Crafting, surviving, hunting... Headshots, impacts, victories... What used to be simply video games have transformed into esports, and the market size has swelled multiple times over.
The arcade enthusiasts of the past have aged, and today's generation of gamers are engaging in intense online battles from a young age... It's precisely because of this era that the charm of good old JRPGs stands out!
"Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars (hereinafter, Suikoden I & II HD Remaster)," the HD remaster that revives the masterpieces "Suikoden" and "Suikoden II," which we want to dedicate to all gamers, will finally be released on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
The Saiga NAK editorial team had the opportunity to play it early, so we're bringing you an early review!
What Exactly is Suikoden?
ー EPISODE 1 赤月帝国 ー
静かに水をたたえるトラン湖。
それを取り巻く一帯を230年の間支配した帝国が赤月帝国である。初代皇帝クラナッハ・ルーグナーはハルモニア神聖国の内乱に乗じて独立を宣言、以後この国を治めてきた。帝国暦217年には、帝位継承権をかけた「継承戦争」がおこる。… pic.twitter.com/0tL8jdN7Cv
— 幻想水滸伝【公式】 (@GensoSuikoden) February 19, 2025
The KONAMI Suikoden series, with its first title released in 1995.
As the name (水滸伝) suggests, it's based on the Chinese novel "Water Margin," and its biggest feature is the appearance of 108 companions (108 Stars of Destiny).
To date, 11 titles including spin-offs have been released, and their dense stories and charming characters have captivated many fans.
"Suikoden I & II HD Remaster" was initially scheduled for release in 2023 but was announced to be postponed due to needing further development time. However, it will be released with full anticipation on Thursday, March 6, 2025 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Steam, and Epic Games Store!
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Early Review & Beginner's Guide
To reiterate, the first title in the series, "Suikoden," was released in 1995.
Although several ports have been released, it will be its 30th anniversary in 2025, so there are probably many people who haven't played it.
In this early review, we will introduce the new features of "Suikoden I & II HD Remaster" and also explain the basic game system!
Below are actual game screens (Steam version).
We will avoid touching on the story as much as possible, but just in case, spoiler alert.
Townscapes and Sound Revived in HD Remaster
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Official Website
In "Suikoden I & II HD Remaster," towns, fields, battle effects, etc., have been remastered in high quality.
The aspect ratio has also been changed to widescreen, allowing for comfortable adventuring with a wider field of view.
All sound sources, including BGM and sound effects, have been enhanced in quality, allowing you to immerse yourself in the story with a nostalgic yet fresh feeling.
What I personally feel is wonderful is the harmony of pixel art and remaster.
In remastered works, filters are often applied with the increase in resolution, or new character designs are sometimes created.
However, in "Suikoden I & II HD Remaster," while the backgrounds, battle effects, and text are in HD, only the characters remain in pixel art.
Furthermore, the fact that they coexist beautifully without either feeling out of place is truly a work of craftsmanship.
Refined UI Design
The UI design is arguably the most changed aspect from the original version.
Thanks to the benefits of high resolution and widescreen, there is more space for information display on the screen.
As with the earlier line "謁見" (Audience), readability has also improved as some of the text that was in hiragana now supports kanji.
However, only the appearance has changed. In "Suikoden," a character can only hold 9 slots for items and equipment, and even in "Suikoden II," which added a party-shared bag system, a character can only hold a total of 3 slots for items and other equipment.
It can be difficult to retrieve items you were holding if a companion leaves the party, and you can't use the warehouse in the early part of the story.
This is a specification that is hard to imagine in modern RPGs, but let's enjoy this inconvenience sometimes.
Log Function Newly Included
The "Log" function has been quietly added to the commands.
You can reread character dialogues and save up to 100 messages.
The "Suikoden" series has not only a main story but also a rich selection of sub-stories for gathering companions.
There are inevitably times when you want to accomplish multiple objectives in parallel, and characters you talked to on a whim might end up playing surprisingly significant roles.
Just when you think you've reached a stopping point, you might find yourself asking, "Huh? What should I do next?"
You should definitely make good use of the log function.
Classic Battle System with a Unique Twist
In "Suikoden" and "Suikoden II," the basic party consists of 6 characters: 3 in the front row and 3 in the back row.
Each character has a unique weapon and range set, and the target they can attack differs depending on their position in the party.
Note that "Runes" and "Unite Attacks," described later, are exceptions to this.
- S Range: When in the front row, can only attack enemies in the front row. Cannot attack when in the back row.
- M Range: When in the front row, can attack enemies in the front and back rows. When in the back row, can attack enemies in the front row.
- L Range: Regardless of front or back row, can attack enemies in the front and back rows.
The rather unfamiliar "Money" command allows you to pay three times the money (Potch) you would have received by defeating the enemy for a guaranteed escape.
If you're in a pinch, you might have to do whatever it takes...!
Also, against weaker enemies, the "Escape" command changes to the "Let Go" command, which is 100% successful.
For me, who challenges bosses after thoroughly leveling up, this is helpful as it serves as a guideline for leveling.
"Runes" with Various Types, Including Attack and Recovery Skills, and Automatic Activation
A system unique to the "Suikoden" series is the "Runes."
They are positioned as a kind of "special skill" or "spell," and some characters possess them inherently, while others can use them by equipping the item "Sealing Sphere."
Sealing Spheres can be easily attached and removed at a Rune Shop, so it's fun to explore runes that are compatible with each character.
MP is also displayed next to the health bar in the upper right corner.
The early purchase bonus for "Suikoden I & II HD Remaster" includes bonus items (57300 Potch, The Fortune Orb, The Prosperity Orb).
