The long wait is finally over, because Suikoden I & II HD Remaster is out today! Last week, we took a look at what critics said about the first two Suikoden games when they first came out, but that got me thinking about the rest of the series. We know what Electronic Gaming Monthly thought about Suikoden I & II, but what about the rest of the sequels? What was their favorite game?
As it turns out, EGM reviewed a total of six Suikoden games between 1996 and 2008, including all five of the main-series games, as well as the 2005 spin-off, Suikoden Tactics. That's basically every installment that came out in the United States, which should make this a great list. What we're going to do is count down the best and worst Suikoden games using Electronic Gaming Monthly's own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're just going to see what the critics said back when these games first came out. Get ready to catch ‘em all, because this is what happens when EGM Ranks Suikoden.
Suikoden IV (PlayStation 2)
#6
“I'm dumbfounded by how basic and dull this game is. Its few towns are barren, there are almost no interesting locations to explore, and the story takes far too long to get into gear. Roaming the seas looking for adventure sounds romantic, but the truth – crawling across the ocean, beset by ceaseless boring and simplistic random battles – is far from poetic. Fortunately, the game picks up a lot in the last third, and the cool Suikoden touches, like having your own HQ, are still in place. These save Suikoden IV from abject mediocrity ... barely.” (6 out of 10)
Suikoden V (PlayStation 2)
#5
“This latest Suikoden's story is as good – and long winded – as ever, narrated through tremendously well-acted, very pretty, and frequent cut-scenes. But while the cut-scenes impress, a strange murkiness totally undermines the in-game graphics' detail and artfulness, even when you zoom in on the action. And the large-scale strategic battles move in disconcerting real time, resembling something like an upset anthill, with battle units all moving in a panic. Though these war screens feel woefully out of place, they at least make the game feel even more epic. Actually, my Russian lit professor back in college used to shout at us, ‘What is epic? It is long and boring!' Yeah, kind of like that.” (6.5 out of 10)
Suikoden II (PlayStation)
#4
“If you have the time and are willing to commit at least 50 hours, Suikoden II is an RPG that will keep your attention. It heralds 108 characters, including some old favorites like Flik and Viktor. The storyline is compelling and features the adult themes of betrayal, death and tom-foolery. If you had the foresight to save your memory card from the first Suikoden, you can download those into this lengthy thrill ride. Annoyingly, the main character cannot move sideways. But otherwise, it's a real hoot. If you've got the time, it's worth the ride.” (7 out of 10)
Suikoden III (PlayStation 2)
#3
“This third iteration of Suikoden takes some gutsy chances with the series' established formula. As in the previous games, you're still amassing an army of 108 heroes to thwart evil. This time, however, the quest happens concurrently among three totally different main characters. It's a cool concept, as you witness events from multiple vantage points. The gimmick starts to wear thin, though, as these characters visit the same locales, talk to the same townsfolk and battle the same wild critters. Visually, the average graphics don't impress. The people look kinda neat, but the obvious Final Fantasy X-inspired field and dungeon backgrounds seem blocky and primitive compared to last fall's Square effort. Overall, it won't blow you away, but RPG fans who can see beyond the drab look and slow intro will find a rewarding epic.” (7 out of 10)
Suikoden Tactics (PlayStation 2)
#2
“This generation, it seems like the Suikoden series can't buckle down and get things right. Both prior PS2 editions were full of good ideas ... and bad ones. Suikoden Tactics is, obviously, no exception. The irony, of course, is that the solid cinematic storytelling in Suikoden IV – one of the few things that worked – has been discarded. Instead we got a collection of bobble-headed LEGO men and not a hell of a lot of drama, though the story takes itself very seriously. Thus, the focus falls to the gameplay. Suikoden Tactics emphasizes combat strategy. The game is pretty unforgiving, but takes the edge off by doing a better job than any of its contemporaries at keeping you informed of the battlefield conditions, by including user-friendly icons. While the game remains highly conventional, the developers clearly understand what makes games like this interesting and have executed on that knowledge surprisingly well.” (7.3 out of 10)
Suikoden (PlayStation)
#1
“It's about time someone made fantasy RPG characters taller than the squat dwarves we've all grown accustomed to. Suikoden is a great, ambitious project that every PlayStation owner/RPG fan will have to get excited about. In fact, nothing that has been released has even come close, although Final Fantasy VII is always looming over the horizon. The combat system works great, with spectacular magical effects and large-scale troop battles that add new dimensions in the RPG field. This is the best PlayStation RPG yet! By the way, great music, too.” (8.75 out of 10)
