Editorial: Why You Need to Participate in the Summer of Suikoden

By Virginia 'Ginia' Herrell
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I am writing this post in an effort to make Lusipurr shut up. Thank you, please enjoy!

Why the Suikoden Games are Better Than Other Games: An Unbalanced and Unfair Retrospective by Virginia “Taters” Herrell.

I shall preface this by stating that I really enjoy the Suikoden series. So much so that I intend to devote some of my vacation time this year to them. Considering how seldom I actually purchase and play games these days, this is actually a big old deal. I really like these games, they are like crack to me. In fact I suspect there is some sort of neuro-linguistic programming in the music or something, willing me to love these games no matter what.

Admittedly, the games are not perfect. At times the dialogue is clunky, and there are developers and localization teams that do far superior work. They also suffer from Chrono Cross syndrome, wherein there are too damn many characters to choose from or give a damn about. But there is just something about them. Something legen … wait for it … dary.

You will love Suikoden, or Gremio will cut you

What distinguishes this series is the epic, grand, legandary scope and feel of the games. The world is huge, even in games where you are relegated to one small corner of it. Most Suikoden games will see the player build a rag-tag army of misfits and go to war against some evil empire or other appropriate baddy. The games make you feel like you realy are under siege, really are at war, and you hold the lives of all of your men in your hands, juggling them about with each decision made. Yet at the same time, the story can also be narrowed down to the story of a father and son, or two best friends, siblings, or war buddies. So many small but deeply moving stories that come together to form the whole.

Feel free to share your thoughts or favourite stew recipes.

7 Comments

  1. SiliconNooB
    Posted 2011.02.17 at 20:04 | Permalink

    Well, if you’ve the time to play Eternal Sonata, then of corse you’ve the time to replay Suikoden!

  2. evilpaul
    Posted 2011.02.18 at 00:59 | Permalink

    I always thought the neat thing about the Suikoden games was how not epic they were. In most JRPGs you’re a plucky band of misfits saving the world. In Suikoden you’re part of a minor group trying to win some small regional civil war or whatever.

  3. SiliconNooB
    Posted 2011.02.18 at 02:16 | Permalink

    Sometimes less is more.

  4. Lusipurr
    Posted 2011.02.18 at 03:50 | Permalink

    For me, despite the fantasy setting, the magic, the dragons, the at-times awful translation, and the occasional weirdness, the Suikoden games have always felt more genuine to me than any other RPG.

    With an excellent battle system and a story that would make a good movie or novel, what’s not to love?

  5. Oyashiro
    Posted 2011.02.18 at 19:04 | Permalink

    I bought Suikoden 1 off of PSN but haven’t played it yet, Its one of the series I didn’t have a chance to get into when they came out but have always wanted to try.

    I’ll be up for a playthru! When will we be doing this?

  6. Lusipurr
    Posted 2011.02.18 at 19:25 | Permalink

    @Oya: End of May or beginning of June. :)

  7. Oyashiro
    Posted 2011.02.19 at 18:44 | Permalink

    Sweetness! ;)