Suikoden

"For some, greatness is a public cry. For others, it is banishment to the depths of obscurity. But true greatness can live in any environment"

What does it mean to be the best game in existence? Some would say that it needs to have eye-popping graphics. Metroid Prime meets Project Ego meets games of ten years into the future in an artistic blend worthy of Rembrant or Van Gogh. Others would point to the replay value of a game. If you feel compelled to play it every waking hour, that would prove how masterful it was. Still others believe that it takes creativity and innovation to be considered the best. No matter how good any rehash is, something new and different will always take the cake. I feel that being the best can be summed up in simply one word: Suikoden.

Suikoden (Pronounced SWEE-ko-dahn for those of you who, like me, have problems with Asian languages) is one of those games that can change a gamer’s life. The twenty-five plus hour quest captures and enthralls you like no other that I have experienced. Suikoden’s story begins with Young Master McDohl following the footsteps of his father, Great General Teo McDohl -- one of the five Great Generals of the Scarlet Moon Empire.

Now while Young Master McDohl was born into luxury, complete with his servant and caretaker, Gremio and bodyguards Cleo and Pahn, all of those across the Scarlet Moon Empire are not so fortunate. Odessa Silverburg is the leader of these ragtag rebels, based in the quiet town of Lenankamp. The story soon takes a Star Wars direction and Young Master McDohl is hurled into the middle of a bloody civil war. He and his 107 followers, known as the Stars of Destiny, change the balance of power in the region of Lake Toran forever.

One of the reasons why this story stands tall above the rest despite its obvious influences from ancient Chinese lore and Japanese and American pop culture, is due to the mature attitude of the story. Suikoden deals with love and death in a way that never seems soap operatic. And while the game certainly doesn’t feature a death scene to rival Final Fantasy VII, Konami didn’t shy away from the art of the untimely demise. Suikoden features some of the most emotional deaths to ever grace the small screen. Some of the strongest hatred. Some of the deepest convictions. The Suikoden legend started two millennia ago in ancient China. Honing itself over time, the myth truly is the story of legends.

The 108 Stars of Destiny are what this legend is made of. These followers, drawn together by the Tenkai Star and supervised by the mystical Astral Seer known only as Lady Leknaat, join forces for a common cause, though not altogether harmoniously. When such an eclectic bunch of personalities band together, some tensions are bound to flare. Sheena, a Sam Malone-caliber womanizer, puts the move on every woman in the compound that he is not related to. Viki, the dimwitted teleportress, differs in style and opinion from the wise old sage, Hellion. Vincent de Boule is a pretentious Frenchman that any pastry shop owner could only hope to compete with. Fascinating characters develop on both sides of the war. Milich Oppenheimer, known as the Flower General, is a drag queen who cares as much about his curls as his troop movements. Neclord is one of the vilest villains to ever live, or not live as the case may be. And Lady Windy is the most terrifying femme fatale this side of Xenia Onatopp.

Young Master McDohl and friends set out on a traditional RPG with just enough innovations and side-quests to remain captivating. At any given time, McDohl can take up to five comrades into battles with him, be he fighting on the shores of Scheherazade or on the hills of Mt. Seifu. These loyal troops are each divided into three categories: S, M, and L. These abbreviations stand for short, medium, and long range weapons. Short range weapons must be placed in the first row of battle to attack. Medium and Long range weapon bearers may be in either row, though bowmen should definitely stay in the second row.

That is not to say that each battle will be a repetitive slosh of sword-fighting and petty jousting. Runes, no longer limited to the Vikings, play a critical role. Some of the 108 stars are very adept at the use of magic. Some may come already bearing an Advanced Elemental Rune, such as the Mother Earth Rune or the Rage Rune. Most will need Runes to be purchased for them. Most Runes sold are of the Basic Elemental (Water, Wind, etc.) or of the Physical Attack (Boar, Shrike) Rune types. But a chosen few characters will be blessed with something that very few can bear, a statement true in more ways than one: A True Rune.

In all of the many lands of Suikoden, ranging from the Scarlet Moon empire to Harmonia, from Matilda to Highland, there are only twenty-seven True Runes. Veterans of Konami’s landmark series know that much of the conflict in these series stems from wanting the strength of the twenty-seven or from a character misusing the strength that comes with that chosen power.

Also present to make the life of a soldier just a little more interesting are Unite attacks. Many Stars of Destiny share back story with another. Cleo and Pahn are longtime friends and coworkers. Master McDohl is Kai’s old pupil. Maximilian and Sancho, knight and squire, will support one another until the very end. This common back story often leads to a Unite attack, in which the included characters will team up to inflict massive damage and other side effects. Some of these attacks have other restrictions, but all are powerful tools that cannot be used without thought.

