Game:

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd (2007)

Duration: 3:35:37

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Originally recorded: October 13, 2022
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As I said last time, I spent this entire session doing nothing but side content. So if you're here for the main story, I'd recommend skipping ahead. I definitely intend on moving forward with Chapter 5 with the next session and the gap between recording *and* releasing both of them will be short, so there won't be much of a wait regardless. After all, I managed to pick up another "three-session week" for BtLO! If "filler" doesn't bother you, feel free to join me as I tackle the other two Moon Doors I found... and more!

Considering just how long ago I'd found Moon Door 2, I decided to start with that one -- which ended up detailing the origins of Schera and Aina's friendship. It was pretty cool seeing younger versions of those two. Seeing them drink Olivier under the table in the framing device was great too. Hearing the FC battle theme again was another trip down history lane... though again, the fact that I'm nostalgic for something I literally experienced earlier this year is horrifying. I guess I *could* chalk that up to my abandoned run some years back, but that feels like cheating. Still, the parts of these side stories where you actually get to play normally are pretty cool, even if it seems like the characters are super-limited. I mean, Schera didn't have a single Orbment on her at the time. I guess I should just be happy that the game was super generous with Tear Balms during that segment.

Moon Door 4 was a flashback with "Lil' Estelle" and "Lil' Joshua", which was also awesome. The dream sequence in SC kind of broke me, so seeing the seeds of their relationship being planted -- with more of a focus on the familial/platonic side of it obviously -- was kind of heart-warming. Seeing how Joshua went from the cranky sourpuss he was at the *very* beginning of FC to his more agreeable attitude was a nice little history lesson... and getting to see Estelle's days as an unabashed tomboy was just adorable. Lil' Tio seemed kind of out of character compared to her older self, though. I couldn't imagine her using the word "aromatic" at 16, let alone 11.

I ended up finishing both of them way sooner than I expected, so rather than knocking out a Star Door to cap things off, I decided to redeem my failures with both of the Sun Doors I'd found but yet to complete. Holy crap, those Anglers' Duels were probably the most nerve-wracking gameplay I've had to contend with in a Trails game since the boss fight with Loewe. The weird part is that the first fight is probably the one I had the most trouble with, though obviously, the Fishing Baron was no slouch either. As for the Arena, you'd think I'd attribute it to the higher character levels compared to my first attempt... but really, I'd say I owe it all to saving Estelle and Joshua's S-Crafts for the final fight.

In the end, I'm glad I was able to spend this recording doing "filler" stuff. The fallout of Chapter 4 was pretty brutal, so just being able to see little flashbacks that are arguably more light-hearted than that -- Scherazard and Joshua's origin stories notwithstanding -- was a nice change of pace. Having said that, next time, it'll be back to the main story. I wonder if this'll be another chapter I can finish within a single session, like the rest so far. If I finish early enough, I might even try sneaking in a Star Door or two.

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