Suikoden

Suikoden (Japanese幻想 水浒 伝Genso Suikoden ) is a computer role-playing game series from the Japanese company Konami. It is loosely based on the classic Chinese novel Shui Hu Zhuan ( Suikoden is the Japanese translation ) and accepts numerous motifs from the novel.

There are now five games in addition to the "main series" some offshoot, some of which have different genre such as tactical role-playing game, card game or adventure.

• 4.1 Battle System

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. A request from Konami here was also that the game should be designed as a beginning of a series. Murayama felt, however, that in RPGs, especially the heroes are the focus, in his opinion, but the supporting characters are the backbone of a good story. To illustrate this point his boss, he chose the classic Chinese novel Outlaws of the Liang Shan -Moor as an example. However, the boss was so impressed by the example that he wanted to have a game now, which closely follows the novel - Suikoden ( the Japanese name of the novel ) was born.

Murayama was promoted subsequently to the producer of the game and now led the development. Since the game has sold Konami believes enough, the plans were implemented and expanded the game of a series.

Title of series

Main sequence

The PAL version is completely in English.

Unlike Suikoden Suikoden II has been completely translated into German.

The changes in the gameplay, such as the reduction of the group in the fight from six to four characters and the long sea voyages were not generally well received. The significantly shorter playing time and the plot were criticized.

Offshoot

Characterization

The first title of the series are loosely based on one of the so-called four classic novels Outlaws of the Liang Shan -Moor and take over several scenes from it, as well as the idea of ​​the " 108 Stars of Destiny" - the possibility to recruit 108 fighters. In all previous titles, the plot revolves mainly around politics, intrigue and revolution, but also about friendship and trust.

Through this 108 Stars of Destiny, the Suikoden series is also different from other RPGs. So much of the 108 characters is playable, the characters vary to a large extent on every title. Another parallel is the headquarters (usually an old castle ), which is put in possession throughout the game and developed with history. There is in addition to the "normal" group battles also duels and battles. Unlike, for example in the Final Fantasy titles in Suikoden are the titles narrative with each other. Several characters appear in different titles, the title, however, always play in other areas of the fictional continent.

Another part in the plot play the 27 true runes, which in the history of the Suikoden universe plays a big role. In each part always appears at least one rune. In the first part of Suikoden this was the rune of life and death, which is also called Soul Eater 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 received the protagonist Riou and his best friend Jowy.

In Suikoden III, the true rune of fire, earth, air, water and the flash are treated in detail. While Luc the " True Wind Rune " and high priest Sasarai bear the " True Earth Rune ", the remaining three true elemental runes in possession of the protagonist Hugo, Chris and Geddoe.

The " Rune of Punishment ", which deprives its wearer in use ever more energy, a large part of the history of Suikoden IV is

In Suikoden V, the "Sun Rune " (English " Sun Rune " ) is treated in detail or its offshoot, the " Dawn Rune " and the " Twilight Rune ". The two main characters of the game, who briefly own Prince of Falena and his bodyguard Lyon, this resulting from the Sonnenrune runes to restore peace in their homeland.

Suikoden V has been released in Europe on 21 September 2006 and is in the eyes of many fans, the reputation of the series recovers after the fourth part was often poorly rated. Combat system and camera perspective orientate themselves again very strongly in the first two Suikoden parts.

Gameplay

Combat system

The games of the main series of the series set to be a very classic RPGs dar. There is the battle system, however, a variation of other games by there are three battle modes:

In Suikoden Tactics and Suikoden Tierkreis is omitted duels in this sense. Duels will instead be played in normal fights. Battles in the zodiac are just a series of normal battles.

Success

Suikoden III, the first series part in 3D graphics, was still classified as innovative dramatic but somewhat weaker than its predecessors and has sold a total of ( 377 729 copies in Japan alone, 190,000 in the U.S.) still good. However, in production PAL version was scrapped shortly, as there had been problems with the translation into various European languages. Konami's corporate strategy saw only fully translated publications available in the whole of Europe; a publication, at least in the UK with the existing American translation was also excluded.

Suikoden IV, which was released worldwide back, presented a qualitative and stylistic break in the series dar. dramaturgy, playability, graphics and scope have been completely redone, but could in spite of an interesting basic concept unanimous opinion of the player is not with the direct predecessor, let alone the first two parts match. The game was then given consistently mediocre ratings. The sales success was accordingly in spite of the now grown strong market with approximately 310,000 copies in Japan even worse than its predecessor. Only one filed subsequently spin-off, a strategy RPG called Suikoden Tactics Suikoden IV completed and declared missing parts of the plot.