The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
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About The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
Nihon Falcom dropped The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III on September 28, 2017. It lands as the eighth main entry in the long-running Trails series and follows right after Cold Steel II. You control Rean Schwarzer, now a military professor teaching his former classmates at Thors Military Academy. The story dives into the mystery of Rean's birth while showing how his friends are faring since the last game. Players can find this JRPG on PlayStation 4, PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Android, and Google Stadia. It is a single-player adventure that blends turn-based strategy with deep narrative moments. The game asks you to solve puzzles and fight battles while uncovering secrets that change the entire political landscape of Erebonia.
Gameplay
You spend most of your time managing party members and moving through town maps before entering combat. Battles use a turn-based system where you order actions for up to four characters per turn. Each unit has craft points to build up for special techniques or support skills that heal allies or boost stats. You switch between different formations to gain tactical advantages against enemy groups. The field map lets you interact with NPCs and collect items without rushing. Sessions often involve long dialogue trees where choices matter less than story progression compared to other RPGs. You will also manage a class roster to train new students in various combat roles. Combat feels methodical, requiring you to time your attacks while watching enemy turn indicators carefully.
What Players Think
Critics and players have responded strongly to this entry. Metacritic lists the score at 83 out of 100 while IGDB rates it 84.7 based on thirty user ratings. The community moods show a high level of satisfaction with long playtimes averaging over 60 hours for main story completion. Achievement data indicates that only about 25 percent of players have unlocked all available trophies, suggesting a challenging endgame or extensive grinding required. Review snippets frequently mention the complex character web and emotional payoff after two previous games. Fans praise the music and the way the game handles its large cast without losing focus. The completion rate for story missions sits near 90 percent among active users who finish the main campaign.
PlayPile's Take
This title is worth buying if you can handle a long commitment with complex stories. The price on Steam or consoles is standard for a full RPG release. You will need patience to unlock all achievements since some require specific conditions during the final dungeon. Reaching 100 percent completion might take another 20 hours past the main story. Falcom delivers a solid strategy experience that respects your time even with its length. Players who enjoyed Cold Steel II or I should definitely pick this up immediately. Those looking for quick action sessions will find the pacing too slow and the battle system too deliberate. The game does not hold your hand through every puzzle or boss fight.
Game Modes
Single player
IGDB Rating
84.7
RAWG Rating
4.2
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