Very few games are able to build a world the way Suikoden does, and Suikoden II manages to skirt the line of having it all, while losing nothing in the process. From emotional beats, to showcasing characters, connecting with the previous game, managing to make a great villain, and a battle system that keeps up the entertainment; Suikoden II isn't just a classic, it's a master piece.
Suikoden II starts out with a clear focus on three characters, Joey, Naomi, and the player. Throughout the course of the story their bonds with each other, the hopes they have, and will to fight are constantly pushed to the brink. In a lot of ways, Suikoden II is just about this trio, and it's what helps set a focal point for newcomers that only played this game. As the trio go along their village and witness their lands getting into war, they realize they have to flee, and end up becoming apart of a new band of revolutionaries. This new bunch of revolutionaries not only consistent of characters from the previous game, but help structure their growth from Suikoden 1 to 2. It really is amazing how subtle the story deals with Suikoden 1 references, but they are abundant yet never distracting.
Luca Blight, is easily one of the best villains ever to grace gaming, and his reign of tier is showcased throughout the game; never satisfied with just telling how much of a monster he is. As the game comes to a head, more interesting developments happen, and largely they are all because of him.
This is a Suikoden game after all, and on top of the story, we have a great cast of characters, roughly 108, as we build the army to defeat Luca Blight. Due to having a large cast, not everyone gets the chance to shine, but we do get plenty of chances to see a lot of characters have a moment. Heck, there is even an entire mini-game based on Iron Chef that cook for the army does, with a full plot. The main problem with a lot of these moments tho is how they are timed and limited. If you aren't falling along with a guide or don't know a thing or two before hand, you will likely miss a lot during your playthrough of Suikoden II. And even if you do everything right, there is still a whole other side story that is completely timed, although I'd suggest you be looking around alleyways as much as you can when you are in Muse.
From turn based combat, to war rock paper scissors, Suikoden II's combat is a nice way to showcase the armies might. Largely, like any Suikoden game, you are given roughly 6 slots to use for a party, and each character will often have a special weapon or magic they can help use. On top of this, Suikoden II gives you unity attacks that act as a special of sorts when you have 2 or more characters that work well together. Suikoden II's battles are a very basic and bare bones map turn based tactics game where you engage in a sort of rock paper scissors style match that lowers both teams amount of units, although sometimes nothing happens to either side. Either way, you are always given a nice scale of how the army is growing, and just where exactly you are at in this game.
Really Suikoden II just packs way too much content that it's hard to explain why it's as loved as it is, but I feel like everyone has different reasons for it. To building your army, to emotional story beats, to even the iron chef mini game; Suikoden II gives you a lot while never letting you down.
Suikoden II starts out with a clear focus on three characters, Joey, Naomi, and the player. Throughout the course of the story their bonds with each other, the hopes they have, and will to fight are constantly pushed to the brink. In a lot of ways, Suikoden II is just about this trio, and it's what helps set a focal point for newcomers that only played this game. As the trio go along their village and witness their lands getting into war, they realize they have to flee, and end up becoming apart of a new band of revolutionaries. This new bunch of revolutionaries not only consistent of characters from the previous game, but help structure their growth from Suikoden 1 to 2. It really is amazing how subtle the story deals with Suikoden 1 references, but they are abundant yet never distracting.
Luca Blight, is easily one of the best villains ever to grace gaming, and his reign of tier is showcased throughout the game; never satisfied with just telling how much of a monster he is. As the game comes to a head, more interesting developments happen, and largely they are all because of him.
This is a Suikoden game after all, and on top of the story, we have a great cast of characters, roughly 108, as we build the army to defeat Luca Blight. Due to having a large cast, not everyone gets the chance to shine, but we do get plenty of chances to see a lot of characters have a moment. Heck, there is even an entire mini-game based on Iron Chef that cook for the army does, with a full plot. The main problem with a lot of these moments tho is how they are timed and limited. If you aren't falling along with a guide or don't know a thing or two before hand, you will likely miss a lot during your playthrough of Suikoden II. And even if you do everything right, there is still a whole other side story that is completely timed, although I'd suggest you be looking around alleyways as much as you can when you are in Muse.
From turn based combat, to war rock paper scissors, Suikoden II's combat is a nice way to showcase the armies might. Largely, like any Suikoden game, you are given roughly 6 slots to use for a party, and each character will often have a special weapon or magic they can help use. On top of this, Suikoden II gives you unity attacks that act as a special of sorts when you have 2 or more characters that work well together. Suikoden II's battles are a very basic and bare bones map turn based tactics game where you engage in a sort of rock paper scissors style match that lowers both teams amount of units, although sometimes nothing happens to either side. Either way, you are always given a nice scale of how the army is growing, and just where exactly you are at in this game.
Really Suikoden II just packs way too much content that it's hard to explain why it's as loved as it is, but I feel like everyone has different reasons for it. To building your army, to emotional story beats, to even the iron chef mini game; Suikoden II gives you a lot while never letting you down.