Not gonna be streaming Cold Steel 2, but I like getting my thoughts out so imma be doing a twitter thread. Please mute thread, cuz it's gonna be frequent posting, probably

It was recommended to me that I read through the translated drama CD over on http://www.trailsofcoldsteel.com/cs2/memoirs1.html before I play CS2 and I did!

2 things: Angelica is still an overly flirtatious/bordering sexual harassement case (which the first game even directly joked about)

Rean's central conflict with himself is written quite plainly in this. Probably a good way to get caught up with his stuff if you've not played for a while, but I just don't find it relatable (given the subject matter) or interesting. It feels a bit like "suffering from success"

(Spoilers) I genuinely want to buy into it. Obviously I want to care about a dude who's gonna be the main protagonist for at least another 3 100h games. I just find it hard to do so when his main thing is being afraid of losing control over himself because of his superman powers.

(as well as any self confidence issues that arise as a result)

Looking forward to getting to Ymir though! Big fan of snowy landscapes in general + an even bigger fan if they include small, almost snowed-in villages. Comfy vibes!

Getting this explanation every time I start a new Trails game feels kind of nostalgic in a way

Music so far has been 3 hits & 1 miss. New battle theme starting with weird synths is not my jam (and honestly brings the entire track down a lot), but is ok beyond that. Once the guitar, violins, drums & sporadic piano kick in it's smooth going.

First area theme is comfy. Having a bit of a hard time identifying the main string instrument in this though. Like there's a violin, a xylophone (i think?), a bass, some kind of rattle... The instrument I'm referring to kicks in @ 0:20

Like... is it a harp? Just high pitched guitar notes being plucked? I have no idea

It's prob just violin plucks actually

Me: I'm gonna set aside the weird vibes I got from Elise's care for Rean during CS1 and just interpret her as being super worried for her brother from now o-

Alfin: Hello u lovebirds

Elise: *blush*

Nevermind then

Ymir pretty comfy lookin', hell yeah! Got a backing track with wind chimes in it, which is honestly p neat.

Mishy snowman :0

Reading the newspapers in these is always so nice. Just straight up sharing propaganda, probably because they're threatened. Also going as far as to encourage folks to report children to the authorities is pretty wild too

Regular newspapers have usually been a good source of info as to what's going on in the rest of the country in each Trails game. This is still that to a degree, but with a massive twist. Kinda love it, ngl

I know from the CS3 demo that I'll be running into plenty of issues with this game (Altina & co.). I also know that I'll be wanting to quit CS2 every time Elise is on the screen, but it'll be good practice for articulating criticisms. That's value (& why this thread exists)