Suikoden Review

[Julius Seeker]

I don't have a lot to say about this game at this point; don't have a huge list of problems with the game like I did in my Secret of Mana review that I just wrote. It took me 18 hours to finish; it's a very easy game in comparison to other RPGs, I lost a few characters, but I don't think I was ever stuck for long or had any real difficulty in battles. The game isn't anything icnredible, but it is fairly enjoyable, and I would place it somewhere around Lufia 2, Breath of Fire 4, and Golden Sun. So a fairly solid game that is very enjoyable, but one that I can understand why it wasn't bigger.

Graphically, it was fairly late-SNES level, the music was fairly good in parts. The art isn't as interesting as a lot of later SNES games though (like Secret of Evermore, Chrono Trigger, Terranigma, etc), but is on a similar level of detail.

Overall, there isn't much good or bad I can say about this game, if you have played a lot of RPGs out of Japan, you'll find this one to be a bit below average in comparison to most of the console RPGs of the mid-90's. That being said, luckily below average for an RPG of that time still = Great, and that is what this game is. I can completely understand how this game built up a rather loyal fanbase though.

On a side note, a have started the second game and I am already finding it much better. I am not far enough in to say for sure, but right now I think this one may turn out to be one of the better mid-90's styled RPGs. It seems to be on the level of Ogre Battle 64 and Wild Arms at this point.

As a Final thought - anyone here (and I assume everyone here is a fan of RPGs considering this community was built on fans of Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, and Wild Arms) should play this game if they haven't already. It is worth at least one play through, so try and get ahold of the game if you can.

[SineSwiper]

The first Suikoden was both bad and good in a lot of places, and either part seem to balance the other out.

The combat was easy, and leveling characters was amazingly simple. (If you had a level 5 character in your group, and you killed a lv40 set of enemies, they guy would go up ten levels or so.) However, the variety of characters kept things interesting.

The story was pretty bland, but the music and graphics made up for it. I always hold this one in my heart as part of the Konami "trifecta" of excellent soundtracks during that era: Suikoden, Castlevania:SotN, and Vandal Hearts. While everybody else (including later Square with FF7) was staggering out of the SNES era without much change in the way they did music, Konami was pioneering the use of full bodied instrument sets and rich music to showcase just what the PSX's audio was capable of.

It also had the most non-boring fight music I'd heard, despite being short themes and repeated throughout the game. I thought some of the scenes in the game had music that made up for the bad dialogue in bringing emotion to them.

[Blotus]

I can has Suikoden 2 when you're done with it?

It's a real shame they didn't release the S1&2 compilation for the PSP over here. I would have been all over that.

[Oracle]

I need to beat Suikoden 1 someday still. I got to the first town in it and went insano on the gambling, and have so retarded amount of money.... then I quit.

I own all of the other Suikodens, including Tactics. I love that series (in front of Final Fantasy).

[Julius Seeker]

I can't wait to continue the series. I was told part 3 was bad? I still want to try and get the whole thing for a decent price.

[Chris]

I can't wait to continue the series. I was told part 3 was bad? I still want to try and get the whole thing for a decent price.

3 was a great game. a lot of poeple didn't like it because it's completely different. it's probably the most unique of all the suikodens. but the story is brilliant especially once it all comes together.

I'd put them in this order now after finishing 5 again...

2
5
3
1
4

2 is still one of my favorite games ever made. quite possibly my favorite.

5 just has an absolutely amazing story. from start to finish I was completely engrossed my first time through. It has a very long set up period of fetch quests and world building to start. My first time through I was getting ready to return it after the long long long opening......but then the plot really kicks in and fuck me that game is amazing...also has the classic Suikoden battle system.

3 also has a fantastic story and a very unique method of telling it. I loved the characters involved and the unique new battle system. it really tried to be too new and turned a lot fo people off. really the most different of the games.

1 I still love but yeah. it had its weaknesses but I did love a lot of the main characters and there were some great story moments.

