Trails of Cold Steel Anime: Game vs Show

 It is the first part of a four-part arc that follows the story of Rean Schwarzer and his classmates of Class VII at Thors Military Academy, a newly formed class composed of both Erebonian nobility and commoners. The game is set in the Erebonian Empire, a powerful nation facing internal strife and external threats. The game features a turn-based combat system, a link system that allows characters to support each other in battle, and a master quartz system that grants various abilities and skills.

digiairmx |  Trails of Cold Steel Anime

The game was adapted into an anime series in 2022, titled The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War. The anime covers the events of the first game and focuses on the Northern War, a conflict between the Erebonian Empire and the Nord Highlands, a region of nomadic tribes. The anime was produced by Tatsunoko Productions and had twelve episodes.

But how does the anime compare to the game? Let’s take a look at some of the similarities and differences between the two mediums.

Similarities

The anime follows the same plot as the game, with some minor changes and omissions. The main events, such as the field studies, the old schoolhouse exploration, the festival, and the war, are all faithfully depicted in the anime.

The anime retains the same characters as the game, with their personalities, relationships, and development intact. Rean and his classmates are the main protagonists, along with their instructors Sara Valestein and Towa Herschel. The antagonists, such as Chancellor Giliath Osborne, Crow Armbrust, and Vita Clotilde, are also present in the anime.

digiairmx | Trails of cold steel Anime

The anime preserves the same themes as the game, such as class conflict, political intrigue, friendship, loyalty, and identity. The anime also explores the history and culture of Erebonia and its neighboring regions, such as Crossbell and Liberl.

The anime uses the same music as the game, composed by Falcom Sound Team JDK. The soundtrack features both original tracks and arrangements of existing tracks from previous Trails games. The opening theme is "Ashita e no Kiseki" by Kanako Kotera, while the ending article is "I’ll Remember You" by Megumi Sasaka.

Differences

The anime is shorter than the game, with only twelve episodes compared to over 50 hours of gameplay. As a result, some scenes and details are cut or condensed in the anime. For example, some optional quests and character-bonding events are skipped or reduced in the anime.

The anime has less interactivity than the game, as it is a linear narrative rather than a player-driven one. The game allows players to choose dialogue options, explore different locations, customize their equipment and quartz, and make decisions that affect the story. The anime does not have these features.

Trails of Cold Steel Anime

The anime has less combat than the game, as it focuses more on the story and drama rather than the gameplay mechanics. The game has frequent battles against enemies and bosses, using a turn-based system that involves positioning, arts (magic), crafts (special skills), S-Crafts (ultimate attacks), link attacks (cooperative moves), orders (party-wide buffs), brave points (action points), unbalance (staggering enemies), break (depleting enemy shields), rush (team attacks), burst (all-out attacks), overdrive (enhanced link mode), etc. The anime only shows some of these aspects of combat.

The anime has more fanservice than the game, as it adds some scenes that are not present or implied in the game. For example, there is a scene where Rean accidentally walks in on Alisa changing her clothes in her room. There is also a scene where Rean sees Fie sleeping naked in his bed. These scenes are meant to add some humor and romance to the anime.

Conclusion

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War is a faithful adaptation of the first Trails of Cold Steel game. It is an excellent way to experience the story and characters of Class VII without playing the game.