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Jan 6, 2023 6:11 AM
#1

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Nov 2011
129183
This was alright but it doesn't really follow the games but instead follows Lavian and her adventures in the story along with military campaigns. At least the setting and Jeagers are relevant to this, even though I wish they adapted the ones from the games.

While this episode has a lot of military elements and the OP song has some familiar characters, I hope we get to see more of them later in the show.

On a technical note, it's a small thing but I like how they used some of the game's OST. 
Stark700Jan 6, 2023 6:58 AM
Jan 6, 2023 7:13 AM
#2

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Feb 2021
7648
Hope for a detailed game adaptation!
Jan 6, 2023 7:21 AM
#3
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Dec 2021
53
Damn that music made me do a double take
Feels like I am actually playing Cold Steel
Jan 6, 2023 7:26 AM
#4
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Dec 2021
53
Also that Pom reference 😂
Overall pretty good start
Jan 6, 2023 7:35 AM
#5
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May 2008
428
Wow.... there's a LOT to say. 

So now that the first episode has came out we can definitely say that you kinda need to play Cold Steel 1 and 2. Otherwise, you just won't really understand much or just know what is at stake here. Like you would not know who is Calvard or Crossbell why is such a tragedy that Calvard lost to Erebonia and why is it such a big thing that it got annexed etc...

There are a LOT of small references/details and easter eggs to the games, like poms or the mentioning of Sara (Purple Lightning).
Also loved the ending, there were pictures from Raquel casino, Ordis, Heimdall Race Curse, Ymir hot springs, Roer. So if you played Cold Steel 1-2-3-4 you will know some places from the ending.

Loved the opening, I really love we got to see Aurelia and Wallace and really hope that we will see more from them. They are just that amazing characters.

Also. we finally got to see how North Ambria looks like. We never got to explore it in the games.

It was a good first episode nothing much or extraordinary but I loved it no matter what, since I am a Kiseki fan and it was just filled with so many things from the games that i instantly recognised that I just had to give this episode an 5/5.
Jan 6, 2023 8:26 AM
#6
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Oct 2021
231
So far it's decent. The first episode took it's time establishing the state of North Ambria and who the Northen jaegers are. Though some of the dialogue seemed odd as characters were stating things to each other that they should know. Even one of them says "Dude everyone knows this" at some point. I understand the need to convey a lot in 20ish minutes, so it's not too big of a bother, it's still worth pointing out though.
The animation quality is clearly not the focus of this show. 

The soundtrack immediately gives you the feeling of the games, and given how good the game's soundtrack is, this is a good thing.

As for Lavi, what we can see she's a capable fighter, calm, has good perception skills, and doesn't seem like the talkative type. She's not a cold person though, as we see her playing with the child later in the episode. She seems to be a bit reckless though, as she probably would've lost to the big gorrila if not for her teammates.

If the trails series succeeds in anything, it is making people care about the characters. So I'm hoping to see them develope well.
Jan 6, 2023 8:27 AM
#7

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Nov 2016
32003
Solid start. What I usually don't like about game adaptation is the lack of coherency. That's not the case here. Sure the exposition was barebone and it could've helped to have more creative directing, but I'm intrigued.

Opening was surprisingly catchy. First time I've heard of the performing artist. Ending was nice too.

One Piece episode 914 & 915 & 1027 were a mistake and 957 brought the salvation - FMmatron


Jan 6, 2023 8:53 AM
#8

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Apr 2019
103
glad I kept my expectations low cause that was average at best
Jan 6, 2023 10:17 AM
#9
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Apr 2013
20
Let's all just be honest, we're watching this to see the game's characters animated, specially Sara and Altina
Jan 6, 2023 10:26 AM

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Mar 2018
136
Awful first episode. Starts with an escort mission, interrupted by a side quest. Later on protagonist is being flooded with random missions and events, not to mention constant outpour of unnatural exposition, its like those writers don't know that they are making anime instead of their game. I also find it funny how the protagonist is silent for the first 9 minutes for the epic reveal that she is a girl.
Jan 6, 2023 11:06 AM
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Oct 2013
3
For a first episode its really bad and I played the games until Cold Steel IV.
Hope the lore catch up the very bad graphics...
Jan 6, 2023 11:21 AM

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Apr 2013
7945
Well, the first few seconds of the show are already telling you which series is being adapted lol. They certainly weren't subtle with the first melody. Music was pretty tame after that though.

