The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II

 PlayStation Vita
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 78 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 78
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 78
  3. Negative: 11 out of 78
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  1. Sydares
    Nov 26, 2016
    6
    Overstays its welcome in a big way, and the unfortunate load times really hinder any desire to explore the world. Completionists will find themselves glued to an FAQ or risk missing several hidden side-quests.
  2. SplitMind
    Aug 23, 2020
    7
    Trails of Cold Steel 2 carries forth all the things that made the first game so great, however it also brings a few things which are not so welcome.

    Firstly, there isn't a HUGE difference between this and the first game in terms of graphics, gameplay, characters and locations. This isn't such a bad thing, as the small tweaks made to gameplay are very welcome. There is a much more open    Trails of Cold Steel 2 carries forth all the things that made the first game so great, however it also brings a few things which are not so welcome.

    Firstly, there isn't a HUGE difference between this and the first game in terms of graphics, gameplay, characters and locations. This isn't such a bad thing, as the small tweaks made to gameplay are very welcome. There is a much more open world approach to this game, and that is excellent too, although I didn't really fancy going back to many places once I had explored them once.

    My biggest gripe with this game is that it is just too damn long and waffly. The turbo mode is a God-send in helping speed through this, but I was tempted to skip so much dialogue and much of the dialogue could actually be skipped without missing out on the general plot. I have grown to like all of the characters, however I think Class VII could have been better off with fewer members in the first game, as this adds to the waffle when every character seems to have to talk for the sake of talking. In addition to this, the game has a "finale" section which implies the game is ending, however there are quite a few hours of gameplay beyond this. This just made me want to rush through and see the credits roll. Some people might actually love this, but being a bit strapped for time I would rather have the whole experience truncated and compacted to be sharper and tighter.
    One little thing to mention also is that even on easy mode there are a few difficulty spikes. Usually these are bosses so it's not unexpected, however I did find this a bit jarring, especially the final boss who employs some very cheap tactics that marred my experience slightly.

    Overall, I loved this game, however the detractions I mentioned above mean I will be holding off on the sequels until I know I have the time to play them. If you like JRPGs, then you will most likely love Trails of Cold Steel 2. I reckon you could actually play this without having played the first, however you would miss out on a lot of character development and sentimentality.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best PS Vita Game of 2016
5
#5 Most Discussed PS Vita Game of 2016
9
#9 Most Shared PS Vita Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. GameCritics
    Feb 8, 2017
    85
    Minor issues and pacing aside, it’s incredibly easy to recommend The Legend of heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 2 to fans of the original. The storyline stakes are higher than ever, the additions to the battle system are intelligent and deftly handled, Laura’s back with her massive freaking sword, and the team of Class VII are as likeable a bunch as ever. For newcomers, my advice absolutely has to be repeated: start with the first game. It may a huge time investment given that both entries take approximately 70 hours each, but it’s worth it for anyone looking to experience one of the most well-crafted JRPGs in recent history.
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  2. Everyeye.it
    Feb 7, 2017
    85
    Quotation forthcoming.
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  3. SpazioGames
    Jan 18, 2017
    80
    More a continuation of the events of the first game than a proper sequel, Trails of Cold Steel II is "more of the same" done right, as the basic gameplay of the prequel didn't need changes. While a no brainer for veterans, this second chapter is not recommended for newcomers, who should pick up the first title to have an understanding of the world and characters.
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