Suikoden V discussion

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 12:47 am

First English screens!

wtf? Shoon?

http://www.konami.com/gs/gameinfo.php?id=166&pid=1

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Suikoden with an all-new role-playing adventure filled with mystery and suspense. In the land of Falena, a prosperous and beautiful country governed by the matriarchy and the benevolent power of the Sun Rune, civil unrest arises and the queen is forced to use the Sun Rune to quell the uprising, but at what cost? Journey as the prince in an expansive quest uncovering the mysteries surrounding the Sun Rune, the civil unrest and the dark intent of an unknown power in the greatest Suikoden saga yet!

* Longest Suikoden storyline ever with fully voiced-over cut scenes, multiple endings, storyline branches and unimaginable plot twists
* Uncover the 108 Stars of Destiny to build up and customize a home base
* Tactical Formation System allows for more than 20 strategic formations in battle
* Take 6 member parties into battle with over 60 playable characters for millions of party combinations
* Strategic map battles with hundreds of troops in huge army skirmishes
* Completely customize your characters with a new skill system, weapon enhancement system and hundreds of unique equipment items

Go to the main site for new pics!

I want info on SV NA Limited Edition goddamit.

More info on how duels work:

The rules for the duel system have been put up now and they certainly are a bit different from what we're used to. Instead of choosing an action from a menu, each button is used for an action: Square button for Attack, X button for Defense and O button for Desperate Attack. Their relative strength and weakness are still the same as in the past, but this time, when you choose the same command as the adversary, you can get some special commands. The screenshots show a 3-2-1 gauge on the screen, I hope you don't get all of 3 seconds to decide on an action and remember which button it is (although it seems that what each button does and what it's strong against is displayed on screen). Judging by the fourth screenshot, it looks like when you both pull the same move, you get into a kind of tug-of-war to decide who wins the round. Pretty smart, that will avoid wasting time in neverending ties.

Doom · Post by **Doom** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:38 am

UNIMAGINABLE PLOT TWISTS
LONGEST SUIKODEN STORYLINE EVER
yeah we'll see

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:41 am

Doom wrote:UNIMAGINABLE PLOT TWISTS
LONGEST SUIKODEN STORYLINE EVER
yeah we'll see

Yeah pretty much

Doom · Post by **Doom** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:53 am

Is it me or did II feel longer than III even though it wasn't.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:02 am

Yeah that's just you.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:11 am

Shoon?
Poon?

...And Murpoon

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:25 am

Jeff 2G6 · Post by **Jeff 2G6** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:39 am

It's been pushed back. Woe is me.

That guy better not be the hero. He looks like such a douche.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:45 am

The guy is the orange/red? Yes that's the hero.

It hasn't been pushed back. Release date is expected to be March 28, 2006 as of now, and before it was March 1 because they didn't really know when to place the date.

Hopefully they DO delay it based on when KHII comes out because as of now KHII comes in March.

Joei · Post by **Joei** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:09 am

Damien, we need to have a Suikoden 5 launch party on South Bank.

There are certain things that better be S5 or else i'll be royally pissed.

There hero looks retarded in the first screenshot. Like something out of a Disney movie.

poon.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:04 pm

What things?

Joei · Post by **Joei** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:18 pm

certain characters. back stories of more characters explained. for example!

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:57 pm

Agreed. But the fact that Lorelai and Killey in it says a lot to me. I'm sure there are lots of other characters in it.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 4:41 pm

Doom wrote:Is it me or did II feel longer than III even though it wasn't.

Suikoden II was longer than Suikoden III in terms of story. Most of Suikoden III's length comes from the horrible movement problems in that game (also complaints about Trinity system and repeated story may appear here). I'm not intending to crticize Suikoden III, it was great, but it had flaws, and to claim that it is in any legitimate way longer than Suikoden II is pretty weak.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:43 am

HUGE update at Gamesopt including English voice acting and such:

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/suikoden5/media.html
http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/suikode ... index.html

Good: real time war battles, many many formations, 6 party unite attacks
Bad: the translation, the voice acting

The good far outweighs the bad but goddamn is that voice acting and translation fucking cheesy.

I WILL BRING LORDLAKE'S FATE TO THE ENTIRE COUNTRY

wtf

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 9:35 am

Joei wrote:Damien, we need to have a Suikoden 5 launch party on South Bank.

btw have you seen the picture of Apple and Phil Chris took on the South Bank a month ago? Can't remember if he has uploaded it yet or not...

