Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Review

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Is anything as wonderful as we recall it through the rose-tinted glasses of nostalgia? This question lies at the heart of remakes, whether they’re movies, music, or video games, especially those in dormant series. Fans eagerly anticipate even the tiniest fragments, hoping for a new installment but settling for a chance to revisit old favorites. A well-executed remake can highlight what made the original great and introduce it to a new generation of fans. However, a poorly done remake can diminish the original work and deter newcomers.

The Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars brings the first two games of the cherished Suikoden series to current-generation consoles with a new coat of paint and some user-friendly improvements. The outcome is a delightful bundle of two classic JRPGs from the PSX era that reminds us that some things are even more enchanting than we remember.

The Suikoden series, developed by Yoshitaka Murayama, draws inspiration from the English translation of the Chinese classic novel ‘Water Margin’. Launched for the PlayStation in 1995, it gave birth to a long line of sequels and spin-offs, until the last mainline entry, Suikoden V for the PlayStation 2, which came out nearly twenty years ago. Since then, fans have been waiting anxiously for more. A remaster was finally confirmed in 2022 by Konami, but they were surprisingly tight-lipped about these remasters until revealing a release date at the end of last year.

In the initial Suikoden, players take on the character of Tir McDohl, who’s the son of a prominent general in the Scarlet Moon Empire. As Tir starts his own military service, he and his group soon uncover the deep-rooted corruption and greed that have infiltrated the empire’s leadership. The empire then tries to seize Ted, Tir’s vassal and friend, because of a powerful artifact called the Soul Eater Rune that Ted possesses. In the ensuing attempt, Ted gets wounded, and as a last resort, transfers the rune to Tir. This forces Tir to flee from his homeland as a wanted fugitive. Subsequently, Tir becomes involved with, and eventually assumes leadership of, a rebellion against the empire he once knew intimately.

At this stage, the game expands, offering players a headquarters and a task to gather the 108 Star Beacons of Fate to confront the Empire. Along the way, Tir and their companions experience intense struggles during their freedom campaign, a battle that is arduous and not devoid of substantial casualties.

1998 saw the release of another fan-adored title, “Suikoden II”. This game takes place three years after the first installment ends, with the main focus being on the invasion of Jowston’s City-States by the Highland Kingdom. Players will control a new lead character named Riou, who is accompanied by his friend Jowy throughout the story. As members of the Highland army’s youth brigade, they are unwittingly involved in a self-destructive act staged by their own forces to provide a pretext for invading the City-States. After leaving their treacherous military, Riou and Jowy come into possession of half each of the Rune of the Beginning. This sets them on a seemingly endless and escalating journey as they strive to bring the two halves of the rune together, regardless of the cost.

Even though these games have been around for a while, I’d rather not give away too many details about the storyline as it’s uniquely captivating. The plots are grand yet relatable, devoid of overly complex jargon or sudden, confusing deus ex machina twists at the end. However, there might be a few unusual elements like vampire stories or an evil sorceress causing trouble. The magic aspect is certainly present, but it’s the political intrigue that takes center stage in Suikoden I and II. Betrayal is rampant, deaths are usually irreversible, and those in power often prioritize their own interests over others, making Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones seem like a walk in the park compared to Luca Blight.

Indeed, these stories are skillfully crafted and elegantly translated, stirring emotions frequently throughout each account. In most role-playing games, I’m usually captivated by either the story or the game mechanics. It’s a testament to the potent narrative of these games that they continue to hold my interest despite the challenge of servicing over 100 characters without fully satisfying each one. Over time, I’ve enlisted many characters, only to return them to my castle where they remained idle for the rest of the game.

Among the key aspects that make this series stand out is its portrayal of the complex interpersonal relationships among the primary characters and how these relationships are influenced by the broader political storylines. The friendship between Cleo, Pahn, and Gremio becomes particularly moving during the tumultuous times of war in the original Suikoden. In Suikoden II, the emotional heart of the game lies in the bond shared by the central trio, Riou, Nanami, and Jowy, which is even more powerful.

As a gamer, I’m fortunate that these games offer tight gameplay that matches their intriguing narratives. The usual flow is familiar: moving from one locale to another to progress the storyline, upgrading gear periodically as I take down monsters in the overworld or dungeons. Early on, I secure my castle headquarters, and the quest to gather the Stars of Destiny kicks off in earnest. While collecting all 108 Stars is not mandatory, it influences the ending of each game, and in Suikoden II’s case, determines if certain characters from the first game reappear. The return of a few characters from the original game adds a wonderful sense of continuity and world-building for those who made an effort to recruit everyone during the first game.

