LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Suikoden
built 202 days ago
Suikoden is one of the lesser known RPGs out there in the market, but it does have a strong cult following due to its traditional RPG nature. The first installment did fairly well. The second is arguably one of the best RPGs of all time, but it was overshadowed by the coinciding release of Square's behemoth, Final Fantasy 8. The series followed up with a flawed, but enjoyable third title that marked its first entry onto the PS2. The fourth fell short of expectations and was not received well critically and now the fifth title has arrived. Infortunately the continually increasing trend of mediocrity continues to plague this once great series.
Source:
[O]ne of the main strengths of the Suikoden series is personality. And so, in addition to making the right moves and considering the best runes and/or elemental powers, conversation between characters ... helps boost attack strength. Individuals can strike up friendships that encourage co-operative skills in battle. When characters become good friends they automatically support each other, blocking attacks or contributing to stupendous combination moves.
Source:
In every Suikoden game, the player has the task of finding and enlisting the help of the Stars of Destiny. There are 108 of them, and it takes a lot of work to get them all to assist you on your quest. 108 is a big number, so you can be certain to spend a lot of time trying to get everyone to join up. Suikoden is an RPG you'll have to devote a lot of time to in order to complete it thoroughly. A simple playthrough can be rough, even if you're not trying for all the Stars of Destiny. Many Stars of Destiny fight in your party, while others give support, and some run shops or provide services.
Source:
Genso Suikoden (later titles in the series were simply known as Suikoden in the US) is a roleplaying game about the young son of one of the Empire's best generals. Upon realizing that the Empire is corrupt, he has to make the moral choice of whether to stay by his father or join a group of rebels who oppose the Empire's rule. The game features more than 80 characters (six can be in your party at the same time), a turn-based battle system that includes duels and army battles, as well as plenty of plot twists along the way.
Source:
Using the visual-engine that powered Konami’s Silent Hill, Suikoden 4 opts for a more realistic looking utopia, distancing itself slightly from the anime-tinged aesthetics of its predecessors. Initially, the game appears quite bland and uninspiring... aesthetically it improves as the game progresses, boasting some very nice special effects, as well as a camera-system that can actually be controlled when coupled with a first-person perspective. Not to be outdone is the aural score, which serves its purpose incredibly well with a strong, but never over-imposing presence and decent voice acting, something that’s often rare these days.
Source:
The Suikoden series has always been underrated and often over-looked when it comes to games that stand strong in a bloated genre. Indeed, just about every major development company has taken their fair stab at an RPG, and where many have failed, Konami proves time and time again that their timid and quiet RPG series is a testament to how neither innovation nor fancy graphics are an absolute necessity for a game to still shine.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Suikoden