Finished Cold Steel IV! Crazy finale

I've been posting my thoughts on each Trails game as I finish them on this subreddit, and it's time to make my 9th post for Cold Steel IV!

I had a few nitpicks but I love it anyways. I could complain about the lack of meaningful deaths, or the theme of self-sacrifice not being properly realized because of said lack, but this is a great game that made me feel things throughout it. (I love Crow but coming back TWICE? Very unserious business). I teared up several times while playing CS4, and although I think the side quests in CS III were stronger, there was some great emotionally resonant content in this entry too.

Seeing the old casts from Sky and Crossbell was great too, although since this arc isn't about them, the game doesn't do too much with the characters besides having them as a support network around Class VII. But the interactions between casts really made me smile and was a highlight of the game.

The conclusion of the game reminded me a lot of Azure and SC mechanically, doing the whole gauntlet of bosses with different characters corresponding to our different party members. I'm not sure what the general perception is of characters like Shirley, Cedric, and Rufus, but I can't say my impression of any of these 3 characters improved by the end.

I will say, the entire Cold Steel arc has definitely provided some of my favorite Kiseki characters. Ash, Juna, and Altina are all great. I like most of old Class VII as well, Jusis, Fie, Laura, and Sara being my personal picks. Also, I personally think the whole harem thing with Rean is kinda eyeroll inducing but I do think he is a great character too. I've heard people dismiss him as a character that doesn't have any "flaws," but I feel like playing through the arc definitely illustrates his self-hatred and how he constantly tries to sacrifice himself because of said hatred combined with guilt over his actions in the end of CS III. Kinda gives me some Shirou vibes now that I think about it.

Not sure when I will start Reverie, but I've heard nothing but great things about it. So long, Cold Steel arc! We had a fantastic time together.