The animation in the first part was pretty bad as a whole, tbh. They did make the effort to generally animate one person at every moment, but the other are not especially animated, so when there are several on the screen this quickly shows. I was pretty worried but it came back to okay level during the main fight, so that wasn't that much of a problem after all.

Overall that was alright. They did try to bring in some exposition for peoples who don't know the verse, while knowing very well that there's no way they fill in in everything. I think the way they're doing it will be enough. I saw peoples saying that it wasn't, but anime only viewers do NOT NEED to know more about Crossbell and Calvard than that for this story, for example. "A country lost, and a place that got annexed due to that loss, therefore the next target of the victor is probably us" is all they need to understand on that point.

I don't know how good the story in itself will be, but it looks like they'll handle the exposition/need for explanation in okay manner. Not too much, not too little. There's nothing to get excited about, for sure. But I don't think many peoples were hopeful enough to think there would be anyway.
Jan 6, 2023 12:57 PM
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Jan 2012
37
It was okay. 
Animation direction is pretty honestly dreadful, storyboard is generic and everything else is between downright ugly and unnoticeable.

The whole exposition is a bit awkward but necessary for eventuak newcomers, there's one awkward scene (Rogan revealing to Lavie that he knows who she is is pretty weirdly made when you think about the script) but Rean's iconisation is well done.
Overall it's a generic Gundam-y episode i'd say, but things will probably advance pretty quickly.
Jan 6, 2023 1:04 PM
Shingster

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Jun 2015
4422
No matter how mighty one is they still need to eat and pay their men so every mission no matter how small is needed. At the very least they were bang on with the monster designs. And the northern jaegers showed well why they were so highly regarded by the people as well. Iseria's kill of the giant though really was impressive and awe inspiring. Kick ass opening theme though. While the going is tough looks like the capital is flourishing at least on the surface. Must be tough being popular though. The impact of the salt pale incident though shown as a flashback really was haertbreaking. Imagine seeing your loved one dying in front of you as they are turned into salt painfully. The kid thanking Iseria with the doll though was cute. Rogan's rallying cry was really something and it was something that only he a hero that has the respect of the people could pull off. Overall a decent opening ep that featured a good balance of action and world expansion. Rogan looks like he might be more cunning than people give him credit for though. But seeing the world from another countries POV is a fresh idea.
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Jan 6, 2023 1:11 PM

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Jun 2015
3269
Was okay, but I cant believe the two at the start giving there all got to to one last bullet, through away there guns hug and cried when seconds before they were being total chads and heros. This show does not carry a comedy tag so its a little confusing that happened. Is this based on a manga. Ill break my duck and like to compare the scene between source material and this PM pls. I don't mind Mary Sues but I need a little context in my story.
To have you, Id give a billion lives A-Chan best girl
Jan 6, 2023 1:19 PM
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Jul 2015
90
Is it possible to actually watch this without any prior knowledge of the world?
Jan 6, 2023 1:29 PM
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Oct 2021
231
Roch2001 said:
Was okay, but I cant believe the two at the start giving there all got to to one last bullet, through away there guns hug and cried when seconds before they were being total chads and heros.  This show does not carry a comedy tag so its a little confusing that happened.  Is this based on a manga.  Ill break my duck and like to compare the scene between source material and this  PM pls.  I don't mind Mary Sues but I need a little context in my story.

Yeah that part killed the tone a bit. One second we're rescuing a village from being annihilated and the next we have a cartoonish comedy moment with the danger is still there. There are ways to do it. It wasn't like that though.
As for the source, this is based on a jrpg video game series called "The legend of heroes" or "Trails" for short. The anime takes place between two games and tells the story of an event that happened between them. We're only told about the event briefly in games, so the characters from North Ambria are mostly new. You won't find a scene to compare the events of this anime to in the games.
Jan 6, 2023 1:30 PM
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Jan 2012
37
SteelCobraSRB said:
Is it possible to actually watch this without any prior knowledge of the world?
You can, but i don't exactly advise it.
The first episode explained pretty well the geopolitical situation of the country the anime takes place in, but is still pretty vague when it concerns international geopolitics, thus you won't get the revelation at the end while every people who played the games will think "yep, they're in deep shit"

