So there was a Nintendo Switch indie world and partner showcase dual feature today, and in a fucking sizzle reel they dropped an announcement for a full remake of the original Trails in the Sky.
You know, the one that launched the entire franchise!
It seems like they somehow remembered it's possible to have Estelle be a playable protagonist. Would have been nice if they'd had that awareness for Trails into Reverie. Still annoyed Estelle got snubbed.
It's not a new game, or a new female protagonist, but at least it's something. So long as they don't fuck it up somehow.
I have a lot of complicated feelings on the Trails franchise, so if you wanna come along, then buckle up.
Okay. So. Trails in the Sky 1 and 2 are among my favourite games ever. Sky 3rd reducing Estelle from protagonist to main cast character was a little eh, but I didn't think too much of it at the time. Though in hindsight it makes Rean getting a protagonist role in five games even more sour.
The Crossbell games took forever to get localised, and I never got into the fan translations because it was cumbersome. Hence I jumped right into Trails of Cold Steel instead.
Honestly, Trails of Cold Steel is a very good series. It harnesses a lot of the strengths of the franchise with its own personality, and a lot of good, even great writing. Though by 3 and 4 it was feeling a bit... tired. Or at least I was.
Mainly I was so sick of Rean by the end. They should have swapped protagonist in 3. I mean, still keep him around since he's a central character, but the story should have been shown from Juna's POV. The part where you play as the students pulling off a rescue mission is one of the best in the series.
For all that I loved about Trails of Cold Steel, the parts I didn't like really dragged by the end.
Let's start with the central problem. Rean himself. At the start I thought he was fine. For the type of character he is, he is one of the better examples. He shows some impressive character growth throughout the series. But it was clear at the start of 3 that there were no bigger fans of Rean than the people directing the series. They hype him up so much, and can't stop going on about how great he is. It kinda gets nauseating. I was so glad to be done with him at the end of 4. (Which in hindsight is probably part of the reason I wasn't eager to jump into Reverie when it launched.)
The main story with its twists and turns is very good throughout most of it. There's so much cool stuff in these games, but my protagonist fatigue did cloud things in the latter half.
One of the primary issues regarding Rean is the creator's decision to make Trails of Cold Steel fucking harem games. The fact that every character is defined by their relationship with Rean, and needing to be left open for Rean really hampers the writers' ability to form meaningful relationships between the other characters. They can't cross certain lines, since everyone needs to be available for Rean to potentially pick them as his Special One at the end of each game.
Yes, each game. You don't pick one at the start, and it remembers that for future games. No, you have to pick at the end of every single game.
There are so many good characters in the Cold Steel games, and it's a shame to hold a bunch of them back like that. Even many who aren't pickable become really enamoured (or even obsessed) with him.
That his sister is one of the girls who wants to ride his dick so bad is just creepy. The entire franchise has an unfortunate thing for incest, and other problematic (or outright gross) relationships. And all the other characters being so supportive of the gross stuff makes it all the more grating. Don't get me started on Tita and Agate. Match Tita up with Renne ffs. Those two have excellent chemistry.
So long as it's hetero, nothing seems out of bounds for them. Reminds me of CLAMP. There is a sad lack of any notable queer rep in the franchise. Even if you pick one of the guys for your Final Night in any of the Cold Steel games it's just a Friendship Affirmation. You don't get kisses with any of them, even though you can with some of the girls.
Trails in the Sky 1 and 2 insinuates some bi and lesbian side characters, even hints that same-sex relationships are seen as normal in that world, but never actually commits to anything. Certainly not with any main cast characters. It quickly gets forgotten. I've had to resort to fanfics for such content. There is a lot of potential between same-sex characters that have great chemistry, but no willingness to officially go there.
I think the Cold Steel series would have been a lot better off if it has just committed to the Rean and Alisa pairing as The Romance, and let the other characters form their own relationships. Having 99% of the girls swoon over Rean just gets more and more obnoxious as the series goes on. But the creators clearly think he's the greatest character of all time, the most precious masterpiece of fiction, so I suppose they couldn't help but write an Everybody Loves Rean story.
In addition to how I think they should have switched to Juna as protagonist for 3 and 4, I feel like 1 and 2 would have better if Emma or Laura had been the protagonist. Emma in particular makes a lot of sense, and I just really like Laura. This is something I thought from the very first game, not just after I was thoroughly tired of Rean.
They heavily signposted that the next proper series was going to take place in Calvard. It was the next big unexplored region. I thought this was a great chance to take some fresh steps, and get away from all the stuff that stagnated Cold Steel. Maybe get back to a female protagonist after both Crossbell, and Cold Steel had male protags, since that's what they launched the entire franchise with.
But no.
Once I saw the trailer for Trails through Daybreak, and how the protagonist looked like another Rean (I've heard personality wise he's quite different, and apparently they've dropped the harem nonsense), a lot of enthusiasm and hope faded away. I still haven't gotten to Reverie, or found the motivation to play the Crossbell remakes. I know I should, but... god I needed a break after Cold Steel, and they failed to reignite my passion for the future of the franchise with what they showed.
With all that said I will probably get the Sky remakes, even if they fuck them up. Just to show how desperate I am for more Estelle, and further female protagonists for the franchise.
Yes, I'm a sucker.
I am willing to admit that for all the annoyances that have built up over multiple games, there is still something really special about the Trails games in terms of how the story, the lore, and the characters are written. The fact that I still remember so many names without having to look them up is proof of the impact the franchise has had on me. Rean fatigue didn't stop me from being excited to see how the story of Cold Steel would wrap up. It just... dampened the mood a bit.
I hope to one day get back into the swing of things. Maybe the Sky remake will be the trigger for that.
PS! I still remember how excited I was to see Renne introduced as "Renne Bright" in the trailer for Cold Steel 4. She got their name! She's officially part of the family! I was so stoked! I just had to mention that.
PPS! Give Renne her own game where she goes on adventures with Tita, Estelle, and Joshua.