The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV

Despite the slow start, Trails of Cold Steel IV delivers a conclusion worthy of the series' 16-year legacy.

Starting at $23.78Buy now

Get on Steam

Get on Epic Games Store

In "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV," players join the heroes of Class VII once more in the aftermath of the Erebonian civil war. The story continues with new allies and the ongoing struggle against the shadowy Ouroboros organization. With turn-based combat and character-driven events, this epic RPG promises a thrilling conclusion to the Trails of Cold Steel saga.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,293 reviews

story220 positive mentions

grinding27 negative mentions

The game serves as a satisfying conclusion to the Cold Steel saga, tying up many plot points and character arcs.
The combat system is refined and offers a lot of customization options, making battles engaging and strategic.
The return of characters from previous games adds depth and nostalgia, enhancing the overall experience for long-time fans.

The pacing is uneven, particularly in Act 2, which feels bloated and filled with unnecessary side quests.
The writing suffers from cliches and predictable plot twists, undermining the stakes and character development.
The harem aspect is overemphasized, reducing the depth of female characters and making their interactions with the protagonist feel forced.

story
743 mentions
30 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of "Trails of Cold Steel IV" is a culmination of a vast narrative spanning multiple games, praised for its character development and emotional depth, yet criticized for pacing issues and excessive filler content. While many fans appreciate the intricate world-building and connections to previous entries, others find the plot convoluted and the writing inconsistent, leading to mixed feelings about its execution. Overall, it serves as a significant conclusion to the series, though it may not meet the expectations set by earlier titles.
- “The story is really great, the characters are really great, the music is really great, and it's a great conclusion to this chapter of the series.”
- “This game marks the conclusion of the overarching plot that was just barely hinted at in the previous games.”
- “The culmination of 9 games and hundreds of hours of fantastic storytelling!”
- “The whole of act 1 is just reminding us what happened in CS3, act 2 is gathering all the relevant characters by revisiting every previous location, and it's only in act 3 that it feels like the story is actually going somewhere.”
- “So much of this game is filler, and very little contributes to moving the story forward in any meaningful way.”
- “The story makes no sense, not to mention how practically nobody faces consequences for anything.”
gameplay
181 mentions
31 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Trails of Cold Steel IV" largely retains the mechanics from its predecessor, offering a familiar turn-based combat system with some refinements and quality-of-life improvements. While many players appreciate the depth and strategic elements of the combat, some criticize the game for its pacing issues, bloat, and lack of significant new mechanics. Overall, the gameplay is considered solid and enjoyable, though it may feel repetitive for those seeking innovation.
- “The gameplay is excellent; the Cold Steel arc is some of my favorite combat ever in an RPG, and CSIV is no exception.”
- “The mechanics are both deep and accessible, offering a traditional RPG experience that will appeal to players of all skill levels.”
- “The gameplay is fun and has great quality of life features, and loads of customization; the cast is lovable, and the world-building is immense.”
- “The gameplay's biggest issue by far is all the bloat.”
- “There is so much meaningless chatter and the gameplay loop repeats over and over again.”
- “The gameplay is basically the same as CS3, literally nothing changed.”
music
154 mentions
45 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance gameplay and storytelling, while others feel it lacks the memorable quality of earlier entries in the series. Some standout tracks are highlighted as exceptional, but there are also criticisms regarding the overuse of certain themes and a perceived decline in overall musical complexity. Overall, while the soundtrack remains a strong aspect of the game, opinions vary on its consistency and impact compared to previous titles.
- “There's great music for all sorts of situations.”
- “The music is still great as always; that has been a consistent thing in each game. In fact, there are some remixes in there that sent a jolt up my spine they were that good.”
- “The soundtrack is equally impressive, with a sweeping orchestral score that perfectly complements the game's epic scope and grand themes.”
- “The music is extremely hit-or-miss and mostly falls into the miss category.”
- “A portion of tracks are remixes or taken from the previous games, while the newer songs lack the musical complexity of the older games.”