Anyway, March 28th... Definitely a gets plz

Joei · Post by **Joei** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:05 am

i haven't seen it

Calbrena · Post by **Calbrena** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 10:54 am

Noes

Oh well, I'm sure it'll be online soon

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 1:26 pm

http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/suikode ... id=6143131

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 6:24 pm

The story sounds pretty interesting. Of course that whole "longest story, now with more plot twists" has me pretty concerned. The way they advertise that makes it hard to believe that they have any understanding of quality. It sounds kind of like gourmand sort of stuff. "Let's do anything we can to make this story as long as possible and make sure there's plenty of delicious twists. I want triple-crossing, I want quintuple-crossing!! I want fathers of characters who travelled from the past so that they are actually younger than their children!!! And the fathers are girl characters!!!!!!11111"

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 6:37 pm

I just hope they realize that what makes suikoden stories so great aren't the plot twists. If they put emphasis on war and political intrigue a la SII, I would prefer that to any damn plot twist.

Pendragon · Post by **Pendragon** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:17 pm

I have to agree with Golby, considering the ones that usually try that hard to convince people that their crap product is gold are used car salesmen and summer blockbuster movies, I’d be worried why they’re trying so hard to sell everyone on the ‘great stupendous’ storyline...

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:55 pm

I think we all agree, but I think it's more of a reassurement because of how disappointing Suikoden IV was. It's basically a way to tell fans,"We're sorry and we're sure you'll forgive us."

Doom · Post by **Doom** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 8:03 pm

I would've still liked the androgyny to be toned down.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 8:08 pm

Hero 5 barely looks female in game.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:12 pm

http://up2.viploader.net/pic/src/viploader57531.jpg
http://up2.viploader.net/pic/src/viploader57532.jpg
http://up2.viploader.net/pic/src/viploader57533.jpg
http://up2.viploader.net/pic/src/viploader57534.jpg

Jeane is a bad girl.

Doom · Post by **Doom** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 10:05 pm

how do you mess up 3 of those links
ALL WITH SPACES IN DIFFERENT PLACES
but oh yeah she looks naughty

Jeff 2G6 · Post by **Jeff 2G6** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:27 am

Haha is that Jack and Hanpan?!

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 11:48 am

Calbrena wrote:Noes

Oh well, I'm sure it'll be online soon

Don't hold your breath :[
And South Bank launch party

edeo · Post by **edeo** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:03 pm

Hrm, I miss the character design of SIII personally.

But at least it isn't as bufugly as SIV. Up close, the characters don't look that bad.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 9:17 pm

Doom wrote:how do you mess up 3 of those links
ALL WITH SPACES IN DIFFERENT PLACES
but oh yeah she looks naughty

there are no spaces for me

edeo: Tell Bahamut there is no limited edition coming out in North America and ask him where the fuck he got that from.

Doom · Post by **Doom** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:36 pm

that's because i fixed all of them

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:15 pm

If this is any good, it won't come out in the UK

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:28 pm

I guess it's gonna be crap then.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 10:52 pm

it is coming to europe

edeo · Post by **edeo** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:57 pm

Just making sure...

So I take it there's no special stuff coming with Suikoden V?

Ugh, and all the games I hate come in special editions or come with premiums.

I love it when the guys at GameStop treat me like I'm one of their gullible teenage consumers. They're always trying to talk me into the stupidest stuff. I asked em if Suikoden V came with any premiums and he said no but gave me this crap about how they have some sort of Dungeons and Dragons premium they can give out instead. To get him to lay off I just had to make it clear that I don't need to play the game the exact second it comes out.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:14 pm

we get an artbook and a soundtrack. no limited edition.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 7:30 pm

himurokoken wrote:it is coming to europe

I'm getting the American version :frank

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:07 pm

Suikoden V came out in Japan today. Hopefully Joei and some other people have the game so they can post impressions

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:12 pm

I saw torrents a couple of days back.
I'm pretty sure Joei will wait ntil it's in English.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:27 pm

Damien wrote:I saw torrents a couple of days back.
I'm pretty sure Joei will wait ntil it's in English.

I thought Joei was talking smack about SIV before it came in English (part of the reason I chose not to believe him.... how foolish I was).

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:45 pm

Neil downloaded it and sent it to him. Joei played it for a bit then gave it to me and I had a bit of a laugh at it too.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:17 am

okay.. I finally couldn't stand it.. and to the detriment of my plans for working on my schoolwork tonight I dove into 2ch again. Here are some reviews translated (very quickly so there will be mistakes).

