Suikoden - zxc.wiki

Suikoden

Original title	幻想水滸伝
transcription	Gensō Suikoden
developer	Japan Konami
Publisher	Japan Konami
First title	Suikoden (1995)
Last title	Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki (2012)
Platform (s)	PlayStation , PS2 , PS3 , PSP , Sega Saturn , GBA , NDS , Windows
Genre (s)	Computer RPG , Japanese Adventure

Suikoden ( Japanese 幻想水滸伝 Gensō Suikoden ) is a computer role-playing game series by the Japanese company Konami . It is loosely based on the classic Chinese novel Shui Hu Zhuan (Suikoden is the Japanese translation) and takes numerous motifs from the novel.

In addition to the five games in the “main series”, there are now also some offshoots, some of which have other genres such as tactical role-playing games, card games or adventure .

development

The idea for Suikoden goes back to Yoshitaka Murayama. Konami asked him to develop a game for the then soon to be released PlayStation . He decided to develop a computer role-playing game . Another requirement from Konami was that the game should be conceived as the beginning of a series. However, Murayama felt that in RPGs, the main focus was on the heroes, but in his opinion the supporting characters were the backbone of a good story. To make this clear to his boss, he chose the classic Chinese novel The Robbers of Liang Schan Moor as an example. However, the boss was so enthusiastic about the example that he now wanted a game that was strongly based on the novel - Suikoden (the Japanese name of the novel) was born.

Murayama was then promoted to producer of the game and now led the development. Since the game has sold enough in Konami's opinion, the plans were implemented and the game expanded into a series.

Series title

Main series

Suikoden: The first part of the series was released in Japan on December 15, 1995, in the US in December 1996 and in Europe in April 1997 for the PlayStation . On September 17, 1998 the part was also released for the Sega Saturn in Japan; there is also a PC version in Korea and Japan , which came out in 1998. In 2008 a port of the game for Japanese cell phones and for the American PlayStation Network followed .

The PAL version is entirely in English.

Suikoden II: The second part of the series was released in Japan on December 17, 1998, in the USA on August 31, 1999 and in Europe on July 28, 2000 for the PlayStation . Here, too, there is a PC version in Japan, China and Korea from 2001.; One feature is that you can import a saved game from the first part; This means that allusions to the events in Suikoden are adapted to the score so that, for example, characters that the player let die in the previous game do not appear. You can meet the player character from Part 1 and recruit them as a party member.

In contrast to Suikoden , Suikoden II was completely translated into German.

Suikoden I & II: This game was released exclusively in Japan on February 23, 2006 for the PSP and November 5, 2009 on the Japanese PlayStation Network . It contains slightly revised versions of the first two parts.

Suikoden III: The third part of the series was released in Japan on July 11, 2002 and in the US on October 24, 2002 for the PlayStation 2 . A release in Europe was announced, but was canceled at short notice due to unspecified problems with localization.; It is the first part for the Playstation 2 and the last part under producer Yoshitaka Murayama, who left Konami voluntarily towards the end of production. There is again an option to use the score from the previous part for bonuses - in Japan you can use a score from Suikoden II as well as one from Suiko Gaiden Vol. 2.

Suikoden IV: The fourth part of the series was released in Japan on August 19, 2004, in the US on January 11, 2005 and in Europe on February 21, 2005 for the PlayStation 2 . It is therefore the first part for the Playstation 2 that was released in Europe.; It is also the first part that was not produced by Murayama. Instead, Junko Kawano, who was already working on the first part of Suikoden as a character designer, took the lead and decided to “start over” the series: Instead of continuing the timeline of the first parts into the future, the events were moved far into the past.

The changes in gameplay, such as reducing the group from six to four characters in combat and the long sea voyages, were generally not well received. The considerably shorter playing time and the plot were also criticized.

Suikoden V: The fifth part of the series was released in Japan on February 23, 2006, in the US on March 21, 2006 and in Europe on September 21, 2006 for the PlayStation 2 .; So far it is the last part of the main series that has appeared. The action was (temporally) shifted closer to the first parts of the series.

Offshoot

Genso Suikogaiden Vol. 1 - Swordsman of Harmonia: This game was released exclusively in Japan on September 21, 2000 for the PlayStation . It is an adventure game and tells, in addition to its own story, the events of Suikoden II from a different perspective. It is also possible to import a game from Suikoden II to unlock additional scenes.

Genso Suikogaiden Vol. 2 - Duel At Crystal Valley: The sequel to the first Suikogaiden appeared again exclusively in Japan on March 22, 2001 for the PlayStation . It ties in directly with the predecessor and finally brings the story to an end. It is possible to import the final score of the first part for further additional scenes. You can also import a final score from this game into the Japanese version of Suikoden III .

Genso Suikoden Card Stories: This game was released exclusively in Japan on September 13, 2001 for the Game Boy Advance . This is an adaptation of a Suikoden card game. It tells the events of Suikoden II again, but in a simpler and slightly different form.

Suikoden Tactics: This branch was released in Japan on September 22, 2005 (under the name Rhapsodia ), in the USA on November 8, 2006 and in Europe on February 23, 2006 for the PlayStation 2 .; It is the first and so far only part that is not a classic role-playing game, but a strategy role-playing game . It plays before, during and after the plot of Suikoden IV and extends it. Here, too, there is again the option of importing data from Suikoden IV .

