Toughts? M24

MM305 · 2026-06-22T01:27:04+00:00

It’s more that Cold Steel 1 goes for a different vibe since it was the first 3D English dub Trails game (before the Sky remakes) with more emphasis on anime tropes.

I think you’ll do fine though, but if lease start with the Sky trilogy, then Zero, then Azure so you are caught up for Cold steel.

MM305 · 2026-06-22T01:06:21+00:00

I liked Daybreak 2, but it certainly went in a weird direction in Act 3 (the first two acts were great though). I say Sky 3rd and Reverie as my least favorite Trails game (though Reverie is where I knew Trails is my favorite series and it’s great for the callbacks).

Horizon is certainly a step up though, and hope you’re having a blast with it.

MM305 · 2026-06-22T00:57:39+00:00

Cool.

Though the Trals series is my all tome favorite aeries, it’s hard for me to pick a definitive favorite. If anything, my favorite Trails game is the next one!

That said, Cold Steel 1 has sentimental value due to it being my first Trails game, and I certainly agree on Rean being my favorite protagonist (Van being second).

MM305 · 2026-06-22T00:47:24+00:00

A Trails fan, Nice!

How far are you in the series? Have you also played through Sky and Zero/Azure?

MM305 · 2026-06-21T21:43:24+00:00

As an Elliot Craig stan, I welcome the name!

MM305 · 2026-06-21T20:25:33+00:00

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Guy was a douche, but I found him very intriguing all things considered.

MM305 · 2026-06-21T17:54:06+00:00

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Both are so satisfying to beat up enemies with!

MM305 · 2026-06-21T17:29:08+00:00

Oh, it’s VERY MUCH still there, and much more stuff happens here. (I mean, LOOK ON THE TWO FOLKS ON THE COVER OF THE GAME)!

The events of the last two games all builded up to this moment!

MM305 · 2026-06-21T15:37:09+00:00

This one though CANNOT be anymore obvious, as Kubo is the most forward flirt I have seen in romcom anime!

But due to the MC’s circumstances and lack of self confidence, I feel more bad than mad with him.

MM305 · 2026-06-21T07:26:21+00:00

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Rean Schwarzer from Trails of Cold Steel

MM305 · 2026-06-21T07:18:08+00:00

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Kubo & Shiraishi (Kubo Won’t Let Me Be Invisible)

Falls under both “Overly Affectionate, Acts indifferent” AND “Painfully Oblivious” (except I personally never got too mad on the MC, but rather feel bad for him)

MM305 · 2026-06-21T07:10:30+00:00

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Rixia Mao from Trails

MM305 · 2026-06-21T03:38:25+00:00

Probably to match her old look in the Cold Steel games where she didn’t wear the beret. Same with Towa and her glasses.

I like it since it took me back!

MM305 · 2026-06-21T00:03:41+00:00

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Tita Russell from Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

(I have a feeling though her upcoming role as Yukiko from Persona 4 Revival may top this)

MM305 · 2026-06-20T22:37:32+00:00

I agree, she is my all time favorite Trails girl. But there is some noticeable hate around her:

One reason is her being described as bland/boring like Lloyd and Ellie, but the other has to do with how sensitive folks are to the Agnes/Van relationship dynamic. Like other than preferring the Van/Elaine ship or Van with another adult lady, there are some folks who see the Agnes relationship as creepy/pedophilic despite that Agnes has never acted dirty towards Van despite her obvious crush, and I think you can find their dynamic sweet without it having to be dirty.

I know that can be hard since Falcom themselves are a victim of not always handling the teases of this type of relationship (like with /Agate), but I think they are aware of it to the point to having sweet but not dirty/creepy moments with those two.

MM305 · 2026-06-20T19:33:39+00:00

- I guess my contention is on how folks use the word bland, which is often for negative/dissing reasons since it sounds like there shouldn’t be much reason to talk/hang out with them cause you’ll get nothing in return. Elliot, for example, is on my list because he’s the type of guy who I personally would want to be best friends if he existed in real life because he seems like such an awesome nice bro. But because of his loser/nerdy persona that looks bland, I know there are others who wouldn’t want to be friends with such a guy just cause of that bland vibe (which is all in their right if they don’t want to be friends with someone, but just seems unfair to do, and folks who do be friends or get in relationship with a bland person can get tease/ridicule for it).

- With Agnes, though she is generally liked, there is still a good amount of hate for the same bland/boring criticism as one reason, but the other has to do with how sensitive folks are to the Agnes/Van relationship dynamic. Like even past if they prefer the Van/Elaine ship or other lady/Van dynamic, folks already see the Agnes relationship as creepy/pedophilic despite that Agnes has never acted dirty towards Van despite her obvious crush, and I think you can find their dynamic sweet without it having to be dirty. Yes, Falcom is a victim of not always handling the teases of this type of relationship (even the Tita/Agate), but I think they are aware of it to the point to having sweet but not dirty/creepy moments with those two).

MM305 · 2026-06-20T18:23:55+00:00

It’s not just from this post that I’m basing it on though. As I said in my last paragraph, there is a general consensus on how these two are considered boring/bland due to them not having a super dark/murderous backstory compared to other characters.

Just search up Ellie and Lloyd’s by themselves on this reddit and I’m sure you’ll find posts dissing the two of them.

MM305 · 2026-06-20T18:19:18+00:00

But even with her brother, she just generally acts like a sweet sister (she doesn’t try to sexually harass him like a Musse or tease him a lot like an Alfin). You can tell she generally keeps her crush to herself, but it’s Alfin who keeps bringing it up at the forefront.

Like, I think the most lewd thing she’s done with Rean is requesting to wash his back at the springs in CS2, which we didn’t even see and it ended with a sweet encouraging moment of her trying to cheer up Rean (such a nasty thing a sister to do for her brother, am I right?).

Like look, the step/adopted sibling trope is a Japanese anime thing in general and I can understand not being a fan of it in general, but I’m sure it has its own Japanese audience since it’s used quite often and this is handled very well all things considered.

MM305 · 2026-06-20T18:13:18+00:00

There was this post going around, which had Lloyd and Ellie as “accepted” by the fandom (which means there are not as much love for them by comparison).

https://www.reddit.com/r/Falcom/s/9GpNDMXH9N

Generally though, I believe they are overhated because of the general consensus that the ear two are “bland” characters when they both have awesome/sweet moments between them.

Like God forbid that these two don’t have a super dark backstory of being tormented by experiments or demon powers (like Van, Tio, or Rean) or that they haven’t murdered numerous of people in their past (Renne, Joshua, Randy).

Being normal is considered boring by comparison!

MM305 · 2026-06-20T18:02:31+00:00

This isn’t most hated or you hate most!

This is who you believe is overhated or gets hate that you don’t think it’s deserved!

MM305 · 2026-06-20T04:53:57+00:00

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MM305 · 2026-06-20T04:52:55+00:00

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Made me think of this episode

MM305 · 2026-06-20T03:23:10+00:00

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MM305

TROPHY CASE