In these games, battles are structured in rounds and you control a team of six characters. You provide commands for the entire group at once before they’re executed. A cool feature I loved from the PlayStation era is when multiple party members attack simultaneously, each targeting different opponents instead of attacks happening one by one. This wasn’t a technological wonder, but it sure looked and felt slick in the ’90s. Fortunately, it continues to look and feel fantastic today. Long-range fighters can take up positions at the back to aim their shots, while close combat enthusiasts like Viktor and Flik should remain at the front.

In Suikoden II, players can employ enhanced weapons, perform spells from carried runes (or multiple runes), utilize items, or initiate a combined assault if the necessary party members are present. Notable features of this combat system include a restricted number of spell casts that can be replenished only by taking a break; another being that the experience earned after battle depends on the level gap between each party member and the enemies. When you venture into a new zone, opponents become more challenging but offer significantly greater experience rewards compared to when they seem effortless to defeat. This makes it difficult (or almost impossible) to over-level; however, it’s enjoyable to introduce a fresh or seldomly used character and witness them gain multiple levels in a single battle, making it effortless to experiment with new teams without falling behind.

As a gaming enthusiast, let me tell you, this adventure isn’t just about the big fights; there are also one-on-one duels and massive army battles. In the initial game, these duels follow a rock-paper-scissors pattern, but in Suikoden II, they level up with a grid system that adds layers of complexity. These intense combat sequences often serve to heighten the dramatic tension in the storyline, making each decision feel significant. It’s not just the variety of fights that makes these retro RPGs appealing, but the depth and consequence they offer. Some characters can even perish in battle, denying players the reward for collecting all 108 stars. Including three distinct combat systems in these games is a treat, but getting to enjoy them fully is a genuine feast. And don’t forget about the minigames scattered throughout each title. They may play a role in the story, but ultimately, they’re there for us players to savor. I can appreciate the dice game at the start of Suikoden, but sometimes, when I hit a bad luck streak, I might just mutter a few choice words to the RNG gods!

I must confess that I had concerns about both the look and feel of the Suikoden remaster. However, it’s a relief to say that the game looks fantastic, particularly its spritework which is a testament to its era. The character and enemy models have been subtly updated, managing to appear both crisp and slightly blurred, just as I recalled. It’s a potential pitfall for remasters to disrupt the nostalgic experience with strange filtering or other visual choices, but thankfully, my brain’s nostalgia sensors were activated in the same way as they were with the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games when I first encountered enemies.

The scene resembled my memory of it, except for certain tilework in the background that seemed outdated or off-putting, much like an older version of RPGMaker. Admittedly, this was a minor flaw, as the original games’ backgrounds weren’t particularly eye-catching either. I can’t help but wonder how they would look on today’s screens.

I must admit that initially, I missed the option to switch between the original character portraits from Suikoden, but eventually, I grew fond of the new ones created by Junko Kawano. The spells, particularly the fiery ones and the powerful Soul Eater attacks, were quite eye-catching. Similarly, the music, masterfully arranged by Miki Higashino, remained as captivating and moving as ever.

The iconic sound effects from the series are etched in our minds – yes, even the dragons still sound like elephants.

The remastered version offers some enhancements to improve the overall experience, such as adjustable difficulty levels for each game and customizable combat speed settings. However, an unexpected issue arises when the music accelerates along with the combat, which can be quite disruptive. Most remaster projects allow you to speed up gameplay without affecting the music tempo, so this discrepancy is a little disappointing. Unfortunately, there are no options provided for auto-run, skipping random battles, or other quality-of-life features commonly included when revisiting classic RPGs. I don’t want to seem overly critical, but one positive aspect is the inclusion of an option for Suikoden II that makes it easier to view time-gated scenes with a specific character. On a slightly negative note, I was expecting an improved item management system due to each character having limited inventory space, making it challenging to manage armor and accessories. While I understand the intention to preserve the original game systems, I feel a streamlined system would have made the experience more enjoyable.

The dedication shown by Konami is rewarded abundantly, leading to a project that harmoniously combines the best aspects of its predecessor, Pixel Remaster projects. These games not only retain their original charm but manage to surpass expectations, offering improved visuals and gameplay that feels familiar yet enhanced. Subtle quality-of-life improvements enrich, rather than complicate, the gaming experience. The Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars might seem like a tongue-twister of a title, but it aims high and delivers spectacularly.

9

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve had the chance to dive into the HD remastered editions of Suikoden I & II on various platforms, including the PlayStation 5, Xbox consoles like One and Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and personal computers. It’s been an exciting journey revisiting these classic titles!

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2025-03-05 11:44