Suikoden zodiac: This part was released in Japan on December 18, 2008, in the US on March 17, 2009, in Germany on March 12, 2009 and in Europe on March 13, 2009 for the Nintendo DS .; Unlike all other Suikoden parts so far, this part takes place in a completely new and completely independent universe. The gameplay has also been modified, for example there is. neither army battles nor individual duels. This time the combat system allows only four instead of the usual six (with the exception of Part IV) characters to take part in combat at the same time. The traditional rune-based magic system has been replaced by the simpler learning of spells by reaching a level. The action in combat is shown graphically in real-time 3D, in cities, dungeons and on the upper world, but with detailed pre-rendered backgrounds.

Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki: This new part was presented on September 17th, 2011 at the Tokyo Game Show . The game was released on February 9, 2012 for the PSP in Japan. Just like Suikoden Zodiac, the action does not take place in the same world as the main series. Unlike the Nintendo DS offshoot, the combat system again offers up to six characters at once. Similar to the PS2 games, the graphics are displayed completely in real-time 3D and for the first time offer a freely rotating camera. Despite good sales figures in Japan, where the game topped the sales charts in the first week, a release in Europe or the USA is not yet planned.

characterization

The first titles in the series are loosely based on one of the so-called four classic novels Die Räuber vom Liang-Schan-Moor and take several scenes from it, as well as the idea of the "108 Stars of Fate" - the possibility of being able to recruit 108 fighters. In all previous titles, the plot revolves primarily around politics, intrigue and revolution, but also friendship and trust.

These 108 stars of fate also distinguish the Suikoden series from other role-playing games. Most of the 108 characters are playable, with the characters mostly varying with each title. Another parallel is the headquarters (mostly an old castle), which is acquired in the course of the game and evolves with the story. In addition to the "normal" group fights, there are also duels and battles. In contrast to the Final Fantasy titles, for example, the individual titles in Suikoden are related to one another in a narrative manner. Several characters appear in different titles, but the titles always take place in different areas of the fictional continent.

Another part of the storyline is played by the 27 true runes, which play a major role in the genesis of the Suikoden universe. In each part there is always at least one rune. In the first part of Suikoden this was the rune about life and death, which is also called Souleater or is referred to as "the most cursed" rune.

In the second part of the series, the two parts of the "Rune of the Beginning" play a role, which the protagonist Riou and his best friend Jowy receive.

In Suikoden III the true runes of fire, earth, air, water and lightning are dealt with in more detail. While Luc wear the "True Wind Rune" and High Priest Sasarai the "True Earth Rune", the remaining three true elemental runes are owned by the protagonists Hugo, Chris and Geddoe.

The "rune of punishment", which deprives its wearer of more and more life energy when used, is a large part of the story of Suikoden IV.

In Suikoden V, the "Sun Rune" is dealt with in more detail or its offshoots, the "Dawn Rune" and the "Twilight Rune". The two main characters of the game, the Prince of Falena and his bodyguard Lyon, briefly own these runes, which were created from the sun rune, in order to restore peace in their homeland.

Suikoden V was released in Europe on September 21, 2006 and restores the reputation of the series in the eyes of many fans after the fourth part was often badly rated. The combat system and camera perspective are again very much based on the first two Suikoden parts.

Gameplay

Combat system

The games in the main series of the series are very classic RPGs . However, there is a variation in the combat system compared to other games in that there are three combat modes:

Normal combat : This type of fight corresponds to the combat known from other RPGs and is the most common type. A group of six (in Suikoden IV and Zodiac four) characters fight turn-based against a group of opponents. You can choose from several commands, with the normal ones such as attack and defend there are also special ones such as union , where several characters carry out special attacks together, or bribery , with which you try to avoid a fight by bribing the monsters.

Duel : This type of combat is only triggered in special situations. Here a character fights against an opponent in a special kind of turn-based combat: You can choose from three commands that are in a rock-paper-scissors relationship. One has to anticipate his behavior from the dialogue with the opponent and carry out the correct command accordingly. In Suikoden V the duels have been changed to the extent that there is now a time limit of three seconds in which you have to enter the command.

Big battle : This simulates a battle between two armies. These run very differently in each part, for example in Suikoden II in the manner of a tactical RPG, whereas Suikoden V is played in a manner similar to RTS .

In Suikoden Tactics and Suikoden Zodiac , duels in this sense are dispensed with. Instead, duels are played like normal fights. Zodiac battles are just a series of normal battles.

success

Suikoden III , the first series part in 3D graphics, was classified as innovative but somewhat weaker than its predecessor from a dramaturgical point of view and sold well overall (377,729 copies in Japan alone, 190,000 in the USA). However, a PAL version that was in production was scrapped at short notice because there were problems with the translation into various European languages. Konami's company strategy was only to have fully translated publications across Europe; publication at least in the United Kingdom with the existing American translation was also excluded.

Suikoden IV , which appeared worldwide again, represented a qualitative and stylistic break in the series. Dramaturgy, playability, graphics and scope were completely renewed, but despite an interesting basic concept, according to the unanimous opinion of the players, could not with the direct predecessor, let alone the keep up with the first two parts. The game then received consistently mediocre ratings. The sales success was accordingly worse than with the predecessor despite the meanwhile strongly grown market with around 310,000 copies in Japan. Only a later spin-off , a strategy RPG called Suikoden Tactics , completed Suikoden IV and explained missing parts of the plot.

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ Archived copy ( memento of the original from September 5, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2
↑ News on suikoden3.de ( Memento from September 26, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
↑ http://psp.ign.com/articles/121/1213336p1.html
↑ http://kotaku.com/5885491/this-rpg-is-topping-charts-in-japan-but-americans-may-never-see-it
↑ http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-BestSell2002.shtml
↑ http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.php?id=2264