The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV

The game plays similarly to Trails of Cold Steel III as a traditional JRPG with turn-based battles, bringing back features such as the Order system, Orbment system, mini-games and battle commands being mapped to specific buttons rather than various menus. Each character from the new Class VII in the game has new, unique S-Craft techniques in combat.[4] Additionally, characters utilize Lost Arts (returning from Trails of Cold Steel II), which are significantly more powerful than regular Arts but expend a full EP gauge.[5]

There are, however, several changes compared to the previous Trails of Cold Steel game, such as modifications to the Order and Break systems. Some characters were given weaker Orders that are upgradeable by finding treasure chests that lead to "trial" battles with fixed characters that can be used. Enemies now also required "far more" break damage before the Break state can be inflicted.[6] Mini-games between larger battles include blackjack, poker, and other puzzle games.[7] The Japanese release contains over 100 hours of gameplay.[6]

The game has the largest roster of characters in the series, including the heroes of Class VII, the heroes of Liberl, and Crossbell’s Special Support Section.[7] The game is largely centered on characters from Class VII.[6] However, several playable characters from older games were made unplayable for this game.[6] Main characters include Rean Schwarzer (Sean Chiplock and Kōki Uchiyama),[8] instructor of Class VII, among others such as Estelle Bright (Stephanie Sheh and Akemi Kanda),[9] Joshua Bright (Johnny Yong Bosch and Mitsuki Saiga),[9] Renne Bright (Sandy Fox and Aoi Yūki),[9] Agate Crosner (Ben Pronsky and Takayuki Kondō),[9] Tita Russell (Brianna Knickerbocker and Hiromi Konno),[9] Lloyd Bannings (Robbie Daymond and Tetsuya Kakihara),[9] Elie MacDowell (Erica Mendez and Aya Endō),[9] Tio Plato (Kayli Mills and Kaori Mizuhashi),[9] Randolph Orlando (Jonah Scott and Shin-ichiro Miki),[9] and KeA Bannings (Laura Landon and Rie Kugimiya).[9][10][11][12]

The game is a direct sequel to the prior three Trails of Cold Steel games, set two weeks after the final battle in Trails of Cold Steel III.[13] The events of that game's final chapter have led to a self-coup and threaten to lead to an invasion of the Calvard Republic. Meanwhile, the surviving members of Class VII, reeling from the destruction of the Courageous, Millium's (Michelle Marie and Kotori Koiwai)[8] death, and Rean's loss of control, are brought to a witch's village to recover, except for Musse (Alexis Tipton and Ami Koshimizu),[8] who is secretly the newly appointed Duchess Cayenne and is rallying other countries to oppose the Imperial Army; Ash (Austin Lee Matthews and Tomoaki Maeno),[8] who was taken into protective custody by Musse's forces during the final battle, but has escaped and ended up in his ruined hometown Hamel; Crow (Charger Tomlee and Takahiro Sakurai),[14] who has regained his memories but still momentarily remains on the Gnomes' side; and Rean, who has been captured by his father Giliath Osborne (Michael Sorich and Jouji Nakata).[15][6]

Juna (Erika Harlacher and Nao Tōyama),[8] Kurt (Joe Zieja and Takuya Eguchi),[8] and Altina (Rachel Hirschfeld and Yui Horie)[8] awaken to find out about Rean's capture.[6] Determined to rescue Rean and put a stop to Osborne's plans, Juna takes charge of Class VII and travels all over Crossbell and Erebonia to try and figure out what Ouroboros and Osborne's plans are, while convincing Ash and Musse to rejoin. During their investigation, they discover that the governor-general of Crossbell, Rufus Albarea (D. C. Douglas and Daisuke Hirakawa),[16] had been using his position to find and take possession of the last remaining Divine Knight. The group finally discovers the location of the facility where Rean is being held at and stage a rescue mission. Upon arriving, they find Rean has already fully succumbed to his Ogre curse, but the presence of all of his friends allows him to reconstruct his heart and regain his senses. Still loyal to Rean, Crow decides to rejoin Rean's side. Osborne arrives and explains to them that since all of the Divine Knights have been awakened, they can begin the "Rivalry", which is a ritual that involves the Divine Knight holders battling each other until only one remains, with the survivor becoming the new vessel for the Great One, Ishmelga. Rean swears to put a stop to Osborne's plan as he makes his escape. Soon after, Rean and Crow duel in their Divine Knights, with Rean and Valimar (D. C. Douglas and Daisuke Matsubara)[14] emerging victorious, resulting in the Ashen Knight beginning to absorb Ordine's power. When it becomes clear that Crow's life is bound to Ordine, Rean forces Valimar to instead turn the Azure Knight into a retainer.

