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I've been in the process of marathoning all 4 Suikoden's. I'm rapping up IV and will jump right into tactics when I'm done.
Since I've rushed I really only got a sense of the similarities between part I and II. I'd be interested to hear from some of the veterans why II is generally considered better than I. Is it just that that there is more substance to II, or is there one particular aspect that makes it better?
For good measure I'll point out that I definately plan to go back and play each more thoroughly in the future.
II is better than I because the plot is thicker, juicier, and deeper. Like my penis. Also, the characterization is top of the line. SI had an interesting story but it didn't live up to it's potential. Also most of the characters were throw away characters..that is, until Suikoden II added characterization to those that lacked it, like Apple. Or Lorelai. Or Clive. Just some examples.
Also, the gameplay was finetuned and refined. Suikoden I created the simple format on how you make and play Suiko's, but II mastered it. To me, Suikoden II is the perfect sequel. It not only mastered Suikoden I, it also added more to Suikoden I so you can appreciate it more the next time you happen to play it. Only few sequels manage to do that.
I got Snowe on SIV today. So like now I'm contemplating beating it to see the "perfect" ending or just throwing the game away in my game collection forever. Maybe the latter. Serioulsy the most disapponting game ever.
I heard suiko 4 data transfers to tactics so you may want to hold off on that
I like suikoden 3 the best
I just loved the whole character customization thing
I also liked how the story split since you got more time with more characters
I just wish the game would have lasted longer after you got the flame champion. thats its only real flaw compared to 2 for me. the actual story just ends way too fast.
Asaroth Larot wrote:I heard suiko 4 data transfers to tactics so you may want to hold off on that
It does, however, you can just use a 108 stars save file to transfer. It doesn't have to be a clear file.
Hey Asaroth, go get the manga for III. Seriously. The manga creator added so much plot to III that it's almost...ALMOST on equal footing to II. The second half of the story has a lot more meat to it. Hugo actually has development. He's not a pissy brat who somehow gets the True Rune and somehow learns how to lead the troops. Lots of development. It also handles the trinity sight very well. It feels more natural in manga format.
If Aki Shimizu (the person who wrote and illustrated the manga) does the script and story for V I will be a very very happy man.
They'll totally neuter Cecile if she does appear again. They wont let her rock so hard.
Suikoden 4 has made me lose some faith in the series future though. 5 may help redeem the series, but without the original story author/director at the helm how much can we really hope for in the long run and especially for more characterization of his original characters
I actually played suikoden III previously, around it's release. After playing the previous two I was actually glad I played it first. There were areas I may have considered annoyances in III had I played the series in order. I'm not referring to the trinity sight system, but a few of the other aspects that may have seemed like they were departing from series traditions.
One thing that I'd like to point out are the non-speaking "insert your personality here" main characters. I don't want to say that the idea doesn't work or that it's actually a bad thing by itself; but having multiple characters that way makes it hard to differentiate one from the other. In other words the only differences between them are their experiences/acquaintences, but in essence, Tir and Riou, for example, seem like the exact same guy.
You couldn't REALLY effectively customize the characters that much. It's preordained that certain characters are better at certain things... way, way, way better.
What I was implying was that III had the same lopsided character imbalance that all Suikodens have. Granted balancing and avoiding repetition are impossible with so many characters, but still.
Suikoden is the type of game that begs for multi-party dungeons, a la Phoenix Cave and Kefka's Tower... but no sight of any of that anywhere.
Karnov wrote:
One thing that I'd like to point out are the non-speaking "insert your personality here" main characters. I don't want to say that the idea doesn't work or that it's actually a bad thing by itself; but having multiple characters that way makes it hard to differentiate one from the other. In other words the only differences between them are their experiences/acquaintences, but in essence, Tir and Riou, for example, seem like the exact same guy.
I think that's the point but...I kind of agree.Tir and Riou definitely had personalities despite not talking. I don't mind mute characters in rpgs where there is no voice acting, but in recent games like Suikoden IV and DDS...I'm really..what's the point? For some reason, when characters don't have voices I don't really mind it. In this day and age of mute characters, I'd prefer they die off..that is guessing the said game has voice acting.
Still, Suikoden V looks really good in that respect. Despite not talking, that Tenkai star looks very diverse in emotion. At times he looks pissed, sometimes sad, sometimes surprised. I'm glad they really put some effort into making that Hero come alive.
Last edited by HKK on Sun Nov 06, 2005 10:58 pm, edited 2 times in total.
well thats why I liked the trinity sight system while it lasted.
though I dont actually think 3 was that bad off. the characters were fairly balanced if you built them right. It was just a few standout rocking people like Cecile.
