The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
Guide instructor Rean and a new Class VII through postwar Erebonia, exploring and fighting turn-based battles where BP-funded Brave Orders strengthen the party without using a character's turn.
- AI score · out of 10
- 8.2 / 10
About this game
Rean returns as an instructor at a branch military academy, leading a new Class VII in postwar Erebonia. Explore the surroundings, speak with characters and investigate objects as the story develops. Preparation can begin before an encounter: striking an enemy from behind on the field gives your party an advantage when battle starts. Combat makes the upcoming ally and enemy turns visible, so you can plan around who acts next. Brave Orders spend accumulated BP on party-wide benefits without consuming the acting character's turn. Alongside these orders, depleting an enemy's Break Gauge creates an opening for increased damage. Reading the turn display, deciding when to commit BP and preparing a favorable encounter are recurring tactical decisions.
Collected in series
Trails follows connected groups of adventurers across Zemuria, where small local jobs gradually reveal larger political conflicts. Conversations and returning characters reward attention, while party battles revolve around turn order, Crafts and magical Arts, with later games also offering field action.
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Nintendo Switch
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
A tactical fit for players who enjoy coordinating party resources around visible turn order.
Brave Orders and Break give you reasons to consider when a party benefit matters most, rather than looking only at immediate damage. Rean's instructor role also offers a character-focused frame for players interested in a new class within an established setting.
Strengths
- Orders that leave a turn intact create room to combine party support with an immediate action.
- Field positioning makes encounter preparation relevant before command selection begins.
Weaknesses
- Players seeking very simple command battles may find BP and Break add more systems to learn.
Who it is for: Players who like turn-based party planning and a story centered on an instructor and his students.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension The transition from field approach to command battle gives exploration a tactical preparation role that may reward deliberate movement. | Reviewed | 7.8 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Spending BP while watching the turn sequence should appeal to players who enjoy timing support around an opening for damage. | Reviewed | 8.5 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension A returning hero teaching a new class may give players interested in postwar Erebonia a useful personal viewpoint on the setting. | Reviewed | 8.0 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension The visible ally and enemy turn sequence provides information for planning instead of requiring players to guess who acts next. | Reviewed | 8.2 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- Nihon Falcom
- Publisher
- Nippon Ichi SoftwareFalcom
- Release date
- Mar 19, 2020
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Role-Playing · Primary genre
- Tags
- Turn-based CombatFantasy3D GraphicsStory-drivenExplorationLong-term ProgressionLevel ProgressionThird PersonMain Story 20–50 HoursSolo-friendly
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single player
- Perspectives
- Third person
Release editions
- Nintendo SwitchWorldwideMar 19, 2020
Game gallery
Sources
- www.nisamerica.comSource revision: 1
- www.nisamerica.com