43
Suikoden 5 was done pretty well.
The character's have many facial expressions, won't get bored watching.
Hero doesn't speak but at times shows expressions.
For some reason Georg's expressions often look foolish.
Overall load time is short and is not an obstruction to gameplay but in some places it is. Sometimes there are long load times before and after events and when the map changes. The load time after battles is short but that it goes into the 'now loading' screen is a bit of a concern.
About battles, the tempo is fast and flows smoothly but I think the tempo would be even better if you could skip the animations by pressing a button. I wish you could change the cursor to begin at the last action you selected. Encounter rate is a bit high.
As was written in the magazine reviews, I had a few problems with the map. It was so large that it was easy to get lost. It would have been better with a minimap. Even though you have 3 zoom levels, the places that are hard to see are hard to see. Even in full zoom the buildings aren't made transparent so the character is completely covered. If the map could be turned around it would have been good.
There are a few issues but the progess of the story keeps you motivated to play. I don't think it'll be a failure like 4.

273
I played 2-3 hours ---
this time the battles can be wrapped out quickly like 2's so its good.
the beginning of the story is good. the expressions of the characters are more diverse than expected making events very enjoyable. However sometimes they are a bit long.
If this quality continues till the end than it'll be a great work.

285
I bought it. the load times aren't long but there are many of them. the opening 10 mins are like watching a play (i.e. its all cutscenes?) The system isn't interesting and is a bit boring. but the character's are compelling. the girls are especially well cone. i think i will enjoy this more than 3 or 4.

331
i just started 6 hours but like was mentioned in the earlier thread, the encounter rae isn't that terrible. tho i am concerned about the 'now loading' screen. the story is good... but... it feels like the unrefinedness of 4's middle and last parts are still around. i'm a bit apprehensive.

357
i'm still at the beginning but i've enjoyed it so far.
it may not really have much bearing on the story but the amount of choices (for the hero to make?) have increased. i'm happy that its become easier to express the hero's will. its just that the choices appear in the middle of long text conversations by pressing the button to advance the conversation i mistakenly choose the choice. don't games nowadays ask you to confirm your choice?

371
i don't know about the battles or the system but the movies and the scenario are done really well. it is made for those who go for good scenarios . playing this you really wonder, "what the heck was up with 4?"

375
>371
i feel the same. the characters really stand out. i'm one who goes for good scenarios. even if the map is large making movement a hassle and the encounter rate is high it doesn't become a pain. in any case are the towns really that large? i think its just a bit larger than normal. but its not good that the loading scene pops up often. but now even tho there are warnings i think it is interesting.

398
my thoughts after playing for 16 hours
- the encounter rate in dungeon's is high. i'm irritated that i've become used to the symbol (load symbol?)
- loading time before and after battles is about 3 secs, but the frequency is a bit of a concern.
- the unfolding of the story is uninterrupted(? not sure)
- musical atmosphere (? not sure)
- sialeeds and jeanes breasts are too big. so is kisaras

400
this is what i noticed after an hour of playing
good points
- the polygon characters have great expressions. movement is smooth
- battle is speedy. it's like 2 polygonized
- the now loading scene is like 2
- just at the beginning but the leading in is good. promising.
bad points
- load is very long (frequent and long before battle, after battle, entering and leaving map)
- encounter rate is high (an enemy every 2-3 steps)
- the map is birds eye view but because the viewpoint can't be changed there are many blind stops (the worst is when the player is hidden behind buildings and can't be seen)
- the appearance of the menu screen is a tad slow.
that's about it. its definitly more enjoyable than 4 but requires some preseverance. have to be prepared about the length of loading.

400 onwards - argument about whether 5's loading time is slow or not compared with other games (some which i don't know) with it being worse than ff10 but better than xenosaga etc..

430
after playing 7 hours i finally got the strategist to join. its good that she's mch different from the previous strategists. but there's still no sign of the hero getting the true rune... plus the hero hasn't even changed into his 'official' clothes. it seems this game has great volume.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:58 am

433
my thoughts. play time about 8 hours
- in one sentence. a III that has become playable.
- as a rpg it is good but for a suikoden game a bit disappointing (i'm a fan of 1)
the bad points are like what the others have pointed out.
loading takes time. no change of viewpoint. encounter rate is high. but that experience points come easily is like a return to 2 make it feel good. the music isn't flashy, but its close to 1 and 2 so personally i like it. a bit plain tho.

