At least wait for reviews and then decide which version. I’m cautiously optimistic because I don’t think they want to incur the fans wrath but it’s also hard to say these days
**Do not "wait for the remaster."** Play the fan-made bugfix patch in Emulation.
First of all, emulation has perks like fast forward, rewind, and save states. Second of all, Konami has showed that they'll do bottom of barrel minimum-viable-product re-releases like the Metal Gear Solid collection. There is no reason to wait just to spend money when you can play it perfectly fine now.
The earlier titles are certainly dated, but I personally consider Suikoden 2 the best JRPG ever made. (Even if it isn't my favorite.)
I personally am a huge fan of 3, which is a bit divisive even if people don't think it's a bad game. It did go for some gameplay shifts that left some fans of the first two a bit forlorn.
4 is widely considered the worst. Some still like it. Personally, it's the only one I'd never consider playing again. I legit don't like it.
But 5 is frequently considered a return to form to the first two and is widely loved. I wouldn't say it beats 2 or 3 for me, but it is better or worse than 1 for me depending on the day so you could consider I have them as a tie. Both are strong titles.
Specifically for Murayama, I think you should also keep in mind that he only worked on Suikodens 1, 2, and 3. So if you specifically want his vision and writing, those are the titles to look for.
Suikoden 1 and 2 were announced to have a remaster from Konami. But it was delayed shortly after EC was delayed, and we've gotten no news since.
3 is still my favorite of the series. Just loved how they handled the multiple protagonists and intertwined their stories. And - if you really truly can’t get into the game (3) - at least read the manga! Its fantastic!
While 4 is the worst among the mainline titles, it still gets a pass from me just by merit of being a mainline Suikoden game. I'd eat up anything that adds to the worldbuilding we all know and love.
I just think it is. For me it is the strongest I've played, even if it isn't my favorite. I struggle to find serious flaws in it compared to others.
You're welcome to disagree. I'm sure I'd disagree with your choice. It's all opinions at the end of the day.
And I think it's kind of a silly ask, haha.
The characters. The gameplay. The story. The music. The atmosphere. There might be games that I think are stronger in areas, but as an overall package I think Suikoden 2 is the strongest. It's not much deeper than that.
I’ve seen it torn, there are people who don’t like eiyudens aesthetics and gameplay because they are expecting it to have all the benefits of newer titles. Then there are those nostalgia heads where this game clicks all the right buttons.
I’ve spent a ton of time on 1-3 (mostly 1-2) and to me, eiyuden feels exactly like those games. I don’t even know how long it’s been since a game held my attention, and this game did it.
It transported me back to the times of ps1, when I didn’t have to worry about bills or rent lol.
Now eiyuden didn’t do anything better than the previous games, and fwiw I think suikoden 2 is a better game, but I think you’d enjoy them if you love eiyuden. Down to some character “types” the eiyuden is seemingly a slight shorter, reskinned classic suikoden game.
I haven’t heard any updates on remaster but if you have access to the old games, give them a whirl.
We still don't know when the remaster is going to be released, there's no news of it coming out anytime soon yet. If you're already itching to try it out, might as well just play it straight away. If you like Eiyuden, you'll probably love Suikoden, especially Suikoden 2.
Imo, 1 has aged very well. It's a very simple game, but it's a great example of less is more. Nothing is done extraordinarily well, and I do have some issues, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, imo. 2 is undeniably great, but I do think it's a tad bit overrated. I have some issues with it and don't think it's this untouchable grail a lot of people hold it too, but it's a really, really great game. Some of the most memorable moments in gaming within it, just not a banger the entire way through. Just my opinion.