If you're ready to put TIME in it, i advise you to play Trails in the Sky, and going by the release order (there's 9 games available in english, be careful, it's LONG), then watching the anime later.
If you're not, well you might appreciate the anime, but you'll miss some part of the overall context and emotional moments.
Jan 6, 2023 1:35 PM
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Jul 2015
90
Zccdcccc said:
SteelCobraSRB said:
Is it possible to actually watch this without any prior knowledge of the world?
You can, but i don't exactly advise it.
The first episode explained pretty well the geopolitical situation of the country the anime takes place in, but is still pretty vague when it concerns international geopolitics, thus you won't get the revelation at the end while every people who played the games will think "yep, they're in deep shit"

If you're ready to put TIME in it, i advise you to play Trails in the Sky, and going by the release order (there's 9 games available in english, be careful, it's LONG), then watching the anime later.
If you're not, well you might appreciate the anime, but you'll miss some part of the overall context and emotional moments.

Thx for the info and advice. I am not interested in playing these games. Such a shame, the anime seemed nice. I guess it's a pass then. Thanks again.
Jan 6, 2023 1:42 PM
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Jun 2019
1
Well, yep, as it showed in the trailers, the drawing and the animation is not the best, to say the least. However, I couldn't help but smile trough the whole episode, when I saw the familiar characters, and heared the familiar stories and musics. So even if this anime gets a lot of hate and slack, I will enjoy it for adding more Trails for the Trails universe.
Jan 6, 2023 2:05 PM
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Sep 2019
36
To those watching this anime would prefer to play the games first to understand what the lore is going on.
Jan 6, 2023 2:06 PM

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Jun 2015
3269
Secret333 said:
Roch2001 said:
Was okay, but I cant believe the two at the start giving there all got to to one last bullet, through away there guns hug and cried when seconds before they were being total chads and heros.  This show does not carry a comedy tag so its a little confusing that happened.  Is this based on a manga.  Ill break my duck and like to compare the scene between source material and this  PM pls.  I don't mind Mary Sues but I need a little context in my story.

Yeah that part killed the tone a bit. One second we're rescuing a village from being annihilated and the next we have a cartoonish comedy moment with the danger is still there. There are ways to do it. It wasn't like that though.
As for the source, this is based on a jrpg video game series called "The legend of heroes" or "Trails" for short. The anime takes place between two games and tells the story of an event that happened between them. We're only told about the event briefly in games, so the characters from North Ambria are mostly new. You won't find a scene to compare the events of this anime to in the games.


Thanks. I play jrpg games and dont mind adaptions but yes, killed the tone for me. If they add comedy into the mal tag list for the show maybe Ill continue watching else I will walk with my feet.
To have you, Id give a billion lives A-Chan best girl
Jan 6, 2023 2:37 PM

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Jul 2011
2202
I wont ever play the game probably so I will enjoy the travel.
Well, will watch with caution, until I know if the mecha pilot is a jackass, he look like a jackass.
Jan 6, 2023 2:58 PM

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May 2018
11327
Almost the same case as Ars no Kyojuu - generic JRPG stuff with good music...tho the lore here seems way way more interesting.
Jan 6, 2023 3:36 PM

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Sep 2020
224
Looks pretty interesting , will continue watching
Jan 6, 2023 3:43 PM
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Jul 2018
564057
So now that the first episode has came out we can definitely say that you kinda need to play Cold Steel 1 and 2. Otherwise, you just won't really understand much or just know what is at stake here. 
you forgot to mention that they also need to play Trails from Zero and Trails of Azure (Crossbell Duology), at this point of view they will know how Crossbell was really annexed by the Erebonia. if i recall it right characters from Crossbell Arc are on the run against Erebonia.

EDIT: Calvard is Located East of Erebonia and they are separate from Crossbell. while Crossbell is located inbetween Erebonia Empire and The Republic of Calvard.

removed-userJan 6, 2023 4:02 PM
Jan 6, 2023 6:11 PM

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Jan 2020
2485
I thought this would’ve featured Rean like the Trails of Cold Steel series does. Was hoping to watch an anime adaptation of that because the games are too long.
Jan 6, 2023 6:34 PM
Lily Flower

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Dec 2020
101
Animillion said:
I thought this would’ve featured Rean like the Trails of Cold Steel series does. Was hoping to watch an anime adaptation of that because the games are too long.
From just the first episode, I think I can very safely say this isn't going to be an adaption of the Trails of Cold Steel games, at all. Rean will feature at some point, but this is adding to the Trails' universe lore rather than adapting anything existing.

