Putting Suikoden I and II in the same bundle might seem like Konami had to include the first game just to have a reason to remaster the phenomenal second one. Over the past weeks, I’ve been diving into both titles, and I can’t help but joke with others that if we were to sum up the pros and cons of this package, they’d probably be “Pro: Suikoden II” and “Con: Suikoden I.” It’s not strictly black-and-white, but there’s no denying that while Suikoden II stands as a pinnacle RPG of its time (if not of all time), its predecessor feels more like a tentative step forward. Still, for those who cherish RPGs from the ’90s, Suikoden II alone makes this remaster a must-have, even if Suikoden I doesn’t quite hit the mark as solidly.
Originally released on PlayStation in 1996, Suikoden I marked the debut of director Yoshitaka Murayama. Sadly, Murayama passed away in 2024, leaving behind a legacy that included the spiritual successor to Suikoden, Eiyuden Chronicles. Suikoden I ambitiously offers 107 recruitable characters, diverse battle systems, and a somewhat engaging storyline. Despite these features, the game never entirely came together for me. The narrative pacing felt inconsistent despite its relatively brief 20-hour run. The turn-based combat worked well enough in the standard six-player battles but left much to be explored in its war and duel systems. Thankfully, this HD Remaster addresses some of these issues. The game runs more smoothly than the original, and you can speed up battle animations during those inevitable grind sessions. The soundtrack impresses, and the visual updates manage to enhance rather than overshadow the original art. All in all, it’s a commendable remaster of a game that is, at best, middling.
On the flip side, Suikoden II shines even brighter in this remaster. Despite initial worries that time hadn’t been kind to these games, I was relieved to find that Suikoden II swiftly grabs attention with its riveting introduction and maintains momentum across its lengthy playtime—nearly double that of the first game. Released in 1999, this sequel fixes almost all the rough patches seen in Suikoden I. Its focused narrative weaves a poignant personal tale against a backdrop of war that shifts the fate of a nation. The bonding of your silent protagonist with his best friend Jowy sets off a dynamic plot enriched by memorable characters like childhood friend Nanami and the iconic villain, Luca Blight.
Fans of the series will appreciate nods to the original game, as characters and protagonists reappear, enhancing the storyline with deeper lore. While the battle mechanics remain familiar, they see intelligent improvements; the magical rune system now lets characters equip up to three runes, adding versatility to your tactics. A grid-based system in battles grants you additional strategic oversight, and while the war and duel encounters aren’t drastically altered, they are executed with far greater impact throughout the game.
The remaster offers a solid package, complete with concept art and other extras. The 2D visuals are respectfully upgraded to HD, maintaining their old-school charm while not appearing outdated. Gameplay changes are minimal, primarily offering three difficulty levels and a battle speed-up option. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it would have been nice to toggle off random battles occasionally.
If Suikoden II hasn’t graced your gaming experience yet and you hold Japanese RPGs in high regard, this remaster should be on your pre-order list. It’s a stalwart companion to ’90s classics from Square Enix. While Suikoden I doesn’t capture the same magic, it serves as an intriguing predecessor to the remarkable heights reached by Suikoden II. It’s like comparing the NES-era Final Fantasy titles with their SNES successors—interesting to see how far they came, but there’s no doubt which one claimed legendary status.