As Rean and his friends, including a much-alive Angelica (Kimberly Brooks and Naomi Shindō)[14] - who George (Matthew Mercer and Takeshi Mori)[14] managed to convince the chief of the Gnomes to brainwash rather than kill - and George - who is eventually convinced to abandon his Copper Georg persona and defect from the Gnomes - regroup, it is also revealed that Millium had survived, having taken the form of the sword Valimar now wields. In addition, it emerges that, due to external intervention, Prince Olivert (Matthew Mercer and Takehito Koyasu)[14] survived the destruction of the Courageous with only an eye lost in the ordeal, and now commands a larger, more powerful airship, the Courageous II. Rean decides to proceed with the Rivalry for now, as it is their only means of reaching Osborne. They first confront and engage Rutger (David Craig and Hōchū Ōtsuka)[16] and Arianrhod (Cherami Leigh and Aya Hisakawa),[16] and they are both defeated. Rutger refuses to be saved and passes away peacefully; Arianrhod is murdered by Rufus before she can defect to Rean's side, but frees Valimar and Millium from the Curse, allowing Valimar to speak again and Millium to manifest a ghost-like form. Both Rutger's and Arianrhod's followers join forces with Rean. Meanwhile, as the Curse begins to take hold over all of Erebonia, the entire country begins to mobilize for war against the Calvard Republic. Black Alberich (Armen Taylor and Hiroki Yasumoto),[16] Osborne and Ouroboros then raise a massive floating fortress where they wait for Rean's arrival.

While his friends and allies disable the fortress' defenses, Rean and the new and old Class VII board the fortress itself and fight their way through its defenders, defeating Lechter (Phillip Reich and Masakazu Morita),[15] Claire (Rachel Kimsey and Ami Koshimizu),[15] Cedric (Quinton McBeard and Naomi Shindō),[15] Shirley (Amber Lee Connors and Ayana Taketatsu),[16] Mariabell (Dawn M. Bennett and Rie Tanaka),[16] Campanella (Zach Aguilar and Kanae Itō),[16] Rufus, Alberich, and McBurn (Allen Lee and Junichi Suwabe),[16] leaving Osborne as the final Divine Knight holder. It is also revealed that Osborne is in fact the resurrected form of Dreichels, an ancient hero who was instrumental in the formation of Erebonia who had taken the Curse within himself and arranged events as Chancellor as part of his plan to permanently destroy the Curse. Rean and Osborne then face off in one final battle, with Rean being victorious.

In the game's normal ending, with Osborne's defeat, Rean inherits the Curse but is not strong enough to contain Ishmelga. Instead, he, Crow, and Millium sacrifice themselves to destroy Ishmelga, freeing Erebonia of the Curse at the cost of their own lives.

In the game's true ending, which is unlocked by clearing the game once, Rean is able to find a way to separate Ishmelga from his soul. While Rean is freed from the Curse, Ishmelga physically manifests. Rean and all of his friends, allies, and his followers work together to defeat Ishmelga and the Curse for good. Rean has one final farewell to the spirits of Osborne, Rutger, and Arianrhod. With their duty done, the Divine Knights use up the last of their power to restore Crow's body and the sword containing Millium's soul before disappearing. The Emperor recovers from his wounds and retakes control of Erebonia. War with the Calvard Republic is averted and Rufus is arrested, with Osborne being made the scapegoat. Despite having been loyal to Osborne, Claire and Lechter return to their respective roles, with both continuing their duties within the Intelligence Division and the Railway Military Police. Knowing he will likely be disinherited due to the political ramifications of his actions and too ashamed to face his family, Cedric escapes with Shirley and joins Ouroboros. Crossbell manages to win its independence. After Erebonia is stabilized, Millium's soul is transferred to a backup body the Gnomes had prepared, resurrecting her, albeit without her memories as a sword. Later, Rean and his friends all attend Prince Olivert's and Scherazard Harvey's (Michelle Ruff and Yuka Shioyama)[9] royal wedding and celebrate.

In a post-credits scene, the remaining Ouroboros members meet with their leader, the Grandmaster, who assures them that despite the setbacks Ouroboros suffered, events are still going as planned. She estimates that Rean's efforts have given the world three more years before its end, and declares the beginning of the "Eternal Recurrence Plan".

Plans for a fourth title in the Trails of Cold Steel metaseries were revealed in an interview with Nihon Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo in November 2017, stating that the company originally intended to end the metaseries after Trails of Cold Steel III but thought it would be difficult ending it there, making the decision to develop a fourth entry to properly conclude the series' third story arc.[17]

Like the previous entries in the tetralogy, the game was developed using the PhyreEngine game engine.[18]

In late 2017, the game was initially given a release window of Q4 2018 in Japan for the PlayStation 4,[19] which was later narrowed down to September 27, 2018.[20] A "limited edition" was also sold in Japan.[21]

An official English localization by NIS America was announced on April 1, 2020,[22][23] which was released on October 27, 2020 for the PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe, and November 6, 2020 in Australia and New Zealand. A port for the Nintendo Switch is scheduled for release on March 18, 2021 in Japan,[2] April 9, 2021 in North America and Europe, and April 16, 2021 in Oceania.[24] A port for Microsoft Windows is also scheduled for release in 2021, with an exact date not yet confirmed.[25]

The Western release was marred by a technical problem that prevented those who pre-ordered the game from downloading and playing it.[26]

Frontline Gaming Japan reviewed the Japanese PlayStation 4 release of the game in February 2020. Giving it a score of 90/100, the review stated "the Kiseki series is a pinnacle of modern Japanese RPGs, and Sen IV does not fail to live up to the series’ legacy." The review did question some of the "balancing" of the battle system compared to older games in the series, with the giant robots fights described as more tedious. It did praise how plot threads from older games were concluded, and noted the Vantage Master minigame had been improved.[6] The review praised the soundtrack, calling it superior to III.[6]

• Official website
• Official publisher site