- “The music is ok, I feel the soundtrack for these games has sort of started degrading after Azure, maybe the composer team changed or something, the voice acting is still just meh.”
graphics
74 mentions
28 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their anime art style and vibrant character designs, with many reviewers noting that they are a significant improvement over previous entries in the series. However, some players feel that the visuals are somewhat dated, resembling early PS3 graphics, and do not match the standards of modern titles. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they effectively complement the game's compelling narrative and gameplay.
- “The graphics and art style of Trails of Cold Steel IV are simply stunning, with a breathtaking aesthetic that perfectly captures the game's sprawling landscapes and intricate character designs.”
- “The graphics are outstanding at maximum settings, and the sound quality is world class, from the voice acting to the sound effects and, of course, the splendid musical score.”
- “Graphics have the right balance of style and fidelity.”
- “Honestly, I don't care about graphics in these games, but I would estimate that this game has the graphics of a game made at least 6-7 years ago.”
- “The graphics are the same as those in Cold Steel III and are generally pretty okay.”
- “The graphics is nothing special; I would say a blend between PS3 and early PS4 graphics.”
emotional
49 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and character development, particularly in the conclusion of the Erebonian arc, which evokes strong feelings and nostalgia for long-time players. Many reviewers highlight the emotional roller coaster experienced throughout the game, with moments of joy and sadness that resonate deeply, although some note missed opportunities for deeper emotional impact. Overall, the game is described as a touching and satisfying culmination of a lengthy narrative journey, leaving players feeling emotionally fulfilled yet also reflective on the series' evolution.
- “This story was so jam-packed with heart-wrenching, heartwarming moments that you won't get from previous games.”
- “Every hardship these characters had to endure throughout the series made me feel like I was part of those struggles and hardships; that's just how much the series was able to touch my heart.”
- “Having the tall task of functioning as the conclusion to the Erebonian saga portion of the series, the game more than delivers by brilliantly cashing in on all the emotional connections that the series has built with players over the years.”
character development
37 mentions
16 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some characters receiving satisfying arcs while others suffer from underdevelopment and reliance on anime tropes. The introduction of new characters in Class VII offers fresh perspectives and growth, but the overemphasis on romantic subplots often detracts from meaningful character exploration. Overall, while the series boasts impressive world-building and storytelling, it struggles with balancing character depth amidst its expansive cast and plot complexities.
- “10 games worth of character development, plot setup & world building packaged into one epic finale.”
- “Amazing game, never regretted picking up this game after getting bored from the FF series (I still love it), great story, depth, lore, and character development though.”
- “I got what I consider world-class world building and character development that puts so many other big JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Tales to absolute shame.”
- “Cut content released externally as drama CDs that are heavily referenced, excessive anime tropes, over-sexualization, a mass of wasted potential characters, bonding events that hinder character development and create a 'what about'-ism that makes no sense for a large constructed world like this, incessant fetish pandering, hidden scenes and true ending nonsense.”
- “The character development is pretty bad, and the storytelling is predictable and not well structured.”
- “They made almost every single female cast member in the game romance-able and consequently throw away any sort of character development these characters have gotten in the past 3 games and replace them with a personality revolving around liking Rean.”
grinding
32 mentions
6 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
84 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a significant and often tedious aspect, with players expressing frustration over repetitive tasks, such as selling items and leveling characters. While some found the grinding necessary for progression, especially on higher difficulties, others felt it detracted from the overall enjoyment of the narrative and gameplay. Overall, the consensus suggests that while grinding can be essential for completionists, it often leads to burnout and a sense of monotony.
- “There were only a few difficult battles, but no grinding required.”
- “Definitely not grindy.”
- “Extremely grindy for a single player game.”
- “90% of my gameplay time is on grinding.”