Which will likely mean this won't be anywhere near as good a show for people who've not at least played the Crossbell Duology and Trails of Cold Steel I & II, if not the whole series to date. 

Jan 6, 2023 7:52 PM
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Jul 2016
1
Peak fiction AOTY already 10/10 kino raw goated fire Rean showing up is pinnacle of anime this season
Jan 6, 2023 7:53 PM
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Jan 2013
1
SteelCobraSRB said:
Is it possible to actually watch this without any prior knowledge of the world?
Yes.....................
Jan 6, 2023 7:53 PM
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Jan 2020
2018
Damn, this is the epitome of mediocrity
Jan 6, 2023 9:22 PM

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Sep 2016
4554
lmao that was garbage. but I have to  watch it for the sake of Rean completion haha...
CrossAnge

Hey guys check my profile for current airing season anime recommendation (guaranteed best taste)
Jan 6, 2023 10:01 PM
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Jan 2018
511
SteelCobraSRB said:
Is it possible to actually watch this without any prior knowledge of the world?
Considering this relies on setting, story, thematic, character and world context of the 7 games that came before this arc alone, no it's not. This anime is in no way standalone.
Jan 6, 2023 10:43 PM

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Jan 2020
2485
CutieZia said:
Animillion said:
I thought this would’ve featured Rean like the Trails of Cold Steel series does. Was hoping to watch an anime adaptation of that because the games are too long.
From just the first episode, I think I can very safely say this isn't going to be an adaption of the Trails of Cold Steel games, at all. Rean will feature at some point, but this is adding to the Trails' universe lore rather than adapting anything existing.

Which will likely mean this won't be anywhere near as good a show for people who've not at least played the Crossbell Duology and Trails of Cold Steel I & II, if not the whole series to date. 

Yea, no hate for the fmc but I played a demo of one of the games and enjoyed the setting, with Rean being a teacher I believe. If only it were a standalone game like Tales of Arise and not a long series. Oh well, this anime is a missed opportunity imo.
Jan 7, 2023 12:10 AM

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Sep 2014
2332
I agree that the start was mediocre especially the first half was pretty jarring and the comedy if I can call it that during those parts was really off-putting. On the other hand, I loved the references of Crossbell's annexation and Salt Pale Incident that ravaged North Ambria. Ofc, this wouldn't be newcomer friendly...

I'm just here to see most of the already established characters and hopefully more Ouroboros members other than Campanella.
Jan 7, 2023 12:54 AM
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Oct 2021
2
First time ever I am totaly confused by the public's reaction to some piece of media. I mean yes, there are problems like wierd jokes, strange montage (sometimes) and the picture looks rather cheap (wich is compensated by rich animation). But in other instances it is a good show. Writing is already much better then in Cold Steel games. Story looks promising. And most importantly, main character is not morronic infantile imbecile like Rean. I dont understand why 6.5, when it is clearly much better.
Jan 7, 2023 1:44 AM

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Dec 2015
3218
Sounds okay so far. I only know Trails in the Sky FC+SC. Recognized one guy in the OP. And I think they will make it so you can understand it without having played Cold Steel - still getting people interested in wanting to know more (buying the games) while on the other hand not being too bad as stand-alone anime.

Main char looks good. The other 2 guys feel like some Biggs/Wedge from Final Fantasy. I just hope we will get to see them without helmet as well. (Otherwise it would be a cheap way to avoid drawing faces. :D)
Story: Needs time to develop. The Trails games all are slow I think. (At least the older ones I played. :D) We'll see. A lot has been  hinted at in episode 1 though. Guys wanting to fight vs. that empire.

Caues of the school/academy setting (dislike this) I am not too movitated to play the later games in the series. (+ I might need to replay from Sky first chapter cause that was some time ago when I played that) ... so watching this basically as anime-only + some wiki knowledge about the games/chars.
Jan 7, 2023 5:30 AM
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Mar 2012
4110
lots of worldbuilding already, feels whole episode has directing issues. Erbonia, Crossbell? what place are the mc's even at & neighboring countries?
Decent alien monster fight.
for a premiere following mostly faceless grunt soldiers then townsfolk is a poor way to keep new audience. Rogan seems cool tho
Jan 7, 2023 5:51 AM
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Jan 2023
1
Anyone know the first BGM name??? I cant remember where i heared it

edit : found it!

