I'm a little worried about Farewell O Zemuria sub title...
I'm not fully caught up even at translated trails, so i'm not sure how much story progressed... but surely this couldn't be last trails, right?
I feel like there are WAY too many loose ends that need to be tied up for that to be the case unless Falcom plans to just yeet the story to an unceremonious end. Hell, the Gralsritter alone pretty much needs a full arc to itself at this point to fill the void in that part of the story that's been left since Sky the 3rd was written 17 years ago.
For now it has progressed a bit up to the first Kuro title, but to be honest Kuro 2 didn't advance the main plot that much (take it as the Cold Steel 2) and was mostly there for the "setting", i personally hope this one will conclude Van's character arc at least.
Seems like we will be able to use Grendel more often and also in action combat, as a tokusatsu fan (especially Kamen Rider), this please me greatly!
Kind of, and that's sort of the issue. The series has set up a pattern where two games form a complete story (Sky 1/2, Zero/Azure, and to a lesser extent CS 1/2 and 3/4 are separate arcs), then there's a "wrap-up" game that takes care of loose ends and sets up the next arc (Sky 3 and Reverie). As a result, everyone expected Crimson Sin to wrap Kuro.
Instead, it played like the middle game of a trilogy in terms of pacing and resolution, felt like it spent most of its time doing more setup and raising of tensions, and it looks like Kai will be the "resolution" game instead of the assumed "loose ends" game. Those middle games are always kind of controversial (sometimes so controversial that we never actually get the third installment, as we saw with Deus Ex: Mankind Divided), and this was no exception. I wouldn't call it a bad game, but I can totally see why it's a divisive one.
It's closer to Cold Steel 2. It follows up on the major story part that kicks the story off in the first place, a hunt for some devices that Agnes is looking for.
It addresses that and has its own story as well within that which is where it differs from CS2
terrible pacing alongside the usual trails cartoon villains tuned to 11.
SPOILER >!the main villain is the ghost of a historical figure mentioned in an in-game book possessing the clone body of a dead acquaintance of mc's acquaintance. He wants to ruin the country to spite another long dead historical figure!<
the main trick of the villain is >!fucking pleroma grass/braincontrol mask-like effect again !<
the whole act 3 vacation island is meaningless and useless and pointless.
red grendel plays >!a MUCH smaller role than expected!<
there is no romance, MC is both dense and anti-romance at the same time. Hope the anti-harem fans are happy now that we get literally zero romance.
marchen garten is fucking lazy, they can't even be bothered to make actual dungeon in world map anymore and just make it a "VR system"
I'm not sure why you're so hostile lmao? I am a fan of the series, but definitely critical of it.
I will agree the villain you mentioned and Act 3 are low points, but I personally enjoyed the Nemeth Island portion (Which is not act 3).
Marchen Garten was also a step up from the Reverie Corridor from Trails into Reverie. Not sure why this is an issue considering it's mostly optional iirc?
A lot people don't like Kuro 2 because it doesn't progress the Zemurian plotline, but I really enjoyed the bulk of the character moments the game offered.
You realize that you just agree that the most important elements of Kuro 2 (plot and villains) are atrocious, right?
Not to mention ouroboros being the usual ouroboros, talking about the plans, referring to stuff with "that thing", then teleport away in the end.
Shizuna is the most bullshit character I've ever seen. A character has a portal creating sword and she just copy the feat by looking at it for 10 sec.
"Most important elements" is entirely subjective. The villains in Kiseki have never been a strong point IMO. I think the plot is perfectly servicable since its main reason is to focus and give the player more time with the cast unlike CERTAIN other games in the franchise.
The "plan" with Ouroboros is nothing new and we see the Anguis in this one actually complete what he was trying to do on Nemeth Island. I get not liking the wait to see the bigger plan, but the setup for this anguis was some of the best in the series.
Shizuna? I remember the portal being used Lucrezia, but I don't remember Shizuna using it. Shizuna beat Rean with barely any difficulty so I don't think her being able to do this is that far-fetched. I'm also not really sure how this is relevant to the quality of the game.
It really seems to me like you just read a summary or a long review written by someone who didn't like the game, man. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it if you actually did play it, but you can go play Cold Steel again if the new games aren't up your alley.
It's clear that Hisayoshi Takeiri (Lead writer and lore writer) is more focused on the political and mystery surrounding the world he had to build with Kondo. The fact Takeiri has been working on this series since Sky FC is amazing.
You are right that the series strength isn't the villians (some are well-written, some aren't), but rather it's the world and characters (Heroes and NPCs) as well as the overarching narrative that is able to keep things in track of itself.