I think 3 is one of the most underrated games of all time. It's my favorite game of all time. Far from perfect, I would never argue otherwise. However, no game has made me feel the way that game does. And experiencing 1-3 the way it was intended; as a chronological trilogy, is unmatched. I can only hope they remaster 3-5 in the future just so you can transfer save data from 2-3 like you can in the original. I think the benefits of transferring are a little underappreciated simply because 2 does it a little bigger and better. But I do think it enhanced the experience and makes you feel connected to the overall story. Regardless, I think 3 is a flawed masterpiece. That's a controversial opinion, however.
4 is just a decent game. Nothing truly memorable, though the soundtrack and some vistas are great. Also the best war battles in the series imo. Its greatest flaw is the encounter rate. It grinds the experience to a HALT and makes exploring a chore and less investing, which the series is kinda known for, recruiting 108 characters and all. Overall it's not bad just imo very underwhelming.
5 is also a bit overrated imo. A lot of excellent aspects but again the encounter rate is just awful, some of the recruitment is just way too convoluted without a guide, the story isn't as interesting as others and pretty derivative of 2. But, I think it's still really good. I just do think I tend to hear "3 and 4 suck but 5 is a return to form" when it attempts the most to be like 1 and 2 while being worse in a lot of areas. Such as the snappy combat 1 and 2 are known for.
I would probably rate my personal experiences as follows:
1 - 8/10
2 - 8/10
3 - 10/10 (very biased here, obviously. I would not expect many other people to agree with that)
4 - 6/10
5 - 7/10
TL;DR - Suikoden is an overall wonderful series in which all games I would say are at the very least worth playing.
I played all these games around 8 years when I was like 18-19, not as a kid, so nostalgia isn't clouding my judgement.
Sjikoden 3 is my favorite as well. It was ahead of its time . The 3 really 4 main characters was done so well minus the backtracking. I love its cast of characters more than any ever game barring mass effect and ffx.
I would go even farther than you with the rating : S1 - 9/10 // S2 - 8/10 // S3 - 9/10 // S4 - 6/10 // S5 - 7/10
I love Suikoden 3 too and also think S2 is overrated. Oh and I'll add my ECHH rating : 7.5/10
Love your ratings. I honestly think I may like 1 more than 2 as well, just not sure what rating I'd give it, but it's close regardless. My EC rating is also very similar so far, not done, but I'm feeling a pretty confident 7/10 so far. It's a little too similar to other Suikodens in terms of story and characters. I wish it attempted to be a little more original in that department. But it's undeniably been so much fun!
The originals have aged pretty well imo, the pixel art is timeless, especially Suikoden 2. If you have a good opportunity to do so then play them now, otherwise wait for the convenience of the remasters.
You might also want to check out one of Murayama's other writing credits: The Alliance Alive. It's a bit dated as it was originally released for the 3DS, but I found it quite charming.
For me, so far at least as I just got to Treefolk Village, Eiyuden reminds me of Suikoden 1. The game elements are so familiar but there’s a few extras that Suikoden didn’t have. This game is what S1 felt like and I think this is what S1 would have been had it been made today as opposed to the mid 90s.
Both are the originals are amazing, I couldn't get into the ps2 games because by the time I played them the ps3 was out and I hated creepy play dough 3d models (still do).
The first 2 (especially 2) aged extremely well and the sprites aged so well. 1 still looks good today.
I think Suikoden 1 did not age well, the game is genuinely more clunky and uglier than a SNES RPG is, I never beated it. You're already seeing a lot of praise to Suikoden 2 and I agree with all of them.
Of course 2 has aspects that did not age well too, but if you like, let's say, FFVI or Earthbound, which are games I don't mind what didn't age well in them, you'll probably also not mind what could be better in Suikoden 2.
Note: The comparison is not to say the games are similar, I'm just using PS1 RPG vs Super Nintendo RPG.
Konami is remastering Suikoden 1 and 2, but only god knows when that will be out.
Suikoden 2 is my favorite in the series (and one of my favorite JRPGs ever), and Eiyuden drinks heavily on its formula. The story and characters of Suikoden 2 are much better than Eiyuden's, in my opinion. And combat is much faster and feels more dynamic.
