Developer: Konami Publisher: Konami Release: 09/29/99 Genre: RPG
From the moment I read import coverage of the first Suikoden I knew I would love the game. RPGs had not become widespread on the PlayStation yet and when your options are King’s Field or frickin Beyond the Beyond anything will do. But in this case it was not settling for less. Suikoden looked like a 16-bit RPG but on a scale we had not seen before. Which is basically what it was and part of why it was so great. Suikoden II came at a time where production values were through the roof and Japanese RPGs were attempting to tell grand stories (and largely failing). Yet this quaint little gem with its modest 2d graphics and down to earth story would turn out the best. Suikoden II is one of my personal favorite RPGs of all time and an utterly fantastic game.
Suikoden II is the tale of two individuals with similar goals who go about it in separate ways and the conflict that arises as a result. Each title in the series always emphasizes the difference in approach between your rag tag army and the tyrannical empire they rebel against. But nowhere is the ideological split as pronounced and personal than in this game. The genius of the game’s plot is that it gives ample time for you to grow attached to the heroes of the story so that when the twists occur it is profound. You are far more invested in the resolution than in the original. They also do a much better job of juggling the large cast with many more receiving a spotlight. Of course not everyone receives character development but at least this time more of the cast is memorable.
Suikoden II was a victim of circumstance. The original Suikoden managed to sell well against all odds before the Final Fantasy VII RPG explosion. It was not a blockbuster but it had its fans, myself included. Unfortunately Konami picked the worst release date imaginable. Suikoden II was up against the Dreamcast launch and the release of Final Fantasy VIII. That is a tough spot for any game to be in and as a result it did not sell well. Even worse it was released in limited quantities, making it extremely rare up until its digital re-release. Those of us lucky enough to have it played it back then have been singing its praises ever since and the game still remains one of the best Japanese RPGs ever made.
Mechanically Suikoden II is a refinement of its predecessor. Combat remains as fast as ever and the interface has received small changes to remove frustration. You can move characters between rows, place story related characters into a convoy slot so they do not disrupt your party and it is easier to swap equipment. The rune system has been expanded, now allowing up to three runes to embed on a character. This opens up a huge number of interesting possibilities in terms of combinations. Certain combos, such as Fury + Double Beat can turn middling characters into powerhouses.
While the duel system remains unchanged the tactical battles are completely different. Now these battles have more in common with Shining Force or Fire Emblem. You move your characters along a grid to engage the enemy although you have little control. Some element of the rock, paper, and scissors aspect from the first game still persists but it is less important. There is some depth to rearranging your units for maximum effectiveness but is largely irrelevant. Nearly every battle has some condition for victory, with the majority simply being to last a certain number of turns for a story event to occur. That does not mean there are no stakes; stars of destiny can die permanently but that is rare. The system is different and my least favorite in the game.
A large part of the fun in Suikoden comes from recruiting the 108 Stars of Destiny. You will have plenty of fun doing so here and this time you have some help. One star in particular, Richmond, can perform investigations that yield character information and ways to recruit missing stars. This is a god send, as some characters say nothing and give no indication as to how they will join. The variety of minigames the stars give access to has expanded, from whack-a-mole, rock climbing, and gambling to the beyond awesome Iron Chef style cooking battle that has its own story arc. Those that import save data from the first game will receive bonuses for the returning characters and access to that game’s protagonist. The sheer volume of content in Suikoden II is staggering, and even then you still won’t want it to end.
Sticking with 2d at a time where every publisher was pushing the boundaries of 3d was a bold choice. In hindsight Konami made the right decision as Suikoden II is a beautiful game but not in the ways you expect. The volume of art assets is ridiculous. Every individual town, from the buildings to their interior decorations, has its own distinct look. It gives each district of the City-State its own personality and is fantastic. The low resolution character art of the original has been traded for an anime style that is more consistent and better. While the battles are still ugly they do feature flashier spell effects. The most important thing is how fast they load. Battles start and transition instantly; if you are familiar with Final Fantasy IX you know why that is important. Sometimes the latest tech is not always the best choice.
In Closing
Suikoden II is not only one of the PlayStation’s best RPGs, it is one of the greatest of all time. Its story is heart breaking; the quest is long, but most importantly it is insanely fun. It is an absolute crime that it was not widely available until recently. If you are even a slight fan of the genre you owe it to yourself to play this game.