One would often think that when blessed with attacks as powerful and baneful as these, the results would be as visually spectacular as they are calamitous. Alas, such is not the case. Suikoden flaunts visuals that look as if they hearken from earlier than December 1996. Characters’ physical manifestations are generally colorful and exotic, though not detailed enough to give the design justice. Main characters are each blessed with a portrait. This portrait does more than anything else to define the character. Through the eyes of Ivanov, master artist in the Suikoden universe, you’re blessed with the ability to see Pahn’s face, brutally scarred from many a battle. You view the haggard visage of a weakened and wearied Mathiu as the old battle hero makes one final stand. The intricate expressions of spry Viktor, fiercest warrior in the land and often referred to as a “bear,” bring life to an otherwise one-dimensional character.

Despite the underwhelming graphical package, Konami managed to impress with their ingenious town designs. Each village is its own little wonderland. You, the player, reprise the role of Alice, bashfully exploring and wandering about, looking for the secrets and marvels sure to abound. Each town has its own distinct flavor and design techniques. The Village of the Dwarves is mechanized and metallic because of its rich mining heritage. Kaku is a quiet seaside village, evidenced by its bamboo look, extensive docks, and environment conducive to fishermen like the legendary Tai Ho.

As you traverse the terrain, look for characters that stick out. Those that leave an impression in your mind are those that are likely to leave one on the fabric of time. Keep a sharp eye. You’ll notice the airs about these notables. While most of the population of a village like Antei will be clad in drab, dreary tan and brown, always keep a sharp eye out for the denizen who dares to wear lime green. Those are the type of people who McDohl to join him on his trek.

As the adventure continues, pay attention to more than the ever-evolving story line. Take the time to listen to the impressive soundtrack, perhaps the quintessential collection of classical compositions ever compiled in a Konami game. Konami is a company well known for its audio masterpieces, with such brilliant soundtracks in the repertoire as Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Vandal Hearts II. None of them come close to matching the sheer variety and quality of each track. Even going beyond games made by Konami, no company has proven that they can compete with the astonishing collection of original music housed within Suikoden. “Blue Ocean, Blue Skies” is a dazzling example of everything that a good overworld theme should be, by illustrating the excitement and sense of fear that go hand in hand when setting off into the unknown. “Royal Palace Consultation” completely captures the essence of a pompous monarchy. “Theme of the Advancing Army” is a dark anthem, but an anthem that accurately represents the hectic frenzy and staggering pressure of preparing for all-out war.

Featuring a script better than ninety percent of the movies in existence, Suikoden is pleading for some quality voice acting. As you make your way through the winding tale, personalities will begin to become a part of you. Voice acting would merely make the transition from game to reality even more seamless. Landmark battles and heartbreaking scenes already stick in your mind forever. But to put a verbalization with those articulate words makes everything more real, more engrossing. To hear the irony and awe when Ledon and Kessler call Ronnie Bell “giant woman” would be priceless. To hear the temperamental, fearsome woman make her displeasure known in sounds could add depth to the dialogue that no myriad of exclamation points could possibly bring across.

As you travel through the forests and across the plains, each vignette you come across makes hunger for the next. Suikoden’s story moves slowly, methodically. On occasion you’re left to fend for yourself. Konami refuses to stoop down to the level of Enix and hold your hand through the quest. Hints are scattered about and the adept will soon deduce their next destination. This aspect of freedom gives a linear role-playing game the illusion of being freeform. In reality, the plot will only progress when you reach the certain destination. However, you don’t think of this until well after the fact. While you search throughout the Toran region for your next adventure, you feel as if you are controlling the destiny of where the game goes next.

It’s a rare breed of game that sticks with you for life and an even rarer breed if RPG that compels you to begin anew more than once. I proudly state the fact that I’ve beaten Suikoden on more than ten occasions. Each time you make your way around the shores of Lake Toran, you stumble across some nugget of information that failed to find you on times previous. The pull to play Suikoden is stronger still when you’re on your voyage to find the last characters; the ones in the out-of-the-way locations that you missed the first time around. If you find yourself teleporting to Seika or the Warriors’ Village three, four times to find the elusive Chiko Star, you will know you have been absorbed into the intricate fabric of Suikoden.

One must wonder how Konami was able to accomplish such a feat. When one takes a story two thousand years old and elaborates just enough to make the audience of countless generations later understand and enjoy it, you can only sit back and applaud. May people around the world be blessed with such feats. And may the quest of Young Master McDohl live on in my mind forever.

PROS
*The greatest soundtrack to ever grace the video game world.
*Enough twists on the standard battle system to keep things interesting.
*A compelling story with amazing character development.

CONS
*The graphical effects look to be from the sixteen-bit era.
*Characters are only allowed to bear one rune at a time.
*The design of this box art is among the biggest faux paus in the history of the industry.

SCORE SUMMARY

GAMEPLAY--10
GRAPHICS--5
MUSIC--10
SOUND--8
CONTROL--10
FUN--10
CHALLENGE--MEDIUM
REPLAY VALUE--MEDIUM TO HIGH

OVERALL--10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/06/00, Updated 01/08/03