Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars

This is one of those games I wish I could give a neutral review to. I'm a huge fan of Suikoden and I've played 1 and 2 on PS to death. But this HD "remaster" leaves much to be desired. It's not awful, but I wish they had put more effort into it. I haven't played 2 yet, but so far going through 1 has been pretty lackluster as far as QoL goes. Biggest complaint is that auto save is completely useless. It only triggers in rooms with save orbs. What the heck is even the point of that? I'd forgotten how hard the zombie dragon was and got wiped out. You'd think I could continue from an auto save and try fighting the boss immediately again. Nope. Gotta start back in the orb room where I had also made a manual save. Terrible idea. The inventory system is the same one from the OG. I feel like with a remaster, they should've made it easier to navigate. It could be better to save time. Why does fast forwarding battle also speed up the music? Terrible. This isn't QoL, but the other biggest letdown is the artwork for the portraits. They look lazily redrawn by someone that wasn't very talented. A lot of the original feelings and emotions conveyed by the OG's portraits are lost on these new ones. They're poor quality, and don't get me started on Tai Ho. He's one of my favorite characters in the franchise, but his new portrait in 1 HD is awful. Look, if you want to play the game and can't get access to the OG for 1 or 2, then buy this and play them. But if you have access to the OGs, don't bother with this. It's seriously not worth it unless the stuff I've mentioned here isn't a turnoff for you.

Phenomenal games! I absolutely LOVED Suikoden II as a kid and this was me re-living my childhood. Amazing remaster! If you love JRPG games, this is a must have!

It's a series I always wished I got into way back. Absolute phenomenal games. Especially the 2nd game! Loved the 1st game, just took a bit of learning with how the magic + runes + orbs worked. Took me way too long to realize how to get 'MP' back. Story is superb and really loved the concept of recruiting. Weapon leveling is a must too, didn't realize how important that was at first till I got stomped at the first boss. Pure comedy how the dragons sound like elephants too. Super fun experience! Now... 2. Was a masterpiece. The pacing is perfect and with the characters they swap around during the story is much more fluid. Really cool seeing 2 major characters coming back, along with a handful of others. Combat is really nice with the added ability to equip 2 runes on some characters. Felt like I could make some hit like trucks early on. Gaining money + traveling + killing monsters seemed much quicker overall. Highly recommend, like many others on here, to play these games. Absolute gems!

A wonderful port of two classic JRPGs. While I had heard the name before, this collection was my introduction to the Suikoden games. The first game is a somewhat straightforward but interesting adventure while the second game, which takes place 3 years after, has a more complex, rich storyline that prominently features numerous characters and connections from/to the first game. Both games feature multiple endings and many recruits can permanently die (not in regular battles but other events) which affects the ending as well. Similarly, the first game has some dated mechanics such as no shared inventory which the second game addresses or improves upon. Both games have a somewhat standard turn based battle system including physical attacks and magic with a party of up to 6 characters (out of well over 50 possible combat recruits). There are battle speed up and auto battle toggles which are very welcome since the random encounter rate can be somewhat high and fast travel isn't unlocked for a while in both games. Outside of regular battles, the games feature base building, war battles (large scale army battles), 1v1 duels, and various minigames. Lastly, across both games the remastered visuals and art look great for the most part and there are a fair number of memorable songs.

In case you like JRPGs but have no nostalgia for Suikoden, beware: - Save game only at inns or save crystals - No skipping cut scenes and there are a LOT of them - Combat is "fight, attack, attack" zzz or you can "Auto" and it does that for you - Story was bland and generic at the start - Dragon roar sounds like an elephant - No way to speed up combat besides "Auto" (auto battle) which isn't much faster - No way to turn off random encounters - Quit game is buried in the system menu Compare this to Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster where you can save almost anywhere and turn off random encounters and there are a tonne of QoL improvements. This Suikoden remaster was lazy.

Suikoden II – A Timeless JRPG Masterpiece Few role-playing games have managed to leave a lasting impression quite like Suikoden II. Released during the golden age of JRPGs, it remains widely regarded as one of the finest examples of the genre and stands as one of the best JRPGs of its time. Decades later, its reputation continues to endure thanks to its exceptional storytelling, memorable characters, and remarkably well-paced adventure. One of Suikoden II's greatest strengths is its pacing. Unlike many RPGs that struggle with long stretches of filler content, the game constantly moves forward with purpose. Every major event feels meaningful, whether you're recruiting new allies, uncovering political conspiracies, or participating in large-scale battles. The story unfolds naturally, keeping players invested from beginning to end without ever feeling rushed or unnecessarily drawn out. At the heart of the experience is a powerful story about friendship and betrayal. The relationship between the protagonist and his childhood friend, Jowy, forms the emotional core of the narrative. What begins as a bond forged through shared experiences gradually evolves into a tragic conflict shaped by war, ambition, and opposing ideals. Their journey is both heartbreaking and compelling, making every encounter between them carry tremendous emotional weight. The game also excels at portraying the rise of an unlikely hero. Players start as a young soldier caught in the chaos of war and slowly climb through the ranks, eventually becoming the leader of a growing resistance force. Watching a small band of rebels transform into a powerful army creates a genuine sense of progression and accomplishment. Recruiting the famed 108 Stars of Destiny further reinforces the feeling of building something greater than yourself. What truly elevates Suikoden II above many of its contemporaries is its willingness to embrace tragedy. The game does not shy away from the harsh realities of war, loss, and sacrifice. Villages fall, lives are destroyed, and difficult choices leave lasting scars. Yet amid the darkness, moments of hope and humanity shine through, making the emotional highs and lows even more impactful. Combined with its memorable cast, excellent combat systems, and unforgettable soundtrack, Suikoden II remains a masterpiece of the JRPG genre. It is a game that masterfully balances political intrigue, personal drama, and epic warfare while delivering one of gaming's most emotional stories. For many fans, it is not only one of the best JRPGs of its era—it is one of the greatest role-playing games ever made.

つまらなくはないが、あまり面白くもない。 古い作品なので、当時はこれでも良かったかもしれないが、装備を整えたりパーティーの入れ替えが非常の億劫。 FFみたいな、「さいきょう」装備でもあれば、それだけで随分と遊びやすさは違ったはず。

Great Remake, hope they keep on with III, IV, & V, great games.

this is an oldschool classic. i remember renting Suikoden II from the movie/game rental place and i always got in trouble 'cos i'd rent it out and keep it late.. and a few other guys in my school got on my case for that. i played the first Suikoden after i completed II several times.. and now i get the remastered for both. the nostalgia is there and it's a fresh view. i love that they left little things in that i won't spoil but got an absolute kick out of.

Game starts in windowed mode instead of full-screen (of course it does since all the bad developers do this). The mouse goes behind the window and is unusable because it is clicking things on my desktop and opening them instead of the game. Controller if plugged in prior to opening the game does nothing either. The ONLY way I could get this game to do anything was to unplug my controller multiple times until the game registered it and would let me select options to run the game in full-screen mode. I literally just noticed that other people have this same issue and it is a KNOWN bug that remains unfixed. That is a pretty big bug to not correct. You know what would solve it? Have the game start in full-screen by DEFAULT. NEGATIVE REVIEW while I ponder returning the game. We shall see.