Forget Final Fantasy XV, Here's Why You Should Play Trails of Cold Steel Instead

After a decade of development, numerous delays and who knows how many redesigns, Final Fantasy XV is due out in a matter of days. Most of the demos and previews of the game are being positively received and show a lot of promise. It could very well be a solid and enjoyable JRPG and a strong return to form for Square Enix after the less than stellar Final Fantasy XIII trilogy. There’s plenty of buzz and hype around it, and I know some people will be quick to pick it up.

[ZaWarudo]

The writing in Trails of Cold Steel is some of the best i've seen in JRPGs in a loooooooooooooong time.

[Quatron]

Then you don't play much of the genre then.

[shauzy]

NANIII?

[PhoenixUp]

Forget about a game I've waited a decade for? No thanks

[Kashima]

I rather to take Persona 5 over both.

[DarkOcelet]

Or we could play all three games. It would be a win win win situation, I won't be missing out on those beauties.

[raWfodog]

As an RPG fan, its a no-brainer for me. Why limit my options when I can have them all?

[kevnb]

4 actually, there's 2 trails of cold steel games.

[DarkOcelet]

@ Kevnb

Well the more the merrier.

[thatguyhayat]

Naah im good. Makers of final fantasy7 i think and kingdom hearts made the game and waited 10 years for the game. But Persona 5 is my number one JRPG then ff15 and finally ni no kuni

[rdgneoz3]

Always love Ni No Kuni, such a great game. Level 5 and Studio Ghibli combined for a master peace. A good story, great anime cutscenes, fun combat, and a lot of content (with tons of familiars to collect).

[babadivad]

I've always played every FF game. But the Tales of series is my number one RPG. The next Tales game release usually dictates which console I buy first.

[_-EDMIX-_]

No. ..

Both

[Hoffmann]

Yeah..I rather start this one than FF15.

[TheGamez100]

Get both, definately recommend the trails games if you love jrpgs

[joethetimelord]

This guy gets it.

[fenome]

I've never heard of the trails games, I'll have to check it out. How is the combat?

[BlaqMagiq1]

Absolutely phenomenal.

[fenome]

Cool, I'll definitely have to check it out!

[franwex]

I forgot that this series was on my radar. Thank you for the reminder.
Still getting ff15 though, sorry.

[Darkwatchman]

Or just play both

[DillyDilly]

But in Final Fantasy you can push broken down cars instead of riding on the chickens & of course lets not forget read about dresses in the papers

[phoenixwing]

@Random

Lol conan did make some funny jokes but I still love the final fantasy series. A few jokes by a comedian aren't going to change that.

[BlakHavoc]

Why not both? My heart aches for some JRPG love, its been a while since I've had a satisfying experience.

[Teflon02]

Cold steel is a year old and cold steel 2 is already out. If you weren't already playing them, you've already got it wrong. Now if you think you should play them over FFXV, I think you need to think, if a game came out a year ago and it's soo great (it actually is, and it's one of my fav series of all time ever since I tried trails in the sky) you should have been promoting it then and not now... Just stop, always people acting despicable.

[RandomGamer]

Luckily I have already beat both Trails of Cold Steel games , so I can just enjoy FF XV.

[PlatinumGX]

Will play when it's released on PS4.

[Warshade]

Forget limiting yourself to one or the other! Play both!

[xDealtwithIt]

There hasn't been a good jrpg for these consoles yet. Really disappointing that you have to rely on portables and mobile for any decent jrpg fix.

[Silly gameAr]

That's not true and you know it.

[Articuno76]

Can you name one good JRPG that's out for the PS4? I can hardly think of any RPGs at all, and the few I can are either remasters or simply weren't very good (Star Ocean comes to mind).

[xDealtwithIt]

Yea, I would like to know too. But judging by the non response this silly gamear doesn't know either.

[phoenixwing]

@ the two above

Digimon Story: Cyber Slueth was awesome as well as I am Setsuna

[Silly gameAr]

@XdealwithIt

God Eater 2 Rage Burst, Fairy Fencer, the Dark Cloud Remasters, Disgaea 5, Toikiden, Sword Art Online, and that's just some that I know of. Even World of Final Fantasy would be considered a decent JRPG tat just recently came out. Turn of your PS4 and find out, if you have one.

