Suikoden IV

Just RPG (84 out of 100) (84%)

For all that, though, I can’t honestly say the game disappointed me. While not really up to the standards of the rest of the series, Suikoden IV is most definitely entertaining in its own right, and a fine first purchase for 2005.

Gamers.at (82 out of 100) (82%)

Nachdem sich Konami vor einiger Zeit dazu entschloss, der PAL-Region das RPG „Suikoden III“ vorzuenthalten, trifft nun wenigstens der vierte Teil der Rollenspiel-Saga unter anderem auch hierzulande ein. Mit einer spannenden Story und innovativen Features konnte Konami bereits mit den ersten drei Teilen bei RPG-Fans punkten. Ob Suikoden IV ebenfalls mit vielen Innovationen vollgepackt ist oder nur einen müden Aufguss darstellt, erfährt ihr in unserem Review dazu.

Armchair Empire (8.2 out of 10) (82%)

Is Suikoden IV a hit or miss? I would highly suggest fans of the series to buy it even though the battle system is a little weak. Casual RPG fans that haven’t played any of the Suikoden games should give it a shot. If you aren’t a hardcore Suikoden fan, I would definitely suggest a try before buy.

Digital Entertainment News (den) (8 out of 10) (80%)

The Suikoden series has always been a dark horse favorite of RPG critics and fans alike. That’s because, despite being published by a big-name company like Konami, the series feels a bit like an underdog when compared to comparable titles from Square Enix. For newbies to the RPG world, let me make it simple to understand: going up against Square Enix in RPGs is like going up against EA Sports in football – it’s a one-sided battle you’ll probably lose.

GameZone (8 out of 10) (80%)

Looking back, 2004 was a spectacular year for fans of the role-playing game and seeing as how games like X-Men Legends and Star Ocean: Till The End of Time happily lit up our PS2s, fans like myself, cannot wait for this year’s offerings. You can bet that this girl is really anticipating the arrival of returning favorites like Xenosaga Episode II: Jenseits Von Gut Und Bose and, having been a fan of the Suikoden series since the second chapter was released a long while back, cheered when Suikoden IV was announced. Will this new chapter be the one remembered most? Well, not exactly, but it’s still a ride well worth taking.

Next Level Gaming (80 out of 100) (80%)

I remember playing a really cool RPG for the original Playstation system. That game was titled Suikoden. There have actually been other games released under the Suikoden franchise. The latest installment has just hit the Sony Playstation 2 game system. Roughly titled Suikoden IV. The story now takes place in a more tropical setting, on large pirate ships that roam across the deep blue sea. It seems Konami really has a knack for the ocean now, with this title and the recently announced “Lost in Blue” for the Nintendo portable DS system. That title is somewhat of a follow up to Konami’s Survival Kids. It is a game that I am pretty much drooling over until it’s release date. But the story of this new title is much like the older games.

Le Geek (4 out of 5) (80%)

Overall, I throughly enjoyed Suikoden IV. If you are a fan of past games in the series—or an RPG buff looking for something new—by all means pick it up!

Gameplay RPG (8 out of 10) (80%)

Vous l'aurez compris, Suikoden IV est un hit et s'impose une nouvelle fois avec son intrigue taillée sur mesure ; quant à l'aspect technique, il faudra se faire une raison...

Game Chronicles (8 out of 10) (80%)

This game is too stinking short. It's not just that it ends in half the time most newer RPG’s do. It's that the ending feels contrived and artificial, and leaves the players wanting so much more that even a second play through can't remedy the feeling of crushing disappointment that "that's all there is." This is the first and only game I've reviewed in which the Value category is almost worth more in my final judgment than the gameplay. However, ultimately, even if the ending was a rushed mess, the rest of the game shines as a solid and actually very entertaining RPG. Who knows? Maybe someday I'll even grow out of my resentment and play through it again, just to experience the masterful storytelling and multitude of side quests. Only time will tell.

IGN (7.9 out of 10) (79%)

Hell, I've played through the game and have obvious problems with it, and I still want to pick it up just so I can play through it again (yes, there's a New Game Plus and yes I have an obvious problem). But that's what it ultimately boils down to: If you're a Suikoden nut and loved the other three titles, then chances are you'll enjoy yourself with this one too. But if you're an RPG fan in search of something new, then keep in mind that Suikoden has definitely seen better days.

