Suikoden

"A Classic Example of an Absolutely Fabulous RPG"

I've played RPGs since I was 5 (I'm now 18). From Final Fantasy I, to Dragon Warrior, to the widely unknown Warsong (one of the greatest games ever created), to the Shining Series (Shining in the Darkness, Shining Force I, II, and III), to the Lunar Series, and even computer RPGs. And every once in awhile, a game comes along that exemplifies just how great RPGs can be. Final Fantasy II (US release) did this, the Lunar Series accomplished it, and now Suikoden. Suikoden is not only a great example, it stands on its own pedestal. Konami has created another gem with Suikoden and in the process, has solidified it's role in the world of RPGs.

Graphics - 7: At the time this game was made and released, the graphics were considered good. And if you're like me, and don't think that graphics make a great game, then you will still think the graphics are good. I first bought and played this game back when it was first released, and even when I play it now I consider the graphics to be fine. While the sprites are very pixilated, especially when the camera zooms in during battles, they're full of definitive color and detail. It's a true example that you don't need lifelike polygonal characters and 3D rendered backgrounds to have great graphics. You just need some eloquence, some imagination, and a grasp of the fact that RPGs are supposed to be about the story, not state of the art revolutionary graphics.

Sound - 9: The sound in the game is average. You have your traditional noises during battles of swords clashing, bows firing, sticks twirling about, and things getting hit. But the reason the rating is so high is because of the music. The music in Suikoden is fantastic. All the songs are well done and very catchy. Plus the fact that each song fits very well with the situation they're played in adds to the overall atmosphere of the game. Great job all around in this department.

Gameplay - 10: The gameplay is by far Suikoden's strongest point. There are 3 different battle modes: one-on-one, party battles, and army battles. The ''party battles'' are your traditional battles. You can have up to 6 members in your party at a time (which is actually a lot considering RPGs nowadays only have around 3-4). Plus the fact that certain characters can work together or ''UNITE'' to cause major damage adds to the depth of choosing your party. The ''one-on-one'' battles are predetermined duels between one of your characters and an enemy. Duels usually happen at some focal point in the story and add yet more depth. They're handled differently than party battles. It's sort of like chess in that fact that you have to know when to attack, when to defend, and when to do an all out wild attack that can be the difference between winning and losing. The ''army battles'' are an interesting addition. They too are predetermined and occur at focal points in the game. The strength of your army depends on how many members you have. Your members are then broken up into predetermined groups of 3. Some groups might only have 1 or 2 people in it because you haven't found the other members yet. Each group gets 1 attack per battle, so make them count. You have 3 attack choices: charging (melee), archers, or magic. Melee is good against archers, but bad against magic. Archers are good against magic but bad against melee and so on. Again, it's sort of like chess. You don't know what the enemy will attack with, so it's sometimes a matter of luck. However, you also have other options. If you have thieves or ninjas in your party, you can send them over to the enemy side and try to learn what their going to attack with next. Army battles just add a whole new dimension. There's just so much to Suikoden that I can't even explain it clearly. Hope you made some sense of what I said. If not, then I'll sum it up in one word. Outstanding!

Fun FactorLongevity - 8: The game is very fun. The story is great (it's based VERY loosely on an Ancient Chinese lore, mainly only the part about 27 True Runes and the 108 Stars of Destiny), the pace is brisk, and everything just seems to run smoothly in the world of Suikoden. However, the game is a little on the short side. It took me about 24 hours of playing time to beat. However, the fact that there are 108 characters to collect in the game might keep you a little busy. Some people may think that having that many characters isn't good because you can't develop all of them. That's true, you can't develop all of them. In fact, you'll probably wind up sticking with the same 6-12 characters throughout the game. But some characters are just there to bulk up your army. Some are there just for the sake of completing the 108 Stars of Destiny. Developing characters is a major part of RPGs but it's not everything. The story is definitely the focus in this game. Besides, you can beat the game without obtaining all 108 characters, you just won't get the best ending :-) It's up to you. Personally, I've done both and the best ending is called the best ending for a reason.

OVERALL SCORE - 10: Suikoden is one game that every gamer should have in their library. I suggest you go out to your local store, ask for a copy (hey, they're only $10 bucks now! Well worth the money), and enjoy one of the greatest games ever made. I promise, you won't be disappointed.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/25/01, Updated 07/25/01