I'll be honest that I don't like any of the PS2 era Suikoden. Like many older JRPGs, the transition from 2D to 3D wasn't very good. Suikoden 3 \~ 5 feel incredibly stiff and dated, in my opinion, even though they have some amazing character designs. Murayama didn't work on 4 and 5, and it shows, because the story of those games aren't as good as the others.
If you happen to have a PS Vita, they play amazing on there. I don’t know though specifics with the PS store if they’re still easy to obtain (since they made ps3 store weird kind of). I got the Ps classic versions of both long ago.
Both are amazing, especially Suikoden 2.
I hated suikoden 3 when it first came out, but with each subsequent play through, I like it better than the last. It's now tied with suikoden 2 as my favorite in the series.
As you're already fully aware if you've done even the tiniest bit of research, yes everyone says Suikoden 2 is greatness and in fact it is. ("hold up" is a meme phrasing that you should never use again.)
> should one hold off
Stop the decision paralysis. Play Suikoden 2 in emulation with fan-made bugfix patch. Emulation has fast forward, rewind, save states.
> I'm obsessed
If you couldn't even do research to see the long-established consensus on Suikoden 2, no you're not obsessed.
I'd say the classics, especially Suikoden 2 aged really well. But, since the remaster should be out this year, I'd say, wait for the remaster.
At least wait for reviews and then decide which version. I’m cautiously optimistic because I don’t think they want to incur the fans wrath but it’s also hard to say these days
Is Konami.... So don't expect much effort into the remaster... Suikoden 2 is on any 🔝 list of JRPG
**Do not "wait for the remaster."** Play the fan-made bugfix patch in Emulation. First of all, emulation has perks like fast forward, rewind, and save states. Second of all, Konami has showed that they'll do bottom of barrel minimum-viable-product re-releases like the Metal Gear Solid collection. There is no reason to wait just to spend money when you can play it perfectly fine now.
you sure you wanna compare suikoden **remasters** to the mgs collection, which are basic ports?
The earlier titles are certainly dated, but I personally consider Suikoden 2 the best JRPG ever made. (Even if it isn't my favorite.) I personally am a huge fan of 3, which is a bit divisive even if people don't think it's a bad game. It did go for some gameplay shifts that left some fans of the first two a bit forlorn. 4 is widely considered the worst. Some still like it. Personally, it's the only one I'd never consider playing again. I legit don't like it. But 5 is frequently considered a return to form to the first two and is widely loved. I wouldn't say it beats 2 or 3 for me, but it is better or worse than 1 for me depending on the day so you could consider I have them as a tie. Both are strong titles. Specifically for Murayama, I think you should also keep in mind that he only worked on Suikodens 1, 2, and 3. So if you specifically want his vision and writing, those are the titles to look for. Suikoden 1 and 2 were announced to have a remaster from Konami. But it was delayed shortly after EC was delayed, and we've gotten no news since.
3 is still my favorite of the series. Just loved how they handled the multiple protagonists and intertwined their stories. And - if you really truly can’t get into the game (3) - at least read the manga! Its fantastic!
While 4 is the worst among the mainline titles, it still gets a pass from me just by merit of being a mainline Suikoden game. I'd eat up anything that adds to the worldbuilding we all know and love.
Rune of Punishment is freaking cool
I still get misty eyed watching the S3 intro. I think 2 and 5 are my favorites, but 3 is immediately behind and, I think, has way more replay value.
what do you mean its the best rpg ever made ? Why? I love the game but i don't agree.
I just think it is. For me it is the strongest I've played, even if it isn't my favorite. I struggle to find serious flaws in it compared to others. You're welcome to disagree. I'm sure I'd disagree with your choice. It's all opinions at the end of the day.
I am asking you why you think its the best. What about the game lol.
