Suikoden (1995)

Preliminary: I've been super eager for the PS1 RPG era since I started this chronology project, but I must admit I never actually played any of the Suikodens. And based on what I'm reading there are many characters to recruit and I assume tactical or strategy battles? We shall see. Hopefully the combat clicks, cuz otherwise I probly wotn make it far.

The music has been really good at times (like the mansion tune, so advanced compared to the SNES era!), tho sometimes just okay and very classical-y. The Look isn't as impressive a jump from SNES as I had hoped, but obviously full body sprites and I love the intricacies of this beginning meal at the table. I'm not super impressed with the dialog which I've heard so much about, but I will give it time to develop of course. In the end it'll likely be the combat/gameplay taht decides if this is a 2 or 3 star and move on, or a fully delve in situation.

Early Game

Luckily the combat [so far] has been traditional turn-based. It is weird how it seems a lot louder Sound-wise than the main game. Also odd how quickly all my characters alreayd leveled up from one easy battle, but hey, I take some QoL. It seems a nice progression was intended with this game, accompanied by the open-world possibility to venture more bravely. Well-done. I see a Free Will option, which I hope/assume is AI/simpler for these petty battles, which is nice because it is mostly fast but the extra "Ok?" at the end of the party commands and inability to just hold the button to get through the menus will probly drag things down for me. I also wonder if there is a Memory setting for commands in settings.

The random encounter rate seems pretty high but I'm used to it. Free Will is AI/simpler, but you have to enter it each round. And these battle graphics must've been exciting at the time it came out, full body 3d etc.

Items/equipment menus are a bit tedious... just let me equip from the Item menu. But it's not too bad.

Ehhh I believe I just read that leveling isn't as straightforward as just grind a bunch. I assume it's based on yoru level vs the enemies' level? And I also read that weapons must be Sharpened. Hopefully that's just an upgarde thing and not a degradation/durability thing.

Welp I finished the first boss and basically the intro to the game on the first night. I will revisit it tomorrow and see if it's worth playign through a whole JRPG right now, or if it's just worth a 3 star and RPG Replay tag and move on. I do like it, it just isn't grabbing me yet.

Oooo this crystalline room Leknaat leads me to is nice. Ok it's getting itneresting.

Even tho I'm not getting the urge to 100% it and get the missable items and whatnot (yes, I've turned to a guide just to make sure I get the most of the game), this has grown on me and I feel quite committed to it. Only thing that might ruin it is this "army combat" or whatever I keep reading about. Otherwise it's a fun JRPG that, though not as impressively new as I had hoped, pushes to the next gen like how Phantasy Star did with its full body sprites way back when. Oh, and most the dialog continues to be meh/not-advanced but that interaction with Leknaat got me more intrigued. Oh and same with the lack of cutscenes and the equipment/item menu... oh and the lack of a Memory Command setting. Still, I'm enjoying it so far.

This game has been remarkably easy so far lol I feel like I will be biting my tongue soon for saying that tho.

Dang this group of teammates got real close real quickly! And smoething about this, maybe Ted's character, is reminding me of the upcoming Legend of Dragoon (which I am so excited for) And LoD even has a Soul Eater too

Yesss I love the atmospheric rain/thunder sounds that you didn't often or almost ever see in the prior gens' RPGs. We unfortunately lost my brother in law early this morning, we thought it was going to be a long road ahead of recovery but instead had a sudden surprise. Fortunately this game is the right level of advancement, coziness, and RPG-familiarity that it's playable through this grief right now. I know that's heavy to post but all my reviews are practically just diaries so. Anyway, I went from expecting a month or two of inactivity, being at the Burn Unit regularly, to suddenly knowing I will be needing these types of healthy distractions to get through this time. Grouvee, you're the best!

Anyway this plot moves fast for a JRPG! I thought we were going to have most the game be the petty fetch/sent-to-location missions, but already things are changing. One not-so-advanced thing I've noticed is that there are a lot of repeat sprites for NPCs, not a big deal for me and I assume it helps differentiate who can actually be used in the armies later (which I have not been preparing for and only been chatting a bit, which might hurt me later and I hope that doesn't prove my fall with the game). But I expected the FF9 etc level with it being PS1 that there are all unique NPCs. I reminded myself this is a one-disc PS1 game instead of 4 disc but yea. In general though tihis current story arc is reminding me of FF9 for whatever reason, the whole Garnet thing.. I'm also seeing more and more what people spoke of about the characterization and interesting dialog, I wish the font adn character name as better done and some of the dialog was better, but it is growing on me and feeling more PS1-era/advanced. I never quite got the same intensity from FF4 or FF6 as others did, so I'm hoping this one will click! When growign up FF9, Legend of Dragoon, and LoD so fully encapsulated me, and I'm excited to see that encapsulation increasing in JRPGs.

