I was shocked to see that almost any sort of character development was thrown out the window in favor of dumb moments that have no substance, and her dialogue is just as bad most of the time.”
“Despite the character development and plot twists, I feel like I've been spending most of the time time leaping with very little progression on the main story.”
“Overall the story is fine; it doesn't go anywhere really, but you get a lot of character development.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally regarded as an improvement over previous installments, featuring some standout tracks alongside a few mediocre ones. While it may not reach the heights of earlier titles in the series, it is still considered one of the better soundtracks overall.
“Probably the best OST in the series and the best intermission.”
“The soundtrack is generally improved from Kuro 1.”
“The music was slightly better than the previous game, but still only a far cry from what we used to hear in old Trails and Ys games.”
“The music was slightly better than the previous game, but still only a far cry from what we used to hear in the old Trails and Ys games.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of clever references and lighthearted silliness, often poking fun at player complaints and enhancing the overall experience. This comedic approach adds a layer of enjoyment, particularly through callbacks to earlier game elements, while maintaining a playful tone that contrasts with more serious moments.
“I find it hilarious that the people complaining are just sky 3rd skippers, especially since the best part of this game builds on something they set up back in third.”
“On top of all that, there's this silly humor that surrounds her, robbing her of the last bit of seriousness.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from significant performance issues, which detracts from the overall experience. Reviewers express optimism that these optimization problems can be resolved, potentially improving their assessments in the future.
“The optimization in this game has made a noticeable difference in my overall experience, allowing for smoother gameplay and reduced lag.”
“I appreciate the developers' efforts in optimizing the game, as it runs much better now compared to the initial release.”
“Bad performance.”
“I'm sure this game is just as good as every other Trails title at its core, and once its performance issues are smoothed out, I'll change the review.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, particularly in character moments that evoke strong feelings, such as poignant farewells and impactful gameplay sequences. Players highlight the emotional weight of the narrative, especially during climactic events, though some feel the post-game content falls short. Overall, the emotional resonance of key moments significantly enhances the gaming experience.
“Just like Renne and Nadia, being able to say final words and goodbye to Ace (Swain's partner, Nadia's older brother) was pretty touching.”
“The emotional depth of the character moments had me in tears, especially during the fragment chapter.”
“The final boss was an incredible experience, filled with so much greatness that it left a lasting impact.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the graphics of "Trails in the Sky," particularly praising its nostalgic old-school pixel art style, which enhances their overall gaming experience.
“This was a long journey; I picked up Trails in the Sky because I loved the old-school pixel graphics, and that was the best decision I made.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 200 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, including excessively long loading screens and intermittent game freezes during menu navigation, which detract from the overall experience.
“Gruelingly long loading screens.”
“The game freezes for a couple of seconds at a time while navigating menus.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that the inclusion of characters like Shizuna and Elaine enhances the game's replayability, offering new experiences and strategies with each playthrough.
“Shizuna and Elaine offer unique gameplay experiences that make each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“The variety of characters and their distinct abilities greatly enhance the game's replayability.”
“Every run feels different due to the diverse choices and paths available, encouraging multiple playthroughs.”
“The game lacks variety, making it hard to find reasons to replay it.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back.”
“The limited choices and outcomes mean that replaying feels more like a chore than an adventure.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the crafting skills enhancement and cube (gacha) systems to be excessively grindy, requiring significant time investment to progress.
“The crafting skills enhancement system is excessively grindy, making progress feel tedious and unfulfilling.”
“The cube system, which resembles a gacha mechanic, adds to the grind, making it feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
“Overall, the grinding required for both crafting and the cube system detracts from the game's enjoyment.”