Gamesmania.de (78 out of 100) (78%)

Bei Suikoden IV sind RPG-Fans Zwiegespalten: Einerseits gibt’s wieder jede Menge Charaktere zum Sammeln, eine witzige Anime-Story und eine tolle Karibik-Welt. Andererseits sind die Kämpfe ziemlich simpel und die Technik stammt aus der letzten PS2-Software-Generation. Ebenfalls negativ aufgefallen sind die gewöhnungsbedürftige Schiffssteuerung und die vielen Zufallskämpfe. Fans von Anime-RPGs werden dennoch nicht an Suikoden IV vorbei kommen – dazu ist einfach zu viel stilvolle Nippon-Atmosphäre geboten.

Jeuxvideo.com (15 out of 20) (75%)

Suivant habilement les traces laissées par les épisodes PSone d'une série basée sur une approche psychologique profonde et "humaine" et n'hésitant pas à prendre des risques, Suikoden 4 tente l'intégration dans un univers maritime peu usité dans le monde vidéoludique. Péchant graphiquement à cause d'un aliasing trop présent et d'une finition parfois peu convaincante, le titre de Konami, faisant fi de ces reproches développe un fond prenant et riche qui pousse à se plonger dans ses méandres. N'est-ce pas le principal pour un RPG ?

Legendra (7.5 out of 10) (75%)

Suikoden 4 déçoit, c'est un fait. Pour autant, il est à mon sens très loin d'être mauvais, au contraire, en ayant l'ambiance propre de la série et en proposant quelques bonnes idées. Un Suikoden moyen, mais un très bon RPG tout de même.

4Players.de (73 out of 100) (73%)

Suikoden IV ist weit von der Dramaturgie eines Final Fantasy X, der Imposanz eines Fable oder der Komplexität eines Morrowind entfernt. Auch die Klasse des sehr ähnlich gelagerten Skies of Arcadia wird zu keiner Zeit erreicht. Zudem nerven die übertrieben vielen Zufallskämpfe und ewig langen Schiffsreisen. Trotzdem hat der Titel einen nicht zu verkennenden Charme: Vor allem die Suche nach den über hundert potentiellen Party-Mitgiedern sowie die zahlreichen Nebenbeschäftigungen und Minispiele sorgen trotz altbackener Spielmechanik und biederer Optik für Motivation. Es macht einfach Spaß, sein Schiff auszubauen, neue Mitstreiter ausfindig zu machen oder sich bei verschiedenen Glücksspielen die Zeit zu vertreiben. Da nimmt man sogar den uncharismatischen Protagonisten, die vergleichsweise seichte Story sowie die vielen unnötigen Längen in Kauf.

Thunderbolt Games (7 out of 10) (70%)

Gameplay usually isn't the most important feature in an RPG, but in Suikoden IV it just drags an otherwise "great" RPG into the realm of "slightly above average." The many attempts to recreate the magic of the first two games are more than welcome, the storyline is one of the better ones I've experienced, and the production values are definitely there. It's just the tedious ship navigation takes can test your patience at times. I guess a sailor's life isn't for me.

Game industry News (GiN) ( ) (70%)

The nautical theme and the really nice graphics helped keep my interest in Suikoden, but the highly repetitive gameplay bogged it down a bit too much for me. If you know what you are getting into, then you will probably enjoy Suikoden IV, but otherwise, those other top RPG titles for the console hold the most popular crown for a reason. Suikoden IV earns a respectable 3 + GiN Gems.

GamePro (US) (3.5 out of 5) (70%)

It's hard to ignore everything that's wrong with Suikoden IV--add them all together, and they result in an RPG that feels three years old out of the box. Still, that familiar Suikoden feeling is there, making this an opportunity to rediscover the roots of RPG storytelling.

RPGFan (70 out of 100) (70%)

Ultimately, I take no joy from writing this review. I've been a Suikoden fan since the first game's release and have found each of the previous three games to be charming despite their limitations in comparison to other games in the genre. This makes Suikoden IV an even more profound disappointment. To see a series falter so badly after years of doing everything right is distressing. One can only hope that Konami returns to the drawing board before undertaking a fifth installment in the series.