[xDealtwithIt]

Naming jrpgs doesnt make them good.
Thanks for proving that there hasn't been any good jrpg games this gen..

[Articuno76]

That's a lot of games. But the problem is the type of games they are.

When people think of JRPGs they are talking about story-driven single-player games. That is to say, in terms of meaningful classification, these are arguably not of the same genre (many are co-op/hunting games, and Disgaea is normally classed as an SRPG).

That is to say that, most won't consider the bulk of those JRPGs, or at least, not the kind they are interested in playing.

And the few that aren't are spin-offs that are more fan-service to tide people over, rather than the kind of game that scratch the JRPG itch (WoFF, for example). Finally, we get to games like I am Setsuna which has received a very divided/mixed reception.

[Derceto]

No need to convince me. FF XV should make for a hilarious flop.

[Yohshida]

No, thanks.

[gangsta_red]

If this ever came to ps4 then I might give it a shot. There definitely has been a huge drought for JRPGs this gen.

[CrystalFantasy]

I have played over 108 hours of Trails of Cold Steel and im only on chapter 5. And i know for a fact that there are at least 9 chapters.

I'm playing it on hard and am talking to all npcs and doing every optional quest.

[CrystalFantasy]

Agreed writer

[cash_longfellow]

Uh...why not both?

[shammgod]

How about we play both? Or is that prohibited for some reason

[Relientk77]

Trails of Cold Steel is the best JRPG I've played in years and I urge everyone to try it

[TheColbertinator]

JRPGs certainly will get a boost with FFXV,Trails and Persona 5

[kevnb]

Is this really that good?

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

I own the first, but I find the game-play slightly weaker and a little more awkward than I had expected, still getting the second game... Eventually.

[JohnnyPremo]

Ummmm why can't I play this and final fantasy? Dumb article...

[DivineAssault]

I have yet to play my copy.. Still getting FFXV though

[BlahBlahWhatever]

https://www.facebook.com/Du...

'Nuff said.

[DafunkyRebel]

No thanks, I'll stick to FFXV instead, Nice try though, but this looks like a 60 score kinda game on PSN that no one buys because its all ecchi and fan service but no substance

[Teflon02]

Lol, the assumption is soo wrong on this one it's ridiculous.
Metacritic
Cold steel 1 is 77
Cold steel 2 is 80
Trails games are gaining popularity because they're stories with substance and great gameplay that fits it. These games can easily run you 100 hours a piece if you're not rushing through. These are also not fan service games either. You should look up reviews online and see the truth

[phantomexe]

I'm going youtube this. You peeked my curiosity but it looks like a tales game which isn't a bad thing. Action rpg tho.

[Teflon02]

I suggest looking up trails in the sky as well. That's what got me hooked on the series

[Ulf]

The entire Legend of Heroes series is great, and has been since it's inception. If I had to rate it amongst all the JRPGs I've played -- and I've literally played dozens of them -- it'd be on top, possibly contending somewhat with a few of Level-5's greats.

Final Fantasy.. would be pretty average, as far as the whole series goes. There are a ton of better JRPGs out there. If FF15 is a return to greatness, get both -- but don't pass Legend of Heroes up. You're missing greatness if you do.

[Quatron]

Here's a better idea. How about we forget you and your dumbass idea of a JRPG.
-Unlikeable characters
-Stupidly convoluted story
-poor framerate
-long loading
-crappy audio quality
Not exactly what I would call "a better alternative" for a beloved franchise, asshole.

[NukeDaHippies]

I've played episode dusce, kept up with the media for 10 years and can say i have 0 confidence in ff15. Seems like a very different game it was originally going to be.

Trails of cold steel 1 and 2 are great. Do yourselves a favor and get them while waiting for persona 5, the wait will be more enjoyable.

[phantomexe]

Yea ff15 i'm not sure about it. I feel ff13 was the low point for me. It take alot to get me on board with 15. Just not seeing it. Graphics should never trump story and gameplay imo. Who knows maybe this one will be as good as 6 and 7 were.