Ugh the extremely limited Item slots and way they are specific to characters is an outdated mechanic by late 95 I wasn't excited to see return. And absurd that there is no confirmation for sales lol I accidentally sold Medicines whatevs.

Oooo beautiful the Sharpening aspect is not a durability thing, but an upgrade thing. Perfect.

I am getting a bit tired of the tune they have used for so many towns so far, but I have kept the Sound on whcih is a testament to its overall quality so far. I'm assuming, with it beign only one disc, I will be hearing these tunes on repeat a lot so eventually I will likely burn out.

I simultaneously like that there's no need to grind (yet) and also miss the feeling of needing to grind between new areas. It makes it all feel so fast and fun and makes the plot flow more organically, but yea, I expect grinds in RPGs. This works though, and feels modern/advanced from it.

The dialog continues to engage me and the plotline continues to develop. It really is reminding me of the PS1 era of JRPGs, and I am so glad to feel that!

As much as I'm intrigued by the 100% draw of these bathhouse items I have appraised, at this point I have such limited inventory space that I don't really know how I could manage to keep them aroudn so I sold the likes of the Hex Doll etc. If I replay this some day maybe I'll strive for 100%

Something about this keeps reminding me of Phantasy Star. Not just obvious reasons like the full body sprites and the fact each was one of the earliest examples of a next generation JRPG, but just something about the gameplay, menus, and I dunno, I guess it comes down to the next gen-ness, the feeling of advancing to the next era while still being a part of the prior.

Oooo I have a castle now! I assume that means storage for those items I was just complaining about? This game keeps getting mroe interesting and holds me, which is nice because long games like this (tho it's taking longer really just cuz I haven't had as much time to game) have been hard for me to get through lately without something fresh or new. Oh and I haven't mentioned but liuckily the tunes have been more varied than expected, even tho only one disc.

I LOVE how the recruiting aspect builds up your castle. Absolutely love that. Not just party members for fighting and the army battles that I am fearing the mechanics of, but filling in the town a la Dark Cloud and Soul Blazer. Yes! On to mid game!

Mid Game

YES! Finally, I have recruited the person that opens a storage warehouse at the castle. Weee

Ugh I tried to get some Fortune Rune Pieces, and I did, from this spinning wheel luck thing but now I'm stuck in a loop and can't seem to get lucky to move on lol I must be at over 50 tries now... And can't seem to cross it..

Yesss the reverb and coziness of the bath house scenes. And more and more I'm having the urge to 100% recruitment, even if not all items and everything in the game.

Yesss a teleport feature at last. And I love love love the nature sounds of the Forest area. Despite the utterly brutal last week I've had this keeps enticing me. The balloon status ailment is a bit... silly, but I keep getting new tunes which is impressing and pleasing me :) The Elf Village one is good.

I know I'm getting repetitive but I'm really liking this in so many ways. The overload of characters (remembering all their different inventories and equipments and the way they suddenly have to leave or have to be in party etc despite soooo many characters) and some of the dialog (the "racist"/speciesist elves :-p ) both are a bit meh, but it all works somehow. And the background in this Dwarf Trail reminds me of the backgrounds in Tomba and other PS1 classics that have been integral to my gaming world.

Wow this late in the game and I get a minimap ont he world map! What a journey this game is. It's like constructing an RPG from the ground up... by playing it?

Lol the sprites of the War Battles are silly, but it didn't bog down the game as much as I had worried. It almost feels like a card game?

Ayyy when you get a super rare drop happenstance-ly! Chaos Shield ooo

I am really liking this, but again, the way you get and lose characters so often is fine but the inventory mechanic doesn't fit this. So many decorative items lost on a character I can't recall who was holding the un-appraised ivase etc. Also the way the Formation mechanic works mixed with this frequent/abrupt character change/addition, sometimes even as entering a battle, is silly, let me put the Short Ranged attacked in teh front before the battle at least!

And the initial excitement at the plotline deepening has waned a bit, it's falling fully into the kingdom management/battle type setup, but I'm still enjoying it and hooked to the gameplay side of things.