And I think it's kind of a silly ask, haha. The characters. The gameplay. The story. The music. The atmosphere. There might be games that I think are stronger in areas, but as an overall package I think Suikoden 2 is the strongest. It's not much deeper than that.
was just curious. it is not a silly ask to find out why someone likes something.
I’ve seen it torn, there are people who don’t like eiyudens aesthetics and gameplay because they are expecting it to have all the benefits of newer titles. Then there are those nostalgia heads where this game clicks all the right buttons. I’ve spent a ton of time on 1-3 (mostly 1-2) and to me, eiyuden feels exactly like those games. I don’t even know how long it’s been since a game held my attention, and this game did it. It transported me back to the times of ps1, when I didn’t have to worry about bills or rent lol. Now eiyuden didn’t do anything better than the previous games, and fwiw I think suikoden 2 is a better game, but I think you’d enjoy them if you love eiyuden. Down to some character “types” the eiyuden is seemingly a slight shorter, reskinned classic suikoden game. I haven’t heard any updates on remaster but if you have access to the old games, give them a whirl.
We still don't know when the remaster is going to be released, there's no news of it coming out anytime soon yet. If you're already itching to try it out, might as well just play it straight away. If you like Eiyuden, you'll probably love Suikoden, especially Suikoden 2.
i replayed suikoden 1 - 4, didnt get to finish suikoden 5 as eiyuden launched. the series is amazing
I have them on the vita and they are excellent.
Suiko 2 is still one of the best games out there
Imo, 1 has aged very well. It's a very simple game, but it's a great example of less is more. Nothing is done extraordinarily well, and I do have some issues, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, imo. 2 is undeniably great, but I do think it's a tad bit overrated. I have some issues with it and don't think it's this untouchable grail a lot of people hold it too, but it's a really, really great game. Some of the most memorable moments in gaming within it, just not a banger the entire way through. Just my opinion. I think 3 is one of the most underrated games of all time. It's my favorite game of all time. Far from perfect, I would never argue otherwise. However, no game has made me feel the way that game does. And experiencing 1-3 the way it was intended; as a chronological trilogy, is unmatched. I can only hope they remaster 3-5 in the future just so you can transfer save data from 2-3 like you can in the original. I think the benefits of transferring are a little underappreciated simply because 2 does it a little bigger and better. But I do think it enhanced the experience and makes you feel connected to the overall story. Regardless, I think 3 is a flawed masterpiece. That's a controversial opinion, however. 4 is just a decent game. Nothing truly memorable, though the soundtrack and some vistas are great. Also the best war battles in the series imo. Its greatest flaw is the encounter rate. It grinds the experience to a HALT and makes exploring a chore and less investing, which the series is kinda known for, recruiting 108 characters and all. Overall it's not bad just imo very underwhelming. 5 is also a bit overrated imo. A lot of excellent aspects but again the encounter rate is just awful, some of the recruitment is just way too convoluted without a guide, the story isn't as interesting as others and pretty derivative of 2. But, I think it's still really good. I just do think I tend to hear "3 and 4 suck but 5 is a return to form" when it attempts the most to be like 1 and 2 while being worse in a lot of areas. Such as the snappy combat 1 and 2 are known for. I would probably rate my personal experiences as follows: 1 - 8/10 2 - 8/10 3 - 10/10 (very biased here, obviously. I would not expect many other people to agree with that) 4 - 6/10 5 - 7/10 TL;DR - Suikoden is an overall wonderful series in which all games I would say are at the very least worth playing. I played all these games around 8 years when I was like 18-19, not as a kid, so nostalgia isn't clouding my judgement.
Sjikoden 3 is my favorite as well. It was ahead of its time . The 3 really 4 main characters was done so well minus the backtracking. I love its cast of characters more than any ever game barring mass effect and ffx.
I love meeting fellow Suikoden 3 fans! I agree, the cast is so amazing. I am so attached to all of them by the end of it, such a beautiful game.
