Review of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster

When Konami decided to bundle Suikoden I and II for the Switch, it felt a bit like they were obligated to throw in the first game, which isn’t quite as brilliant, just to justify remastering the phenomenal Suikoden II. Over the weeks I’ve revisited these classics, talking to friends about how the best advantage of this collection is simply “Suikoden II,” while the downside is “Suikoden I.” Of course, it’s more nuanced than that. Suikoden II stands tall as one of the best RPGs of its era, maybe even of all time, whereas its predecessor feels like a tentative first step in the right direction. But if ‘90s RPGs hold a special place in your heart, getting to experience Suikoden II makes this entire package worth it, even if the first game just doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Originally launched on the PlayStation in 1996, Suikoden I was Yoshitaka Murayama’s directorial debut, and he also contributed to the Suikoden spiritual successor, Eiyuden Chronicles, before he passed away in 2024. The game ambitiously tried to juggle 108 recruitable characters, multiple battle systems, and an intriguing storyline. Despite the interesting premise, the game felt inconsistent to me. Even within its condensed 20-hour playtime, the story would flip-flop in pacing. The traditional six-player turn-based combat was solid but didn’t quite push the war and duel systems to their potential. However, the HD Remaster does address some of these issues, smoothing out gameplay and adding features like faster battle animations. The soundtrack remains solid and the visual upgrades enhance the original art while keeping its unique style intact. All in all, it’s a good remaster of an okay game.

Then there’s Suikoden II, a remaster of a game that’s nothing short of a masterpiece. Playing the games in sequence, I initially feared that my impressions after so many years might not hold up. Thankfully, Suikoden II shatters those doubts, delivering a captivating story from the very beginning and maintaining a gripping pace over its lengthier story arc. This sequel takes the rough ideas from the first game and polishes them to a shine. The narrative is tightly woven, delivering a powerful personal tale amidst the chaos of a country torn apart by war. Your silent hero finds himself intertwined with his best friend Jowy from the start, navigating a plot that unfolds with characters as memorable as Nanami, the hero’s childhood friend, and the infamous villain, Luca Blight.

The intricacies deepen with clever nods to its predecessor, including returning characters and even your hero from the first game, provided you completed it before diving into the sequel. The battle system sees smart improvements, like a more flexible rune system that allows characters to wield up to three runes. Battles now offer more tactical choices with a grid system, and the war and duel segments feel more impactful within the storyline.

Konami’s overall remaster package is commendable, offering concept art and other goodies. The 2D visuals receive a faithful HD facelift that’s both respectful to and harmonious with the original design, sidestepping the pitfalls of feeling like just another RPG from over two decades ago. Gameplay-wise, the remaster doesn’t overhaul much, settling for adding three difficulty levels and the ability to quicken battles. While not a dealbreaker, an option to disable random encounters at times would have been a welcome addition.

For those who’ve never experienced Suikoden II and hold Japanese RPGs dear, this game is an essential pre-order. It rivals the early ‘90s Square Enix classics in stature. While Suikoden I doesn’t quite achieve the same acclaim, it serves as an interesting precursor to its successor, akin to how the NES Final Fantasy titles set the stage for the legendary SNES iterations. It’s exciting to see the series’ evolution, but we all know which title truly stands out as a timeless legend.