There are a ton of RPGs that are awesome and super fun, but the first one that usually comes to mind ends with a number and starts with the word Dragon. However, there is one RPG series that really stands out. In fact, it stands so tall there currently is a petition to revive the series… and that series is called Suikoden. What made it so great? Was it the fact that players were challenged to find all 108 mark of the stars characters in every game? Was it the cool runes? It was all that and so much more!
Suikoden and Suikoden 2 were both released for the PS1 that definitely are worth playing. The second game contains 60+ hours of actual playing time, and with a rich and perfectly told storyline, it’s no surprise. Suikoden can be purchased on the PSN store (I definitely recommend it), but Suikoden 2 can only be found as a hard copy; and at press time a new copy of Suikoden 2 retails for no less than 300 dollars. I have seen prices as ridiculously high as 525 on Amazon; used copies retail more than 100 dollars. This game is definitely a rare game that is worth holding onto if you have it.
Konami then released the Suikoden 3 to 5 on the Playstation 2. 3 wasn’t as good as 2 in my opinion, but it was fun to play. The 3D character models and updated animations caused longer loading times, but the rich storyline made up for it. The fourth Suikoden game is considered to be the black sheep of the series. I would definitely not play this game again – though the main character’s power was interesting, the overall gameplay was not. This may have had something to do with the departure of Yoshitaka Murayama, who created the series. Suikoden 5 and Suikoden Tactics were the last two games released for the PS2. Both were both great games to play, Suikoden Tactics reminded me of Final Fantasy Tactics, but minus the cutesy characters and Chocobos. However, by then the sales were pretty low thanks to Suikoden 4.
In 2008 Konami released Suikoden Tierkreis (I feel like I need six tongues to say that one) for the Nintendo DS. This game is more of a spin off rather than a true sequel. There are two other handheld Suikoden games that were and most likely will never be released outside of Japan: Suikoden 1 & 2 remakes and Suikoden: The Woven Web of a Century. Both games were released for the PSP and it makes me sad that the chances of them releasing elsewhere are slim to none. (Why do you torment me Konami?!) Suikoden: The Woven Web of a Century did not sell as well as Tierkreis did, but nevertheless knowing the game was released is like a faint beacon of light. Because of the Suikoden Revival Movement means the series definitely deserves further attention. It feels like the series has been shunned by Konami.
What made Suikoden great is the fact that players had the opportunity to relate back to the previous storylines. Whether it was playing the hero from the first game in the second one, or using the hero from the fourth game in the tactics game, the games rewarded the player, which is what made it worth finding all 108 characters in the game! This is why the series deserves further attention. This is a series that deserves a real storyline with a real true sequel. So go ahead – play the series, then join the movement! Maybe one day Konami will release Suikoden 6-10. Maybe… just maybe.