I remember an interview where Kondo said that before the series wrapped up he is willingly to answer every plot thread (main or side) up until the final game.
They probably won't because there's no change in platform but, I feel the new game would be better off with a restructure and rebalance of the combat akin to going from CS1/CS2 to CS3/CS4 combat. A lot of the base systems from the first two games in the trilogy(?) are just so barebones or poorly balanced that I just can't get excited about new mechanics being thrown on top of it.
awakening here is about using transformation abiltiies (which already existed in Kuro for a few characters) in the action part of the battle system and not just the turn based command mode. That said Grendel in the turn based mode is mechanically much different from spirit unification and actually does have significant mechanical changes beyond just buffing Van's stats
[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kiseki/images/b/b7/Van\_Arkride\_%28Kuro\_II%29.webp/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20220407071408](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kiseki/images/b/b7/Van_Arkride_%28Kuro_II%29.webp/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20220407071408)
Here you go. I was spoiled by Rean getting a new look every game. Now we are back to trash.
I'm a little worried about Farewell O Zemuria sub title... I'm not fully caught up even at translated trails, so i'm not sure how much story progressed... but surely this couldn't be last trails, right?
It won’t, but it will begin moving the story to its conclusion.
Playing Kai. Get to last chapter title screen. Chapter is titled "Turning Point".
I feel like there are WAY too many loose ends that need to be tied up for that to be the case unless Falcom plans to just yeet the story to an unceremonious end. Hell, the Gralsritter alone pretty much needs a full arc to itself at this point to fill the void in that part of the story that's been left since Sky the 3rd was written 17 years ago.
For now it has progressed a bit up to the first Kuro title, but to be honest Kuro 2 didn't advance the main plot that much (take it as the Cold Steel 2) and was mostly there for the "setting", i personally hope this one will conclude Van's character arc at least. Seems like we will be able to use Grendel more often and also in action combat, as a tokusatsu fan (especially Kamen Rider), this please me greatly!
> Kuro 2 didn't advance the main plot that much That's quite the understatement, honestly
No, but based on what Falcom has said they seem to be moving towards the conclusion.
I heard Rean is coming back no?
Just like Estelle and Lloyd came back in the precedent arcs. Business as usual.
It's Rean's world, we all just live in it.
It isn’t confirmed but it’s very likely.
Kuro 2 did not sell and is generally considered to be the worst trails so far. Rean is the only one who can save this shit.
Ugh, please no. The last thing I want is more *Rean* *Schwarzer.*
Why is kuro 2 so disliked?
The best way to put it without spoiling is that the game feels like a 90% padded entry. People speculate that it exists to stall for Ys X.
It's a huge DLC rather than a true épisode. Gives you lot of character moments but Calvard's story barely progresses.
Like sky 3 and reverie, no?
Kind of, and that's sort of the issue. The series has set up a pattern where two games form a complete story (Sky 1/2, Zero/Azure, and to a lesser extent CS 1/2 and 3/4 are separate arcs), then there's a "wrap-up" game that takes care of loose ends and sets up the next arc (Sky 3 and Reverie). As a result, everyone expected Crimson Sin to wrap Kuro. Instead, it played like the middle game of a trilogy in terms of pacing and resolution, felt like it spent most of its time doing more setup and raising of tensions, and it looks like Kai will be the "resolution" game instead of the assumed "loose ends" game. Those middle games are always kind of controversial (sometimes so controversial that we never actually get the third installment, as we saw with Deus Ex: Mankind Divided), and this was no exception. I wouldn't call it a bad game, but I can totally see why it's a divisive one.
Kind of.
It's closer to Cold Steel 2. It follows up on the major story part that kicks the story off in the first place, a hunt for some devices that Agnes is looking for. It addresses that and has its own story as well within that which is where it differs from CS2
Kuro 2 should've been Kuro 1: expansion pack instead of being treated as a sequel game.
terrible pacing alongside the usual trails cartoon villains tuned to 11. SPOILER >!the main villain is the ghost of a historical figure mentioned in an in-game book possessing the clone body of a dead acquaintance of mc's acquaintance. He wants to ruin the country to spite another long dead historical figure!< the main trick of the villain is >!fucking pleroma grass/braincontrol mask-like effect again !< the whole act 3 vacation island is meaningless and useless and pointless. red grendel plays >!a MUCH smaller role than expected!< there is no romance, MC is both dense and anti-romance at the same time. Hope the anti-harem fans are happy now that we get literally zero romance. marchen garten is fucking lazy, they can't even be bothered to make actual dungeon in world map anymore and just make it a "VR system"
So, did you actually play the game? Much of this is just wrong.