RewiredMind (7 out of 10) (70%)

Idiosyncrasies aside, there isn’t much wrong with Suikoden 4; as a role-playing game in it’s own right, it puts many of a similar ilk to shame. There’s certainly enough here to keep the role-playing enthusiast and to a lesser extent, new players to the genre, entertained. However, as a Suikoden game, its lacking something - that sparkle, which could be found in the first two in the series. Suikoden IV may not be quite the Suikoden game we were hoping for, but a decent role-playing adventure none-the-less.

GameSpot (6.7 out of 10) (67%)

Suikoden IV retains both interesting storytelling and a compelling cast, but it mixes in a number of flawed and frustrating elements. There's enough of the traditional Suikoden formula here to give this title a draw, despite some broken seafaring and a tedious encounter rate, but the game can only be recommended with caution. Those who are well used to abusive levels of random battles will find the game less ornery than most, but even those hardy souls may need an extra touch of patience for Suikoden IV.

Gaming Age (B-) (67%)

Granted, if you are a fan of this series, there will be no reason why you should not invest in this new adventure. It gives the fans exactly what they expect from the series. That also is the game’s only real down fall, as it doesn’t stray far from it’s “what works” ideas and can only result in the series becoming stale if more innovation and freshness aren’t introduced into the next installment. Suikoden IV tries to return to it’s roots, but honestly I enjoyed the direction it was going with part III, as it kept some old ideas, but brought everything up to date with what today’s gamers are use to. In the end, Suikoden IV will provide plenty of hours of entertainment for RPG fans, as long as do not expect anything too new or groundbreaking. The story is appealing, the battle system old school, and the presentation is on par with many of today’s RPG titles. Not a masterpiece by any means, but a game that will not put a black mark on their collection.

Worth Playing (6.5 out of 10) (65%)

The real problem is that Suikoden 4 fails to stand up to role playing games that came five years or more before it. The title looks, plays, sounds, loads, and I dare say is written like a first-generation import Playstation 2 launch effort. Lessons that have been learned in RPG game design seem to have been lost here, as old problems thought to have been forevermore excised crop up anew. An extra year’s worth of polish could have made this game something to write home about; unfortunately, as it stands, it’s a disappointment to the Suikoden name, which has incredibly high sandards attached to it at this point.

GameSpy ( ) (60%)

The Suikoden series has gone through some bizarre changes over the course of its lifespan. After the first two, fairly modest games, a plan was hatched to make the third game an ambitious fantasy epic, with sweeping changes to gameplay and, for the first time, full 3D graphics. Suikoden III was both a success and a failure; the story was groundbreaking and riveting, but elsewhere the game lagged. Sensing fans longed for a return to form, Konami tapped Junko Kawano, the creator of the first game in the series, to helm the latest installment. The result is, sadly, less than compelling.

Games TM (6 out of 10) (60%)

For fans of the franchise it's got everything you'd expect on a basic level - outlandish characters, a well-told story and a selection of mini-games and extras - but with little effort to break new ground or extend its appeal outside a crowd familiar with names like Pahn, Gremio and Viktor, Suikoden IV simply doesn't seem like a 2005 release. For most players it'll take some commitment to see it through to the end with so many more appealing games coming out right now. While fans will enjoy this on principle, Suikoden seems to be a series sadly in decline.

UOL Jogos ( ) (60%)

Na teoria, "Suikoden IV" é um grande jogo, mas um descuido sem precedentes em sua produção o rebaixam ao meramente medíocre. Antigos fãs poderão aproveitar mais certas nuances, mas ao mesmo tempo serão os que mais vão sentir falta da alta qualidade da produtora Konami.

Computer and Video Games (CVG) (6 out of 10) (60%)

A very traditional role-playing adventure. It'll keep you occupied for about a million years, but it's slow-paced and repetitive.

G4 TV: X-Play ( ) (60%)

Suikoden IV is a game that casual gamers will find both tough to pronounce and tough to get into. This traditional console RPG revolves around gathering up to 108 characters for a gigantic, boat party of destiny. There are one-on-one duels, strategic naval clashes, a fake ending, and the ability to admire your surroundings (and other characters) from a first-person view. All of these qualities are things we admire here at X-Play; but it seems gamers are destined to suffer a little to get to the good stuff.

