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Bundling Suikoden I and II together for the Switch might seem like a move by Konami to sweeten the deal of reworking the brilliant sequel by tagging along its less impressive forebearer. Over the recent weeks, as I’ve dived back into these classics, it’s become quite the topic of conversation, with many echoing the sentiment that the shining star here is undeniably “Suikoden II,” while its predecessor seems to fall short. Suikoden II stands as one of the premier RPGs from its time (and perhaps ever), whereas the initial installment feels like a tentative step towards greatness. For anyone who cherishes the RPGs of the ’90s, Suikoden II alone justifies the purchase of this remaster, even if Suikoden I doesn’t quite hit the same high notes.
Suikoden I made its debut on the PlayStation back in 1996 under the direction of the late Yoshitaka Murayama, known for his work on the Suikoden spiritual successor Eiyuden Chronicle before he passed away in 2024. The ambition is unmistakable in this title, boasting 107 recruitable characters, varied battle systems, and an intriguing plot. Despite its ambition, the game didn’t completely come together for me. Even with a relatively short playtime of around 20 hours, the story’s pacing felt uneven. Its turn-based combat, while enjoyable, never quite reached greatness, though it shone brightest in the classic six-player battles rather than fully utilizing the war and duel systems. The HD Remaster does address some of these flaws, making the overall performance smoother than the original while allowing for sped-up battle animations during grinding sessions. The soundtrack remains as solid as ever, and the updated graphics enhance the visual style without losing the charm of the original. It’s a commendable remaster of an average game.
The real highlight is Suikoden II—an outstanding remaster of a genuinely incredible game. Playing them in sequence, I was initially concerned I might not appreciate these RPGs that I hadn’t revisited in over two decades. Fortunately, Suikoden II’s gripping opening set a steady pace, maintaining intrigue throughout a journey that’s nearly twice as long as its predecessor. The sequel smooths out the rough patches evident in the first game. It provides a tight, emotionally resonant story set against the ongoing turmoil of a nation-wide conflict. Your silent hero and friend Jowy are thrust into the narrative early on, supported by characters such as Nanami and the formidable Luca Blight.
Fans will delight in the nods to the prior game, with familiar faces returning if you’ve played the original first. The battle mechanics have seen clever enhancements, notably with the magical rune system now allowing for three runes per character. A grid layout delivers a tactical edge to gameplay, while the war and duel segments, though not vastly different, carry greater impact this time around.
This remaster package includes some delightful extras like concept art, bringing the 2D graphics into HD without feeling like an artifact from 25+ years ago. While the upgrades in gameplay are fairly minimal—three difficulty levels and a battle speed option—the absence of a toggle to eliminate random battles might inconvenience some players.
For those yet to experience Suikoden II and with a penchant for Japanese RPGs, this is a must-have. It rightly earns its place alongside the ’90s legends from Square Enix. Suikoden I doesn’t elicit as much excitement; it’s akin to witnessing the NES Final Fantasy era compared to the SNES evolution seen in Suikoden II. While it’s fascinating to trace its lineage, the sequel clearly emerges as the timeless classic.