there's no ---?--- (not sure of this word but i think it has something to do with lame characters?). rather there are too many cute characters i have mixed emotions.
the reviews did mention that the map is large, but more than largeness when i get to a new town and am told lets look around a bit, looking around for an unknown clue leave a bad impression. too much time spent wandering around towns with no purpose.

i thought the same during eternal arcadia but this scenario writer while overall his work isn't bad, that he is writing a similar story makes me unable to really get excited. about the chracter's stand out, during explanations many characters talk so the conversations tend to get a bit long. but i do understand the need to treat characters well so i guess this is just up to preference. like 4 there are pauses where there is novoice the tempo of conversations is a bit bad.

the graphics are basically pretty but i can't help feeling that the hero's polygon's look weird compare to his illustration.

there's not much to criticize but also not much to praise i think. on a scale of 5 i give it 3-4.

451
....
for not the towns are large but conversely the dungeons are short. rather too short.

479
so the load going into battle is long after all... its shorter than 4 but although the make of the windows the battle movement of 3 are more flashy the load time in 5 is long is a bit... but overall 5 is a lot more interesting.

490
when changing people into your party they usually say something but if another character they are close to is already in the party their lines change.
(example: "together with dad?" "fighting together with my daughter is a bit embarassing" "I'll take care of my (darling)" etc). that they put in thise sort of detail is nice. they really put work into the relationships between the characters.

517
the hero's first choice (i'm guessing when Ferid muzzles his head when he returns from lordlake)
- that hurts dad...
- please stop that father...

524
for me its a good game. tho i'm still at the beginning. objectively its "there's nothing to lose" just the load is frequent, encounters are frequent, map is large. to those who don't like this i can't recommend it.

547
somehow... normal?
personally good points are the scenario which makes you wonder what will happen. the wars are interesting.
personally bad points. tho i'm tired of battle there's a lot. its as if they on purpose made (the girls) too cute to draw your attention. i can't get into any of the male characters. it could be that the scenario will become my fav of the series but in terms of characters i can't get into it compared to 1 or 2.

around the 600 mark some ppl who claim to have cleared the game appear.

Damien · Post by **Damien** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:12 pm

So I won't get bored watching the character's facial expressions?
That's the first and foremost aspect of the game, ya?

Joei · Post by **Joei** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 2:49 pm

some of this kinda contains spoilers hkk. spoiler tag it.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 3:26 pm

Really? What?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWLWF8di ... rch=suikod en%205
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d-2fQLL ... h=suikoden %205
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7nuG3E7U2g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGUk3QykuOk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVv_llvaxss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ge123FMMszk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79JwS70wFE8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PoBjXiTAyM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnyJqHQFPJo

A few videos. They demonstrate how Suikoden V's cutscenes are just so much better than SIV's and aren't shoddy piece's of shit with pauses in there to break the scenes up. It also shows the pretty meh but workable load times, the size and scope of the the world, the size of towns (the simple fact you can go into houses and such is good to me, you couldn't at all in SIV), and so forth. Thy also show off how fucking good the music is.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:52 pm

I don't think the fact you can go in houses should be seen as a good thing. It distracts from the truth that not being able to go into houses is a terrible thing.

HKK · Post by **HKK** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:54 pm

38
i'm becoming a believer in Tsukawa but the composer also did a good job.

46
>32
the story will seem much deeper once past the 6 hour mark that you'll come to enjoy the farcial parts. i think.

118
the normal enemies are strong.. this is probably no 1 when it comes to hardness of battles against the normal enermies

124
damn tsukawa is a god.. the scenario is amazing..

131
tho tsukawa did good, the rest is lacking. you don't have to be asked to confirm everytime you want to use an item. irritated that the tempo is really bad

139
tsukawa's scenario is a good job! but its a bit of a pity. i also mis-selected targets often in battle. if only they improved the system a bit maybe it would have gone platinum.

151
of all the series this is the no 1 for making you feel "what will happen?" i'm so in to the story i can't stop halfway.

160
i love the story and the characters, but i'm dissatisfied with the system and the details.

--

Take notice that these gameplay complaints are basically,"Oh the map is too large" or "The towns are too big" So basically that ups the positives for me: large map, big towns, deep battle system, amazing plot and characters, and music. Seems to me the only real complaint is the load times, and that Japanese people hate non linearity, huge open worlds, and exploration. Weaksauce.

Lord Golbez · Post by **Lord Golbez** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 6:14 pm

I think the too high encounter rate could be a legitimate problem, particularly when it's being used to offset too small dungeons, which is what it sounds like.