PSX Nation (6 out of 10) (60%)

Suikoden IV’s unimpressive graphics, generic audio (except for the voice-overs), infuriating battle frequency and watered-down strategy (less party members = less variety of attack combos) aren’t going to cut it in 2005. Fans of the series should rent this one before deciding whether to embark on a quest that at times looks/sounds/plays an awful lot like Sega’s Skies of Arcadia. Get Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (also from Konami) instead. It costs $10 less and is twice as much fun to play than its high-profile RPG companion.

Eurogamer.net (UK) (6 out of 10) (60%)

Suikoden IV, as previously mentioned, is by no means a bad game. It's just horribly average, with some hugely disappointing lows counterbalanced by some genuinely excellent high points. On balance, those high points outweigh the low points, and the storyline and characters make this into a game which we can, albeit with reservations, recommend to fans of the genre. Those new to Japanese RPGs, or with a low tolerance for the kind of outdated design elements that made the genre so inaccessible to newcomers for years, should look elsewhere for their fix.

eToychest (60 out of 100) (60%)

Overall, Suikoden IV is a disappointment on all ends. Failed potential seeps from every area, and as the game drags on, the realization that it doesn't get any better starts to sink in. As excited as I was for the game, even after hearing the various naysayers who imported it early, it really did fall short of anyones expectations. While the addition of voice acting is nice, it doesn't reprieve from the convoluted character backgrounds, a sub-par storyline, buggy interface, and a battle system akin to watching paint dry. I could only recommend Suikoden IV to the most hardcore of Suikoden and RPG fans, as anyone else will surely be put off by the games sub-par performance.

Yahoo! Games ( ) (60%)

Konami's Suikoden series has been around for a decade -- first appearing on the PlayStation in 1995 -- but it's never received Final Fantasy type acclaim. The closest the series came to hitting it big was 2002's Suikoden III, its first appearance on the PS2, as well as the game that alienated some hardcore fans. Sadly, this fourth chapter isn't likely to bring back the following. Suikoden IV has the same grandiose scale and storytelling style as previous entries, but is hampered by an overabundance of combat and a lack of inspiration.

Darkstation (6 out of 10) (60%)

I was definitely expecting a lot more out of Suikoden IV, but unfortunately this game just didn't come through the way I though it would. With Suikoden IV, you are given a very mediocre Japanese RPG's, which unfortunately in this day and age that's just not good enough. Unless you are just a diehard Suikoden fan my recommendation is to just keep this one as a rental at best.

GameCritics.com (4.5 out of 10) (45%)

Ultimately, I take no joy from writing this review. I've been a Suikoden fan since the first game's release and have found each of the previous three games to be charming despite their limitations in comparison to other games in the genre. This makes Suikoden IV an even more profound disappointment; to see a series falter so badly after years of doing everything right is distressing. One can only hope that Konami returns to the drawing board before undertaking a fifth installment in the series.

IC-Games (45 out of 100) (45%)

All of this added to by relatively slow loading times and dialogue boxes that can’t be accelerated, and you have something too dull for kids, too easy and irritating for adults.

games xtreme (4.5 out of 10) (45%)

Only get this if you're a big fan of the series. The clunky control system at sea, the random battles from hell could be too much for some people to bother with.

videogamer.com (4 out of 10) (40%)

Let's recap. Why do you play games? If you're looking for excitement, this game falls short. If you're seeking new experiences, this game offers none. If you want an exciting story, dramatically told, this game will leave you cold. If you're looking for interesting characters, this game's generic cardboard cut-outs will bore you to tears. If all you want is entertainment, you'll find it impossible to avoid the fact that vast swathes of this game are simply no fun at all. Suikoden IV plays like a game that's generations out of date, and it's so in thrall to established genre conventions that it never stops to think that it's failed in the basic purpose of a game: to entertain.

Game Revolution (D+) (33%)

Suikoden IV, sadly, effectively undoes all that and pretty much pulls the entire series into the muck. Ideally, an RPG should try to hook you within the first hour. In Suikoden IV, you won’t get attached to anything until several hours into the game and only after running countless errands and going through redundant gameplay routines. The only thing getting the hook will be your patience.