I like the music of this new area town Teien. And yessss, an item to return to homebase then I can tele from there, perfection achieved!

I cant deny this game has me hooked.

It's unfortunately falling into that trap of JRPGs where you just end up in a new region with a new irrelevant subplot like this bride with the vampire thing, but a) I did just get off the dad plotline and that was great and epic and b) at least you know it's all built around recruits and building your army against the enemy, so it validates it better than most JRPGs do.

Oooo the Champion's Crystal/Rune is a neat idea for a JRPG. Basically encounter avoidance except ones worth it/will level you. The peculiar system of leveling has worked quite well for this and matches the overabundance of characters.

As always I love a good purple gradient. And yesss teh dramatic organ the neclord plays and the rainbow background in the stained glass windows (which seem to be a theme in this?)

Late Game

Welp this game is definitely longer than I expected based on what I had read. But I have been hooked throughout. I'm considering myself late game now that my headquarters is maxed out.

I love the crystal-themed Seek Valley. Something about it is reminding me of FF9 and LoD. Also the way potentially missed chests are visible in later screens in corners etc. Love that, like in Link to the Past.

Whoa wait, I just read you can transfer your data to the sequel? Very interesting series here.

Yay! The return of Viktor! Now if only Gremio too. And yesssss love a good sentimental recap with sentimental music of all teh characters as we get ready for presumably the final act. If this storm and bad gutters/house issues stop busying me, I could finish it tonight!

I have officialyl recruited all the Stars of Destiny! And confirmed it.

Very triumphant pre-final-battles segment and, since I did collect all 108 characters, a nice little boost too.

Admittedly I am not inl ove with this final boss sprite/setting etc. And its "idle" animation/sound got annoying quickly.

I really thought this would be a definite Favorite Favorite. The final boss and ending were a bti meh, super cute to see an update on everyone (And is it just me or does Timbleton look kinda like FF9 Zidane?), but wasn't as great of music or sentimentality or sunset colors as I had hoped.

Look: 9/10 Not as amazingly impressive as I had expected/hoped for first PS1 RPG I got into, but still excellent and advanced-feeling.

Sound: 9/10 I didn't mute it at all throughotu the game, and the repetitive use was well-managed.

Play: 9.5/10 I was hooked from start to finish and it kept me on my toes. Lots could be improved not just with QoL but also with how mechanics work and I love the easiness but it felt redundant at points, namely the final boss. But yeah. I can't deny I enjoyed it (and tend to enjoy easy RPGs)

Feel: 9.5/10 Yes

Attachment: 9/10

Overall: 9.2/10

Completion: 100% tho I suppose I didn't get every optional rare equipment item etc.

Playtime: ~ 71 hours (and I thought it was a 14 hour game! lol)

I am using the entry for the original game since I don’t know I will be playing the second one 😊

It’s been years since I first heard the name “Suikoden”. I was really thinking about getting into it when the HD remaster edition was announced, so why would I wait?

I can see compared to the original the design/visual aspects did a level up, and the music sounds very good. I think some of these song will stick in my head for a while.

Nevertheless… the remaster could have received more love here and there. Item management is hell, party management is hell, the save points make no sense, etc. It looks to me they did not foresee what were the actual pain points from the original game were, which the remaster could have tackled to make it a more friendly experience.

I understand maybe a hardcore fan would say “they tried to keep it as the original”; but honestly having to move between rooms and locations repeatedly to have your party sorted out was not really my expectation.

Extra points to whoever brilliant mind added an “auto-save” feature in the rooms where there is already a save point… that is HILARIOUS.

Regarding the actual plot of the game, which remains untouched I guess, it looked to me like barebones of a plot. In some aspects that was appreciated, because you don’t get deviated much from the central story, but in other moments it did feel extremely thin. Which is kind of funny, because you can see the worldbuilding in the background is quite massive, with a lot of lore content hinted by books, some character dialogues. But all of that gets in the background and never gets its moment to shine.

The same goes for characters, there’s a big cast, but many of them get stuck in one-liner kind of characters, that just stay there at the base doing nothing. Said all of that, there were specific moments where the story took me to places I thought it wouldn’t. Tragic deaths, unexpected plot twists, betrayal, last-minute dialogues that made you wonder what were the reasons behind certain actions.

