In 2021 after seeing the Trails series being on so many Top-whatever JRPGs lists I decided to give it a go. Naturally, I want to start from the beginning so bug out my Vita and bought the PSP version of Trails in the Sky FC from PSN. It immediately grabbed me though at no point during my playthrough I thought it was best-game-of-all-time material. Then the ending happened and I didn't see it coming. I immediately jumped into SC which I loved and placed in my personal Top 10 games of all time. Then I played the 3rd on PC, which I thought was ok, but Renne's door made me cry. I had bought the asian versions of Zero and Azure ready to play the Geofront versions but then the announcement of the official versions came and decided to be patient and wait for those. I played Zero on the Switch when it came out, which I also thought was ok but kind of overhyped. Waited a bit for Azure and loved that too. I still can't decide if I like SC or Azure more. And now I'm bingeing on Cold Steel. I'm currently in the finale of CS II. CS I, like the other arcs' first parts was ok, and I liked CS II so far a lot, just not as much as Sky SC and Azure.
Overall, while none of the individual games are masterpieces imo, this series is special and greater than the sum of its parts. I don't know how it flew under my radar for so long. I can't wait to dive into CS III next, and CS IV and Reverie after that.