- “If you want to get the full achievement, prepare to waste dozens of hours grinding a stupid mini-game called 'pom pom party' that is a cheap knockoff of Tetris.”
humor
15 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Trails of Cold Steel IV" is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of weak anime tropes and character interactions that can be both amusing and cringe-worthy. Players noted the absurdity of certain character dynamics, particularly with Juna, whose portrayal elicited laughter for its inconsistency. While some moments are genuinely funny, others feel forced or overly reliant on clichés, leading to a varied comedic experience throughout the game.
- “Trails of Cold Steel IV is the Avengers: Endgame of this series, and it was hilarious seeing just how many playable characters I had access to for the final boss.”
- “It made me laugh when they tried to push Juna as this 'leader' type who gets everyone together when all she does is whine, complain, ask stupid questions, or cry during all of Cold Steel 3 and now this game.”
- “And all of the villains spouting nonsense about how they are unbeatable while all of Class 7 is present and looks clearly outnumbered, and how easy it is to defeat them despite being on nightmare difficulty is just hilarious.”
optimization
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game varies across platforms, with the PC version receiving praise for its superior performance and lighting, resulting in a visually appealing experience. While some users note that the game is poorly optimized on other platforms, the PC port is generally regarded as excellent, particularly for those with high-end hardware like the RTX 3080.
- “The PC version has much better performance and lighting, so the game looks better too.”
- “Overall, the performance and quality of the PC port is excellent.”
- “Overall; decent performance.”
- “Well, as Cold Steel III, the game is poorly optimized (it's not like it's a graphical marvel), haha, but on my PC it runs fine just because of my RTX 3080's brute force.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as predominantly dark and depressing, with a mix of tension and moments that feel out of place, such as lighthearted side activities. Critics note that the writing and acting contribute to a disjointed experience, undermining the darker themes of the plot. Overall, the atmosphere struggles to maintain consistency, oscillating between serious and whimsical tones, which detracts from the intended emotional impact.
- “So much of the atmosphere of the game is depressing, filled with doom and gloom, as people try to shake themselves out of that while working to clear things up for the better.”
- “Just so you know, I came from the Sky and Ao/Zero series; I am used to the wholesome old-school RPG-like atmosphere, even though some characters might be evil or twisted.”
- “So much of the atmosphere of the game is depressing, doom, gloom, and people trying to shake themselves out of that as they go on to try and clear things up for the better.”
- “The acting is cheesy, the writing is edgy, and the game's atmosphere can't decide if it is war and peace or Alice in Wonderland.”
- “The excellent base plot, which is quite darker in nature, is going to be wasted in such an atmosphere.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is considered decent, primarily driven by its extensive cast of around 40 characters, which encourages players to explore different combinations. However, many players express a tendency not to revisit JRPGs after completing them once, indicating that while there is some incentive to replay, it may not be strong enough to draw players back frequently.
- “The selling point of this game is probably its huge cast of characters; not all of them are playable all the time, but you do end up using quite a few, up to around 40.”
- “One of the reasons why I played this 'badly planned' game to the end is that I got to know the characters of 'Trails in the Sky' are playable.”
- “Replay value is decent, but I tend not to go back to a JRPG recently after beating it once.”
- “Replay value is decent, but I tend not to go back to a JRPG after beating it once.”
- “Replay value: it’s a trails.”
- “The selling point of this game is probably its huge cast of characters, not that all of them are playable all of the time, but you do end up using quite a few, up to around 40.”
stability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability with no major crashes or significant glitches reported. However, players have encountered some minor bugs, including occasional wall clipping and unusual teleportation issues during combat. Despite these minor setbacks, the game generally runs smoothly.
- “So far, the game runs great with no glitches or grammar issues.”
- “Some minor bugs and glitches, such as wall clipping and object placement issues during certain actions. Once, my entire party was teleported through the floor during a fight and remained floating in void space, unable to attack or move except for casting arts or using items.”
- “No weird glitches or crashes!”