The Suikoden games on PSOne are a couple of my all-time favorite RPGs. Suikoden II is widely considered a cult classic. But the later PS2 sequels weren't quite able to capture the magic of the earlier games (although in my opinion Suikoden IV came very close). So this brings us to Suikoden V which takes a back to basics approach. This is both the game's strength and its weakness.
All Suikoden games feature the same basic premise. Your character is destined to bring together 108 characters called the Stars of Destiny, unite the land and end civil war (or some other power struggle). Part of what makes these games fun is that your enemies aren't black and white bad and often have the same intentions. Another common theme is the high price of power, usually in regards to Rune (magic) use.
In this installment, the story starts off well with Dune-like political intrigue, but ends up being too similar to Suikoden and Suikoden II. Other games in the series always added something to the basic theme, so I was a little disappointed. Nevertheless, the story is nuanced, well told and has very good voice acting.
The graphics are a mixed bag. The main characters are great, and the closest yet in matching the charm of 2D artwork. And while the character you play doesn't talk, he has enough physical expression to not seem oddly mute. Monsters and NPCs (non-player characters) are somewhat generic. Most of the game is playing in an overhead 3/4 perspective giving the game a retro feel. While you can zoom in, it would be nice to be able to look around.
The music is great in Suikoden V and compares well the best of the series. Your eventual headquarters is also excellent. The castles in the last couple of games have been under par, so it's nice to see a return to form. And like Suikoden II, the 108 stars of destiny actually require some work to get, which I guess could be good or bad depending on how you like to play games.
At 100+ hours, the game is nice and long, although it can seem padded out at times. The main battles go at a quick pace, but can be a bit boring—maybe due the generic monster designs. The addition of different battle formations is a nice touch though. Large scale battles are good, and being able to customize your units is nice touch to this strategic mini-game. The one on-one battles have an added timer and are the best yet.
This is a solid entry in the Suikoden series, but it's missing some of the polish or inspiration that makes a good game great. And for some reason it seems like the game just needed a bigger budget. Still, I enjoyed it, and I plan on playing the game again to recruit all 108 characters and get the best ending.
2008 ben langberg, all rights reserved.