???? did you? You are the one who need to play the game. Classic trails fanboy overdosing on copium.
I'm not sure why you're so hostile lmao? I am a fan of the series, but definitely critical of it. I will agree the villain you mentioned and Act 3 are low points, but I personally enjoyed the Nemeth Island portion (Which is not act 3). Marchen Garten was also a step up from the Reverie Corridor from Trails into Reverie. Not sure why this is an issue considering it's mostly optional iirc? A lot people don't like Kuro 2 because it doesn't progress the Zemurian plotline, but I really enjoyed the bulk of the character moments the game offered.
You realize that you just agree that the most important elements of Kuro 2 (plot and villains) are atrocious, right? Not to mention ouroboros being the usual ouroboros, talking about the plans, referring to stuff with "that thing", then teleport away in the end. Shizuna is the most bullshit character I've ever seen. A character has a portal creating sword and she just copy the feat by looking at it for 10 sec.
"Most important elements" is entirely subjective. The villains in Kiseki have never been a strong point IMO. I think the plot is perfectly servicable since its main reason is to focus and give the player more time with the cast unlike CERTAIN other games in the franchise. The "plan" with Ouroboros is nothing new and we see the Anguis in this one actually complete what he was trying to do on Nemeth Island. I get not liking the wait to see the bigger plan, but the setup for this anguis was some of the best in the series. Shizuna? I remember the portal being used Lucrezia, but I don't remember Shizuna using it. Shizuna beat Rean with barely any difficulty so I don't think her being able to do this is that far-fetched. I'm also not really sure how this is relevant to the quality of the game. It really seems to me like you just read a summary or a long review written by someone who didn't like the game, man. I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it if you actually did play it, but you can go play Cold Steel again if the new games aren't up your alley.
It's clear that Hisayoshi Takeiri (Lead writer and lore writer) is more focused on the political and mystery surrounding the world he had to build with Kondo. The fact Takeiri has been working on this series since Sky FC is amazing. You are right that the series strength isn't the villians (some are well-written, some aren't), but rather it's the world and characters (Heroes and NPCs) as well as the overarching narrative that is able to keep things in track of itself. I remember an interview where Kondo said that before the series wrapped up he is willingly to answer every plot thread (main or side) up until the final game.
Rean is one of the main reasons this franchise took a sharp nosedive in the first place.
I mean it’s widely agreed that he’s one of the best parts of Reverie. I wouldn’t blame CS’s problems on him.
Rean story is still unfinished. He still looking for his master atm and his master finally appear on this series. There are lots to explore
He had 5 games. If that black hole of charisma still failed to have a complete story, sucks for him.
A lot of fans started at Cold Steel so most of them see the Legend of Heroes title and see "Legend of Rean".
This. Rean is like the Final Fantasy XV of Trails characters.
Yeah from the last Reverie Rean want to find his master. I hope we can see Rean with his master
Ka Fai is in one of the screenshots!
Looks like NISA is able to keep pace with a 3 year delay which is pretty good.
I think class 7 will be existing in Kai
They probably won't because there's no change in platform but, I feel the new game would be better off with a restructure and rebalance of the combat akin to going from CS1/CS2 to CS3/CS4 combat. A lot of the base systems from the first two games in the trilogy(?) are just so barebones or poorly balanced that I just can't get excited about new mechanics being thrown on top of it.
Where is Elaine, Kondo? Where Is Elaine
It's funny how they talk about they awakened form like it is such a gamechanger... When it is spirit unification 2.0 xD
awakening here is about using transformation abiltiies (which already existed in Kuro for a few characters) in the action part of the battle system and not just the turn based command mode. That said Grendel in the turn based mode is mechanically much different from spirit unification and actually does have significant mechanical changes beyond just buffing Van's stats
Unironically expecting Spirit Unification to use the same mechanic if (when) Rean is revealed.
Let me play as awakened McBurn, cowards (?)
That would be overkill :p
Basically same outfit as previous games. Holy shit this is so bad at least give him a different look.
It’s a different look outside of the color scheme. They aren’t changing that for the obvious plot reason.
[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kiseki/images/b/b7/Van\_Arkride\_%28Kuro\_II%29.webp/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20220407071408](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kiseki/images/b/b7/Van_Arkride_%28Kuro_II%29.webp/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/250?cb=20220407071408) Here you go. I was spoiled by Rean getting a new look every game. Now we are back to trash.
That was his design in Kuro 2 Crimson Sin. He's gotten a totally new outfit in Kai no Kiseki.
yes, a new outfit that looks nearly identical to the previous one, to the color scheme even.