The The Fortune Orb doubles the experience points gained, and the The Prosperity Orb doubles the Potch gained, so just equipping these will make your journey easier!
"Unite Attacks" That Are Fun Just to Watch
By forming a party with specific characters, you can perform "Unite Attacks."
These consume actions equal to the number of characters participating but often have powerful effects.
Especially in "Suikoden II," the animations are enhanced compared to "Suikoden," so they're fun just to watch!
Quick Battles with Auto and Fast Forward!
Major new features of "Suikoden I & II HD Remaster" include instant auto-battle and the addition of a fast-forward function.
"Auto-battle," which automatically handles combat, can be executed with a single button, and combined with the fast-forward function during combat, fighting consecutive battles for leveling or item drops has become very easy.
(Even using this, it still took almost 30 minutes to get a "Nameless Urn" drop...)
Auto-battle, when executed instantly, continues until the battle ends, but pressing the auto-battle button again will stop it during the current turn.
It doesn't use Runes or Unite Attacks, and targets are quite dispersed, so use it strategically!
Furthermore, 2x speed is available from the start of the game, but 4x speed also becomes usable after meeting certain conditions.
When you think of "fast" in "Suikoden" and "Suikoden II"...?
Of Course, Mini-games are Also HD Remastered
3月6日発売の「幻想水滸伝 I&II HDリマスター(@GensoSuikoden)」を先行プレイ🎮
もちろんコイン当てやチンチロリンも高画質化されています🎉
PC版だと60FPSで遊べることも確認したので、オリジナル版より簡単なの・・・かも？#KONAMI #幻想水滸伝 #コイン当て #マルコ #ポッチ稼ぎはガスパー pic.twitter.com/iAu2cthyt7— Saiga NAK (@saiganak) March 5, 2025
"Suikoden" and "Suikoden II" are also rich in fun mini-games like Coin Toss and Chinchirorin.
Of course, the graphics have been updated to high quality!
Since the Steam version goes up to 60 FPS, Coin Toss might be easier to beat...?
All of them offer Potch, items, and equipment as rewards, so let's actively use them.
Rest assured. Gaspar was Gaspar.
16 Save Slots and Auto-Save
You can save your data for "Suikoden I & II HD Remaster" in up to 16 slots, either at inns or Journey Sealing Orbs.
Furthermore, there's a new feature where the game is auto-saved in slot 0 when you enter an area with a Journey Sealing Orb!
In "Suikoden" and "Suikoden II," where the story branches with small choices, frequent saving is more important than anything.
I won't say where, but there were times when the auto-save saved me.
Options Include "Event Timer Stop"!
"Suikoden II" includes an "Event Timer Stop" function!
In this game, an event timer runs separately from the play time, and you can easily stop it from the options.
By using this, you can fully enjoy the story without being rushed by some events that branch depending on play time!
Also, in the options on the title screen...
- Message Speed (Fast ~ Slow / 3 levels)
- Window Opacity (Light ~ Dark / 5 levels)
- SE Volume (Small ~ Large / 10 levels)
- BGM Volume (Small ~ Large / 10 levels)
- Control Settings (Type A / Type B / Type C)
- Display Mode (Window / Fullscreen)
- Resolution (*Confirmed 1280×720 ~ 3840×2160 by the editorial team)
- Play Language (Japanese, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese)
... can be set.
Display Mode and Resolution are likely features only included in the PC version.
Gallery Function to Look Back at Event Scenes
- "Sound Mode" where you can listen to over 160 types of BGM from fields, battles, etc.
- "Movies" where you can watch the opening of both the remastered and original versions.
- "Event Viewer" where you can re-experience especially important events from the scenario (including controlling and making choices).
- "Endings" where you can play the endings of both "Suikoden" and "Suikoden II".
- "Staff Rolls" where you can play the staff rolls for both "Suikoden" and "Suikoden II".
When you start "Suikoden I & II HD Remaster," you can select the Gallery in addition to "Suikoden" and "Suikoden II."
The overwhelmingly large number of included BGM tracks is a must-listen, and the "Event Viewer" function, which allows you to try choices and actions you couldn't select during your story playthrough, is extremely helpful!
Encounters and Farewells. Is it Fate or Inevitability?
The protagonist boy is caught in an inescapable vortex of destiny by the Rune he bears on his hand.
Is it inevitable? Or is there a way to resist?
What will the 108 Stars of Destiny, each with their own thoughts and backgrounds, gain through battle...?
Although I mentioned "inconvenience" in the article, thanks to the dash and fast-forward functions available from the beginning, you can progress more quickly than in the original version.
The time required for leveling up and updating equipment is relatively short compared to typical RPGs, so experienced RPG players can likely clear both titles in about 30 to 50 hours.
However, it is extremely difficult to gather all 108 companions on your first playthrough.
It is a masterpiece that is still loved 30 years after its release precisely because each character has a story and charm.
I'll keep it brief as everything seems like a spoiler, but please witness the conclusion of the profound story that you'll want to play again and again with your own eyes.
"Suikoden I & II HD Remaster," which is a set of "Suikoden" and "Suikoden II," will be released on Thursday, March 6, 2025 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Steam, and Epic Games Store.
For more details, please see the "Suikoden I & II HD Remaster" official website and the "Suikoden" series official X (@GensoSuikoden).
| Title Overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars |
| Package Version | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 |
| Download Version | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, Steam, Epic Games Store |
| Release Date | Thursday, March 6, 2025 |
| Genre | RPG |
| CERO | C |
| Players | 1 |