4 just kind of a generic RPG. nothing spectacular story wise and a couple tedius points and really......naggin JRPG elements that permeated the era. It could have been great. it had an interesting idea but damn....compared to the others it blows all ass......4 member battle teams.....what? sea battles? I was really dissapointed by the game. that's not to say it's a bad game.....it's just.....decent...

Tactics - see above

[bovine]

I bought 3 and 5 this summer. Still have yet to play them

[Blotus]

3
2
5
1




4&Tactics blowing each other 'cause they're the only two games in the series with herpes. I don't have high hopes for the DS game on the way either, but I'll try it.

[Zeus]

I can has Suikoden 2 when you're done with it?

It's a real shame they didn't release the S1&2 compilation for the PSP over here. I would have been all over that.

Me too for sure. I can't believe Konami didn't take advantage of the fact that the second one goes for SO much right now.

Ask someone here to burn it for you if you've got a mod chip on the PSX

[Kupek]

Me too for sure. I can't believe Konami didn't take advantage of the fact that the second one goes for SO much right now.

That a small number of people are willing to pay a lot for an item with a relatively small, finite supply doesn't mean they'd make enough money on re-releasing it here. I'm not saying they wouldn't, either, but it's conceivable Konami actually did the research and decided they wouldn't profit.

[Julius Seeker]

All the Suikoden games go for a fairly decent price (20-40 USD$), but the second one goes for 100-150 USD$. I did my research, the PSP version of Suikoden 1 and 2 bombed in Japan.

[Zeus]

Me too for sure. I can't believe Konami didn't take advantage of the fact that the second one goes for SO much right now.

That a small number of people are willing to pay a lot for an item with a relatively small, finite supply doesn't mean they'd make enough money on re-releasing it here. I'm not saying they wouldn't, either, but it's conceivable Konami actually did the research and decided they wouldn't profit.

Konami has always been very late with these decisions and extremely conservative with their production runs. Look at Suikoden 3. It came out during the PS2's life cycle and it took well over half a year for them to decide to do a second run of it...and only after it was going for well over $100 on Ebay. The second run completely sold out in no time. Now it's just another PS2 game.

I'm convinced that the reason they had such a small production run on S2 and never another one is 'cause it came out so late in the PSX's life, just before the PS2 came out. And it was a very small production run. Hell, I probably wouldn't have one if I didn't have my store and saw it discounted from my supplier. With the retro craze going on and the PSP re-releases doing very well (see Valkaryie Profile Lenneth), it's not a huge risk for them, even if they have to do a whole new translation. They're just so fucking conservative it's insane and irritating for the fans.

[Zeus]

All the Suikoden games go for a fairly decent price (20-40 USD$), but the second one goes for 100-150 USD$. I did my research, the PSP version of Suikoden 1 and 2 bombed in Japan.

And that would be another reason for their conservatism with respect to a US release. Of all the Jap companies, Konami has probably remained the most Japan-centric

[Blotus]

Of course they're conservative, they've got to start saving for the next MGS game. I mean, what else do they have going on nowadays? At least Capcom of all companies is still developing new IP's.

[Zeus]

Of course they're conservative, they've got to start saving for the next MGS game. I mean, what else do they have going on nowadays? At least Capcom of all companies is still developing new IP's.

They make SHITLOADS off of the Dance Dance series. Every one always sells out like crazy and people are constantly looking for them. They always produce less than they can sell and release about 4 of them a year between the systems.

If I'm not mistaken, in Japan, Konami has these exercise centres and they do a lot of stuff with the schooling systems for exercise and stuff. Not games-related. I don't think the gaming division is the main part of their business anymore

And Capcom has always developed tons of new IPs. Even back in the SNES days they worked on stuff like Demon Crest and the NES days they had all those Disney games that they did a really good job with. It's just the people always associate them with sequels their other stuff don't get too much attention

[Oracle]

I can't wait to continue the series. I was told part 3 was bad? I still want to try and get the whole thing for a decent price.

Three is VERY good.

My order:

2
3/5 (can't decide)
4 (jesus christ this game was slow, but it was Suikoden so I still loved it)
tactics
1 (since I can't really judge it yet).