The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
Metacritic
IGDB
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About The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
Nihon Falcom finished the Erebonia arc with this title in 2018. It arrived on PlayStation 4, PC, Switch, PS5, and Stadia as a direct sequel to Cold Steel III. This entry marks the ninth main story game in the larger Trails saga. You follow Class VII through a massive conflict that threatens the continent of Zemuria. The narrative focuses on old friends returning alongside new faces to stop a war before it destroys everything. Falcom built this specifically for players who have followed the long-running series and want a conclusion to this specific storyline. It is a substantial entry designed to wrap up years of plot threads while maintaining the deep lore fans expect from the franchise.
Gameplay
Sessions involve managing a party of four characters in real-time battles where you issue commands for attacks or skills. The interface lets you track enemy weaknesses and coordinate special moves called Orbs. You switch between combat and exploring town areas to talk with NPCs, handle side quests, or manage inventory. Progression relies heavily on grinding for mastery points to unlock new links between your characters. A typical playthrough requires hours of back-and-forth movement across the map to trigger story events. The game features a turn-based tactical mode where positioning matters just as much as raw stats. You spend significant time customizing equipment and mastering the Class VII's unique abilities to overcome difficult bosses.
What Players Think
Critics gave this entry an 81 on Metacritic, which sits well above average for the genre. PlayPile users who finished the game spent an average of 65 hours on their main campaigns. Community reviews highlight a strong sense of closure with a 92 percent completion rate among those who started it. The dominant mood is relief mixed with nostalgia as fans finally see the arc end. Many players note that the battle system feels polished compared to earlier entries in the series. Review snippets frequently mention the emotional weight of the story and how well it ties previous games together. Even with a price tag dropping to $19.57 on some retailers, players feel the time investment was worth the payoff.
PlayPile's Take
This title is essential only if you have played the previous four Cold Steel games. The 48 achievements offer plenty of extra challenges for completionists who want to master every combat mechanic. At under twenty dollars, it delivers a long narrative conclusion that few other RPGs manage. Newcomers will likely feel lost without context from the earlier entries in the Erebonia saga. The game does not hold your hand through its complex lore but rewards patience with a satisfying finale. If you want to see how Class VII's story resolves, this is the place to start and finish.
Game Modes
Single player
IGDB Rating
85.9
RAWG Rating
4.3
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