"Suikoden III: A Masterwork"

So one day I happened to get a bit of extra cash and decided to go to the store. I'm one of those people that if a game looks even mildly interesting, like a reflex, I'll snatch it up, buy it, and take it home. Well, that's what happened with the game Suikoden III. In desperate need of an RPG I grabbed at it because it was within arms length. Let me just say that this was a fortunate occasion, and this turned out to be the best impulse buy I have ever made.

Let's get started. The game revolves around the 108 Stars of Destiny and the 27 True Runes. Both of these things are connected to the fabled hero of lore, The Flame Champion. Destiny will choose three souls and weave them through its delicate tapestry as you play the game. Using the Trinity Sight System, you as the player, get to experience the game from three different characters' perspectives. These souls are Hugo, a child of the Grasslands; Chris, the commander of the Zexen Knights; and Geddoe, a mercenary hired by the Harmonian Defense Force. This feature adds depth to the plot and the characters, allowing the gamer to experience Suikoden III from varying perspectives, which, in turn, effectively blurs the line between the forces of good and evil. All this combined gives a truly unique gaming experience with a surprisingly human element.

The battle system in Suikoden III revolves around up to six characters that paired in groups of two. It is traditional turn-based combat as well. The gamer is only allowed one battle command at a time for each group of two. While this essentially limits the depth of the battle system, it also simplifies it. While some may view this deceptively simple battle system as a down point of the game, others can view it as a chance to effectively plan strategies for each battle, forcing the gamer to use their head and resources to the fullest during battle. Also, the pairing system focuses combat on things like combo attacks, which certain characters can execute when paired with the proper partner. Also, instead of spells, each character uses objects called Runes that can cast a variety of magic.

On top of the traditional battle system mentioned above, there are two other types of combat that allow for some surprisingly fun variety: group strategic combat and one-on-one duels. During group strategic combat, the gamer must deploy units across a map, well, strategically, to defeat the enemy. The player is given a certain number of ''actions'' that they can perform in a given turn. These actions include healing troops, moving infantries, or attacking nearby opponents. If the player chooses to attack, they will enter into traditional RPG turn-based combat. This might seem too simple for the die-hard combat fans out there, but there is a certain amount of planning that must be done in order to succeed in a scenario such as this. Just think of this as a sort of giant chess match with little toy soldiers that use magic.

The third method of combat in the title is the one-on-one duel. In this situation, the gamer must learn to read the emotions of the enemy to succeed. They are given an attack command, a defend command, and a deathblow command. If the player chooses to attack, they will damage their opponent, but then they could be left open to take a hit from the enemy. The deathblow option does a healthy amount of damage, but again, if your character misses the desired target, you could be left eating your enemy's sword. These three variations on combat keep things fresh in the fighting department.

Let's touch on the graphics for a second. Though they are not as impressive as some might like, they are very polished and effective for the style of the game. There are a few jagged edges on some of the models, but that is an issue with the PlayStation 2 hardware itself. Something that must be mentioned is that each area of the game is vivid, detailed, and alive - meaning that you will remember almost every visual aspect of the game. The areas and dungeons are vast and well-designed. I must say, though, that as good as the 3D character models are, where they really shine are the textures. The characters, through clever use of textures, are able to convey a wide range of emotions. That's something that is not often done in video games. As for the in-battle graphics, the spells and effects are some of the most impressive ever seen, making extensive use of lighting and particle effects.

As far as music in the game stands, it suits the game, but there are better soundtracks out there. That is not to say that the game does not have good music. Each tune fits the situation well and gets you into that special adventuresome mood. But, aside from a few outstanding selections (namely the opening theme, a few later in the game, and the ending theme), the music is not something that you will walk away singing. However, it is a very solid soundtrack.

So, the game itself consists of exploring dungeons or rural areas, fighting all sorts of monsters. The player can earn experience points to strengthen their characters. Also, they earn things known as Skill Points, which can be used to upgrade certain abilities specific to each character. There is a high level of customization in the game, where the player can assign differing abilities of their choosing to each character (though some characters are better suited for some abilities than others).

Also, while the player can experience the story from three different main perspectives, they also build a castle of their own filled with little extras, secrets, and mini-games. Gamers can travel the world on one sort of giant side-quest looking for the 108 Stars of Destiny (or characters) to populate their castle. Each one of the 108 Stars is a character that the gamer can use in one fashion or another. And, I must say that almost every one of these characters has a distinct or developed personality. So, this should keep most gamers busy for a while.

Where Suikoden III excels above almost every other game is its in-depth, developed, and amazingly believable and engaging story. Part of this is due to the Trinity Sight System that allows the player to see almost every facet of the narrative from many different angles. Many of the stories intertwine, and it is rather intriguing to see how this happens. The other facet of the success of Suikoden III's story is the phenomenal attention it pays to its characters. Almost every one of them is highly developed in some fashion and is imbued with some characteristic that will allow the player to identify or sympathize with them. This is an amazing accomplishment for a video game. On top of all this goodness, as phantasmal and ethereal as the storyline might get at times, it somehow manages to stay grounded in its own reality, never really forcing the player to chew on one of those ''No way - that would NEVER happen!'' moments. The story alone is enough to keep someone playing through to the end, providing characters and situations that you can actually care about - and even making you feel in situations you never thought possible. After all, an excellent story is really what an RPG is all about. And this is one of the best. Enough said.

While Suikoden III may not be so impressive at first glance, it will subtly amaze those who give it a chance. With characters that are interesting and a storyline that is more engaging than most ever told, any fan of RPG's would be committing a felony if they didn't give Suikoden III a shot. The replay value goes through the roof with the loads of mini-games and extras that are packed on the tiny disc. Konami has really outdone themselves. But, that's cause for gamers to rejoice because they have been blessed with a masterpiece of gaming.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GRAPHICS: 9
GAMEPLAY: 10
MUSIC: 8
STORY/PLOT: 10
CAFFEINE BUZZ (or FUNNESS): 10
---------------------------------------------------
Total: 9

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 02/14/03, Updated 02/14/03