Suikoden 4 has made me lose some faith in the series future though. 5 may help redeem the series, but without the original story author/director at the helm how much can we really hope for in the long run and especially for more characterization of his original characters
Konami isn't telling us who the scenario/script writer is. They refuse to reveal who it is. I don't see why the hell they'd keep that a secret if it wasn't Murayama. He doesn't have to be apart of Konami to write the script, he can just freelance a la Soraya Saga via Xenosaga. Also, it's not like he can't just pass them his notes on the characters and such.
Suikoden V's trailer was better than all of IV's trailers and the entirety of that whole game to me. It looks like it's actually Suikoden again.
Matsukawa is the senior director for V. In interviews that guy seems seriously pissed about IV as much as anyone. I personally think the series is in good hands, but we'll see.
I don't know who's got Tactics under their finger but Matsukawa has done some things in it. All I know Kawano didn't play a big role. She's the person who designed IV's characters, produced, and wrote the script for the game...ugh.
Last edited by HKK on Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I still want to know why Murayama left Konami. As much as I respect his work, I think it's really immature to desert your fans in the middle of the a friggin series just because of some quibbles with Konami. Toughen up and leave once the series is completed. Either that, OR PASS THEM EVERY SINGLE THING YOU WANT FUTURE SUIKODEN'S TO HAVE STORY AND GAMEPLAY WISE BEFORE YOU LEAVE.
V you mean? It has to be before I. He looks much younger in V compared to II. Also in II, Richmond said he (along with Killey) killed the Felena queen and he's on the run. V will go over those events.
Last edited by HKK on Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:33 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Karnov wrote:Funny thing, I actually thought I was enjoying IV and then I realized I wasen't at the beginning of the game, but at the end.
I remember in Suikoden II when you tried to get alliances, it atleast took a while and got more characterization. In IV, when you're getting alliances it's like...a 5 second conversation and the country joins. I knew I was near the end of the game when I affiliated with Nay.
Asaroth check the edit.
Last edited by HKK on Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
But isnt Georg wearing an eyepatch in 5? He's definitely not in 2. thats the plot hole. Either the eyepatch is fake and it's a prequel or he got the eyepatch since 2 and he's a dirty liar in the trailer about this being a new land or whatever he said to imply he hadnt been there before.
No, because Viktor and Flik are alive before I and II. I doubt you'll see Flik because of his ties to Warrior Village, it depends on how old he is, but I bet Viktor will make an appearance.
I know Viktor and Flik are alive before I and II!!!! The point is there doesn't seem to be much chance for them to have been in Falena before II. I suppose Viktor could be there separately. After all, he was away when Neclord killed everyone in North Window. I suppose it's possible he could have been in Falena. Certainly, if it's before the first one, there's absolutely no sense in Flik being there. I want to find out how Edge got the Star Dragon Sword!!!
At any rate, it would still be nice to see it happen, rather than just getting it in summary form like that....In fact it would be nice to see the Higheast Rebelllion (which I know you said 3 was originally supposed to be about), because obviously Viktor and Flik are involved....and it would be nice for other reasons too I suppose.
well it hd to have been a big deal if they were going to make a whole game out of it...or maybe I should say they would have made it a bigger deal if they made a game out of it
The real reason I heard is it was too much like 2. It took place in basically the same place as 2 and featured basically the same characters as 2. Sounds fine to me but they wanted to move the story elsewhere
2 was by far the best. I mean 3 was good, but 2 was an astounding groundbreaking game to me. It took the best parts of 1 and revised it to perfection. Not to mention the story flow was pefectly done and the oriental atmosphere and environment was very appealing since it is supposed to come from a chinese legend (represent!).
3 was fun just cause it was a pretty good game in its own right. Problem is when I played it, it didn't really feel like I was playing Suiko, because most of the environments in the grassland are, well, downright boring and plain. Which of course is to be expected, but still it didn't really feel like I was playing Suiko. Not to mention the pariing battle system was eh. Could have definetely been much better.
4. Well if it didn't have the Suikoden name stamped on it, I would have probably thrown it away already. Who's the genius who thought up of 4 characters with like 70+ that are usable? Feels like fucking Chrono Cross all over again. I didn't even touch a ship battle otehr than the opening one and I was zzzing through that. Whoever the jap is that created 4 the way it is, needs to be shot. Not because it was a bad game, but because it was a bad game with Suikoden on it and me wasting 40 bucks on a game that is basically a 40 dollar paperweight right now.
Well it's out supposedly. I should be picking it up tomorrow. I hope I can still understand the story even though I haven't played 4 thoroughly. I refuse to play 4.
Certainly, if it's before the first one, there's absolutely no sense in Flik being there. 
I want to find out how Edge got the Star Dragon Sword!!!
With that ordering: II> III>>I>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>IV 
Cecile and Chris especially.
