The Legend Of Heroes: Sen No Kiseki Iv
Alright, let's talk about Trails of Cold Steel IV. Or as I like to call it, "The Game Where Everyone is Here... and Then Some!"
Sen IV: A Love Letter (or a Very Long Email?)
It's basically a giant reunion. Every character you've ever met in Erebonia shows up. And I mean everyone.
Some people love this. They're all, "OMG, Alisa and Elliot are back!" I get it. Nostalgia is a powerful drug.
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The Problem? Too Much of a Good Thing
But here's my slightly unpopular opinion: it's almost too much. It feels like Falcom said, "Let's just throw everything at the wall and see what sticks!"
Remember when you made a new friend and then you tried to introduce them to your entire friend group all at once? That's Sen IV. Awkward city.
It's like trying to keep track of a hundred different inside jokes. By the end, you're just nodding and smiling, hoping you don't say something completely out of context.
Rean: The Overworked Hero
Poor Rean Schwarzer. The guy just can't catch a break. He spends the entire game being kidnapped, mind-controlled, or generally having a terrible time.
Seriously, does anyone offer this man a vacation? Maybe a nice beach somewhere? He deserves a lifetime supply of spa days.
And the harem aspect? Let's not even go there. It's like a dating sim where everyone is aggressively pursuing you. Rean is too busy saving the world to choose a favorite.
The Ending: Epic... and Exhausting
The ending of Sen IV is... well, it's an ending. It's massive. It's dramatic. It features a ton of boss fights. And it takes approximately 3 business days to complete.
I'm not saying it's bad. It's just... a lot. You need to block off a significant portion of your life to get through it.
By the time the credits rolled, I felt like I'd run a marathon. A marathon filled with anime tropes and political intrigue.
My Hot Take: Sen IV is Good, But Could Have Been Great
Look, I enjoyed Trails of Cold Steel IV. I really did. The combat is fun. The characters (mostly) are engaging. And the story is, well, a story.
But I can't help but feel it could have been... tighter. Less bloated. Maybe focus on a smaller core group of characters.
Imagine if they'd trimmed the fat. Streamlined the plot. Given Rean a slightly less miserable experience. It could have been legendary!
Final Thoughts: A Worthy Conclusion... Eventually
So, should you play Sen IV? If you've made it this far in the Cold Steel series, absolutely. You're already invested. You deserve to see how it all ends.
Just be prepared. It's a long journey. Bring snacks. And maybe a spreadsheet to keep track of all the characters. You'll need it.
And remember, it's okay to think it's a little too much. You're not alone. We can all share our Trails of Cold Steel IV therapy bills together.