Because of these little bread crumbs the game was leaving for the player to follow, is that I appreciated it, and I was able to connect a little bit with the world of Suikoden.

I can’t decide right now if I am playing the second one, but I might give it a try in the future.

Suikoden is half Final Fantasy, half Golden Sun, half Pokemon, and half Zelda II.

A mostly unmemorable JRPG. The story didn't exactly draw me in; so it took nearly a year for me to come back and eventually finish the game after starting it. The world map is tiny & lifeless and very reminiscent of Zelda II. Grinding is basically nonexistent, because for any new area you enter, you can level all of your characters to be basically equal in about 15 minutes. And the "needle" item is super-useless.

The massive lineup of characters is a bit overwhelming, and there isn't much to really differentiate between them aside from ability to fight on the backline. Enlisting every character simply means you played with your nose in a strategy guide.

Meh. But I'll probably still eventually keep playing the sequels. Maybe it gets better.

Suikoden is a sufficiently broad JRPG with a layer of flavor that has begun to bubble and separate from the body like a bad bake. It hits all of the enthusiast notes without feeling like an assembly line product but stops short of having gimmicks or systems worth any fascination.

The combat, above everything, is balanced. With an enormous spread of 100-ish party members, the variance is astonishingly low. Across the 50 I used, the protagonist and one other felt about twice as powerful as the weakest ones I tried, leaving a large field for you to foster an arbitrary favorite or two. When sufficiently prepped, any team could deal with any threat.

The game is split visually. Enemy variety is a high point, and the arenas and visual flares are typically delightful albeit… slow. Party Members and locales suffer from paper doll appearances, trying to reach the cosmic ‘108’ characters and stretch out the use of their polygonal graphics base.

Left are all the genre staples, an evil empire storyline, multi-character plot arcs, a romantic setting, and general fantasy ambiance with any copper, amateur after taste. The vessel is sound and almost feels wasted on its trimmings.

There are too many damn characters for the game to push ‘collecting them all’. I was sworn to use external means to guarantee the ‘canon’ ending by a fan/friend. This is a strictly bad idea. Any character is hypothetically unlockable through typical play but unlocking all of them in one blind playthrough is strictly unreasonable and the level of monitoring it took for me to ‘not miss anything’ hampered the experience.

This knocks a few things loose downhill. Grinding is oddly smooth and accommodating but is frequently required to make use of most optional characters, including monetary grinding. You can circumvent some of it by gamble-scumming or through intensive inventory management. All options, considering some grinding must be done, take about the same amount of time but are all tepid experiences.

The game’s party members and other meager collectables are all moderately arcane and time costly, with the collecting being the game’s ‘side content’. There are no genuine side quests or fights, more just ‘friendship riddles’. The game will always force you towards plot-centric party makeups and the ‘all 108 character reward’ does not functionally change the ending. You’ll have more fun and time if you willfully ignore these systems.

Being made well isn’t a good reason to pick a game out of a crowd. Suikoden begs for itself, for someone to sand down the surface and refinish it. Perhaps I’m describing the acclaimed sequel, but I feel no impetus to check.

I loved the story in this game and at first many of the characters felt like throw away. But the game does a good job at making the player interested in many of the characters that are collected. One of my biggest regrets is not looking up a guide for magic and characters earlier. I was trying to play this game blind, but when I got near the end I was struggling to keep up damage; since grinding is very slow and I could only over level so much. The game is so good, but there are such major detractors it keeps it from greatness. Like having to go back to the castle every time to equip characters. There are many points in the game they force characters on you and that leads to the long walk back to the castle to get the equipment. I really did like this story and I'm glad I finally took it off the shelf. I might someday do a more complete playthrough following a guide, but I had so much fun on this on a blind playthrough.

Secondary note to physical copy players. I ended up having to hook up an old CRT with my Ps2 to play this. The ps3 would sometimes have major flickering in the emulation. Also the game does NOT upscale well and it was a considerable improvement playing it on an old Tv.

The game was very VERY easy. Bosses drop like flies. Even the final boss. Too easy that there was no challenges ever posed in the game. And no grinding ever required to achieve those boss-smattering status Not even the mini games were actually hard.

The story goes against the cliche “save the princess/world” story that you would hear of countless times in Japanese anime/games of the old era. And being an avid lover of collecting/recruiting type of games (ie Digimon, Pokemon), I really love the recruiting aspect of the game.

Full Review at: https://ronroen.com/2017/08/19/suikoden/