PlayStation

Suikoden

The realistic undertones of the game caused this gamer/writer to play the game over and over which I can boast or admit (depends on how you look at it, lol) having so much spare time to have beaten the game more times than college classes I have taken up to now (90+hrs for those of you who are interested). This is an oldie but goodie game that I believe if you have a PSX or PS2 - get this game. It will be worth the price you paid (mine cost me $10 as pre-played).

Can this be? Is it a real Konami game? One without balls (sports balls) and scoring and polygons? Why yes! Genso Suikoden is the best traditional RPG I've yet played on a 32-bit console. Konami's fighting system is a genius design, both mechanically and graphically, the story's deep and above the kindergarten mentality, but best of all, YOU DON'T GET IN A FIGHT EVERY TWO INCHES YOU TRAVEL! With the new Konami fully etched into the sports scene, it will be a cryin' shame if GS never comes out here, so...license it!

Suikoden is one of the finest RPGs made since Chrono Trigger. All the role playing elements that make games like the Final Fantasy series an epic are here. This isn't a short game, either. Suikoden is long and it doesn't get boring, not for a second. This is one of Konami's finest hours. You won't regret it.

Suikoden is the best RPG to come out in years. The game has what it takes to stand up in an action dominated game market and shine. If you're looking for a game that will suck you into another world, as another person, it's right here in the form of Suikoden.

Suikoden is one of the most addictive games that I have ever played. It is a different kind of addiction -- not a competitive addiction, but more of an "I-want-to-see-what-happens-next" addiction. There is so much in this game that I can't even begin to explain everything, but it is very easy to get the hang of it. My only complaint, and it is minor, is that all the conversations are text-based. There are too many comments that don't add anything to the game, so you have to continually cycle through someone's useless, smartass comments. This game is a must-buy for any role-playing fan and a highly recommended title for adventure fans. If you have never played this type of game, Suikoden is a great game that everyone can play.

Konami has always provided great games, such as the now classics Contra and Castlevania. It seems that they can develop great role-playing games, as well. If you're looking for a fantastic story with rich characters and lots of options, Suikoden will not disappoint.

Overall, Suikoden is a topnotch, classic -style RPG with a deep, evolving story line and smooth, efficient gameplay. If the graphics had been tweaked and more FMV/cut scenes been inserted, this game would be one of the best ever. However, it stand as one of the best RPG’s on the PlayStation, and probably won’t be surpassed until Final Fantasy VII is released.

Suikoden is undeniably one of the best RPGs ever made. Not only that, but Suikoden isn't a game that can be finished in a few days either. Suikoden is long (about 25+ hours) and it doesn't get boring... ever.

Holy cow - talk about a long RPG! Suikoden is almost mind-boggling. I have to admit that I was pretty intimidated as I was playing through and realizing what I was talking on. There is a huge amount of different characters in the game and the development and involvement of them in the story is awesome. I really enjoyed being able to battle monsters (or enemies) in different ways. The army v. army battles reminded me of Dragon Force on the Saturn in a way (since we review that one this month, too) which is a great thing. This one if for those with a lot of time and patience. As far as RPGs go, it's an incredible one.

In my opinion, Suikoden was the runner-up to Dragon Force as the best game to hit these shores in 1996. A testament to its excellence is that even though it was released over 2 years ago, it is still one of the very best 32-bit games you can get today. I strongly recommend this one to all RPG fans.

Ultimately, Suikoden comes highly recommended for all RPG-lovers. Though it does have its share of detractions and suspensions of belief (the hero is the ultimate charisma-man), solid game-play and unique features combined with a good story make Suikoden one of the better early era PS One RPGs.

Even though Suikoden suffers from its share of problems, it's a great example of the adage, "greater than the sum of its parts." The finished product manages to outshine all its flaws to create a very playable game with fun gameplay, an intriguing storyline, and a well-designed world. However, it's obvious that this is one of Konami's first works in the role-playing genre, and as such suffers some hiccups that don't bury its positive aspects but provide annoying distractions. Any PSone owner that loves RPGs has to at least give Suikoden a shot.

With no more than a casual glance at its rough 16bit-style demeanour, it would be easy to dismiss Suikoden. This style of turn-based RPG has been seen many times on the SNES, often with better graphics and sound than the PS manages here.

All in all, Suikoden is a fine, albeit short, RPG. Experienced role-players should be able to whip through it in no time. Even novices shouldn't encounter too much trouble. It's got an appealing storyline, and tons of characters to experiment with. Even so, consider it a warm-up for Wild Arms and Final Fantasy VII.