The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV

The main pros of the game

• Emotional Payoffs: Many players felt that the game provided a satisfying conclusion to the long-running narrative arcs, delivering emotional moments that resonated deeply with fans of the series.
• Character Development: The game offers significant character growth, particularly for Rean and the new Class VII, and includes numerous callbacks to characters from earlier games, enhancing the experience for long-time players.
• Gameplay Mechanics: The combat system is praised for its strategic depth and customization options, building on previous entries with new features like Brave Orders and improved tactical elements.
• World-Building and Lore: The game is noted for its rich world-building, with intricate lore that ties together various storylines from the entire Trails series.
• Visuals and Soundtrack: The graphics and music received positive remarks, with many noting the emotional impact of the soundtrack throughout the game.

The main cons of the game

• Pacing Issues: Numerous reviews highlighted poor pacing, especially in the second act, where the story felt dragged out with unnecessary filler content.
• Overly Large Cast: The bloated roster of characters made it challenging for some players to connect with individual characters, leading to feelings of neglect for certain story arcs.
• Repetitive Gameplay: Some players found the gameplay repetitive and felt that the game relied too heavily on familiar JRPG tropes, leading to a lack of tension and stakes in certain moments.
• Forced Side Content: The necessity to complete numerous side quests for the "true" ending was criticized as outdated and punishing.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Consequences for Character Deaths: Many players expressed disappointment over the lack of lasting consequences for character deaths, feeling that it undermined the emotional weight of those moments.
• More Voice Acting: Some reviews mentioned that crucial scenes lacked voice acting, which detracted from their emotional impact.
• More New Content: A desire for additional new towns or areas to explore was noted, as many players felt the game relied too much on revisiting previous locations.
• Improved Side Quests: Users wished for more innovative and engaging side quests, as they often found them to be repetitive and lacking in depth.

Summary

• Overall, while *Trails of Cold Steel IV* is regarded as a fitting conclusion to the saga with strong character moments and gameplay, it suffers from pacing issues, an overabundance of characters, and some narrative choices that left players wanting more.

Summary generated on: November 21, 2025