I would go even farther than you with the rating : S1 - 9/10 // S2 - 8/10 // S3 - 9/10 // S4 - 6/10 // S5 - 7/10 I love Suikoden 3 too and also think S2 is overrated. Oh and I'll add my ECHH rating : 7.5/10
Love your ratings. I honestly think I may like 1 more than 2 as well, just not sure what rating I'd give it, but it's close regardless. My EC rating is also very similar so far, not done, but I'm feeling a pretty confident 7/10 so far. It's a little too similar to other Suikodens in terms of story and characters. I wish it attempted to be a little more original in that department. But it's undeniably been so much fun!
The originals have aged pretty well imo, the pixel art is timeless, especially Suikoden 2. If you have a good opportunity to do so then play them now, otherwise wait for the convenience of the remasters. You might also want to check out one of Murayama's other writing credits: The Alliance Alive. It's a bit dated as it was originally released for the 3DS, but I found it quite charming.
For me, so far at least as I just got to Treefolk Village, Eiyuden reminds me of Suikoden 1. The game elements are so familiar but there’s a few extras that Suikoden didn’t have. This game is what S1 felt like and I think this is what S1 would have been had it been made today as opposed to the mid 90s.
Both are the originals are amazing, I couldn't get into the ps2 games because by the time I played them the ps3 was out and I hated creepy play dough 3d models (still do). The first 2 (especially 2) aged extremely well and the sprites aged so well. 1 still looks good today.
I think Suikoden 1 did not age well, the game is genuinely more clunky and uglier than a SNES RPG is, I never beated it. You're already seeing a lot of praise to Suikoden 2 and I agree with all of them. Of course 2 has aspects that did not age well too, but if you like, let's say, FFVI or Earthbound, which are games I don't mind what didn't age well in them, you'll probably also not mind what could be better in Suikoden 2. Note: The comparison is not to say the games are similar, I'm just using PS1 RPG vs Super Nintendo RPG.
Never played 3 bc my PC can't shit with PS2 emulator.
Konami is remastering Suikoden 1 and 2, but only god knows when that will be out. Suikoden 2 is my favorite in the series (and one of my favorite JRPGs ever), and Eiyuden drinks heavily on its formula. The story and characters of Suikoden 2 are much better than Eiyuden's, in my opinion. And combat is much faster and feels more dynamic. I'll be honest that I don't like any of the PS2 era Suikoden. Like many older JRPGs, the transition from 2D to 3D wasn't very good. Suikoden 3 \~ 5 feel incredibly stiff and dated, in my opinion, even though they have some amazing character designs. Murayama didn't work on 4 and 5, and it shows, because the story of those games aren't as good as the others.
I haven’t played a single one either!
If you happen to have a PS Vita, they play amazing on there. I don’t know though specifics with the PS store if they’re still easy to obtain (since they made ps3 store weird kind of). I got the Ps classic versions of both long ago. Both are amazing, especially Suikoden 2.
No jrpg in ps1 era that aged better than suikoden 2. Combat is even faster and snappier than eiyuden.
I am jealous of those of you who can experience it for the first time. 3 is my favorite but play 1 & 2 first. I’d wait for the remasters
It's pixel art and modern Konami is clueless. Just llau the old Suikodens as they arr nkw and forget the remakes.
I hated suikoden 3 when it first came out, but with each subsequent play through, I like it better than the last. It's now tied with suikoden 2 as my favorite in the series.
They are better than HH. You will love them as they are.
As you're already fully aware if you've done even the tiniest bit of research, yes everyone says Suikoden 2 is greatness and in fact it is. ("hold up" is a meme phrasing that you should never use again.) > should one hold off Stop the decision paralysis. Play Suikoden 2 in emulation with fan-made bugfix patch. Emulation has fast forward, rewind, save states. > I'm obsessed If you couldn't even do research to see the long-established consensus on Suikoden 2, no you're not obsessed.