Sen no Kiseki III OST (First Volume) - Fleeting Homecoming

eroge69Jan 7, 2023 6:35 AM
Jan 7, 2023 9:10 AM
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Jan 2021
62
very great start poggers
Jan 7, 2023 11:57 AM
Supreme Tsundere

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Nov 2012
4245
Seems like it is getting a pretty cold reception from fans of the game, tbh between this and Nier Automata, if I had to pick I would prefer Nier to have the premium staff whereas this can end up more trash since this is not adopting any of the Cold Steel games directly (they would need tons of season for that), and with Nier, and 24 episodes, there is a lot more greatness ahead.
Trails of series are slow burns, we are only watching this for fanservice cuz otherwise it won't pick up that much momentum, an adaptation of Trails in the Sky 1 and 2 in 24-39 episodes with premium staff and proper respect would have gotten my WET anytime versus this.
Jan 7, 2023 12:34 PM

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Apr 2016
749
The new anime looks atrocious. The detailed backgrounds do not gel with cartoons characters who only have one layer of shading. That's a general problem with modern anime but most shows at least paste a filter on to make it less jarring, but here there are several shots that just look terribly composited. There is also a scene where Lavi is drawn at a different angle than the environment she is supposed to be standing on. Also, shoddy 3D CGI. The soundtrack is forgettable. Falcom's people did the music for the Sky OVA and it sounded great, no idea why they aren't doing the music for this show.

The first episode is pretty bad as a hook. The first four minutes are about grunts trudging through the show. This could be interesting with better directing and art and animation, but alas. You can't even see their faces and they look near identical so you can't tell who is who. The main character has no personality. Can't tell you anything about her. The bad guy's speech at the end was incoherent. "What did our founding fathers leave us? Nothing! So I'm going to fight the Erebonians!" What does fighting the Erebonians have anything to do with what the founding fathers left you guys? Never mind that you just acknowledged that your country is weak and impoverished, and you just acknowledged that the empire is strong, just conquered a wealthier territory, and has a new superweapon. If the writers of the games had been working on this then I'd imagine they could come up with more sensible lines. Could also be a bad translation but given everything else about this show, I'm inclined to think that the writing is just bad.
Jan 7, 2023 6:16 PM

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Dec 2016
1475
I play the games so this was a series I was very much looking forward to.

Very exciting start, great fight against that sasquatch.

Looking forward to seeing more.
Jan 7, 2023 6:25 PM

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Sep 2011
2577
I'm interested to see how this midquel is handled but man Tatsunoko just isn't the studio they used to be.  The animation quality was rough and that last scene was Joe Rogan was a bit too fast paced.  
Jan 7, 2023 8:38 PM

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Nov 2012
2371
My favorite scenes were the snowball fight and the tour of the market. I kept waiting for Tak and Pom?? to take off their helmets. 
Jan 8, 2023 3:21 AM
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Sep 2016
4
It was great, it set up it all fine, and the music reminded me of the games
Jan 8, 2023 8:06 AM
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Feb 2021
63
I sympathized I would say
Jan 8, 2023 5:52 PM

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Oct 2015
288
Well... the artstyle is pretty generic, but it was an okay episode. I like those 2 senpais with the MC. Buuut idk. I might get bored of this anime soon. Nothing really hooked me up. I'll give it 1 or 2 more episodes.
   HuaLian <3
Jan 9, 2023 2:31 AM

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Jan 2016
416
I haven't played the games, I didn't even know this anime had anything to do with any games. I'm actually enjoying this more than anything else new this season so far. The setting reminds me a bit of the beginning of FF6. I like Lavi's 2 soldier friends, Lavi isn't that emotive though. I'm looking forward to see where this goes.
Jan 9, 2023 12:42 PM

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Dec 2015
8417
Haven't played the game but it seems to be interesting adaptation.

Btw the "Northern Borscht", which they were eating after arriving to that city, is a real dish x) -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borscht I am not even surprised the characters enjoyed that meal as it is a tasty one, in my country [Poland] we eat that usually only for Christmass. That's a rarity to see a slavic dish in an anime, noted int notebook, bookmarked and saved in memory.
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