User Reviews (1 - 11 of 31)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Did You Ever Wonder Where the Wonder Went?

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 31 / 35
Date: January 23, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I had very high hopes for Suikoden IV. Suikoden III was one of the first games I bought when I shifted to console games from the world of the PC. I liked it very much on the first play, when I didn't have much to judge it by, and in a recent replay, I found it still provided a rich experience, despite some problems that I now recognize as flaws.

Suikoden IV is a return to an earlier time than Suikoden III. To be honest, it is also a return to an older style of game. For all its graphics and animation, this latest effort plays like a lot like a PSOne game. One where they kept some of the flaws in Suikoden III and threw out some of the things, which gave that, game its special charm. The only really new feature in this game is that is mostly a sailing based RPG, with a ship-to-ship strategy conflict element as well.

Unfortunately, both sea and land experiences are slow-paced and battle-ridden. Until late in the game, your normal playing experience will be combat every 20 seconds. And until you are well into the game you not only walk or sail everywhere, but you go very slowly. There aren't a lot of opponent types in this game, so leveling up can become excruciatingly boring. Not hard, mind you, just tedious. If you've played other Suikoden games you will remember that you have to worry about not four, but 108 possible team members.

The story is straightforward. Two boys are raised and become knights together. One (the hero) excels at his tasks. The other, Snowe, has the benefit of rank and privilege, but falls short in skill and courage. The relationship becomes strained, there is a falling out, and a suspicious incident in battle results in you (of course you're the hero) and a few friend exiled from the knights and determined to prove your innocence.

The real culprit is the Kooluk Empire, which has decided to spread its power into the ocean kingdoms. Rune technology has reached the point of creating cannons capable of destroying whole cities, and the hero's only strength is the Rune of Punishment, which has great power, but inevitably destroys its wielder. The flow of the game is pure Suikoden - establish a headquarters, enlist supporters and fight, fight, and fight,

Other than the excessive and tedious fighting, the game's greatest weakness is poor character definition. Suikoden III, offered three different key players, all with strong personalities and stories. With little effort, you could make the game into something meaningful to you as a person. Suikoden IV is a fill in the dots story with an almost generic hero, one who is supposed to be you, but who never speaks aloud, never has a line longer than 5 words, and manages to develop no close ties with other characters. There are third person shooters with more compelling characters.

The game starts out shakily, gradually builds momentum, but never reaches the heights of its predecessors. For all that it covers an entire ocean, it really isn't a large game. Subquests and mini-games are lightweight - my favorite was the fishing game, which is an interesting way to spend some non-productive time. The game plays out shorter than Suikoden III and competitors like the Final Fantasy series. To be honest, I'm not sure if that is a bad thing or a good thing.

This is an acceptable game, but not one that will leave much of an afterglow. Since RPG's of any magnitude are rare, many of us will play it eventually. And as long as you don't expect something that sets the bar higher you will be passably entertained. However, I recommend you wait until the price comes down a bit.

Fun, But I Have Mixed Emotions

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 14
Date: February 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Well, I just beat Suikoden 4 without getting all 108 characters and I thought I would write a review. I have all the other Suikodens and I enjoyed them (especially 2), but for some reason no one likes to read my reviews. Oh well.
So Suikoden 4 takes place about two centuries before Suikoden 1. If the gamer is expecting to see many returning faces, they will be disappointed. Needless to say, the game starts off rather slow. Give it about 2-3 hours, and you will be hooked. Unfortunately, there is never really any reason why there is a war like in the other three games. Instead, events seem to just happen and the characters react. The action is pretty one-sided for the most part. While you collect your 108 characters, the enemy doesn't seem to attack and the ball is always in your court. I will list a few pros for this game as well as a few cons.

Pros
1. The graphics look very nice. They are a step about Suikoden III.
2. The voices don't really kill the mood. For the most part, they are all well-acted for an rpg.
3. Magic is easier to cast in this game than in 3.
4. Some of the characters are great and will probably grow on you.
5. For the most part, the music is nice. Sure a few songs are crappy, but the soundtrack fits the game well. There are times when I would prefer to listen to Iron Maiden, but the music for this rpg will do.
6. There are many sidequests to look out for.

Cons
1. While many characters are entertaining, some lack depth and are just there to fill in space. I didn't really feel any emotions towards many of them. Furthermore, the conflicts each main character has don't really make much sense and the audience is left wondering what the hell is going on.
2. The naval battles get old after a while. The last battle is a piece of cake if your fighters are at least at level 41 or so. I don't think Konami really thought this through.
3. Speaking of the sea, getting too close to islands will knock your ship off course. It gets annoying after a while.
4. There are too many random encounters in the game and the enemies don't really drop enough money. The equipment in this game is quite expensive and without money, it is definitely hard to stock up for your characters.
5. I will not spoil it (there is another one, though), but the ending is lacking. It leaves you wondering what this has to do with the 25-30 hours you put into this game. The other three Suikodens tied everything together at their ends, but this one does not.
6. Beginning=slow. Middle=drawn-out, one-sided, but interesting. Ending=disappointing.

Well, these comments are all I have to say about Suikoden 4. I did enjoy this game (even though it sounds like I hated it), but it certainly is lacking in depth compared to its predecessors. I would recommend picking it up because like the other games, it will soon be gone I imagine. On a completely awkward final note, Konami should hire me to write the script for Suikoden 5- I could probably do a better job making a story with awesome characters and gameplay.

Peace Out.

Sorry, I shouldn't do this...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 24 / 41
Date: September 17, 2004
Author: Amazon User

...but I figure it's a good time to mention a nice website. www.suikosource.com is THE place for info regarding the Suikoden games, as well as info for upcoming releases, series games not released in the US, and even the excellent novel, "Outlaws of the Marsh" (on which the games are based). No, I don't work for the website, I'm merely a satisfied customer.

It is a shame that the game has been delayed AGAIN (judging from the release date up top; I had heard that it would be here in November, then in January, and now we're up to March). The game has been out in Japan for some time; Konami is typically bad about bringing this series over (anyone who bought Suikoden II, maybe five of you , may remember the delays and the still-persisting bugs - here's hoping they get it right), but you can read about the game on the website above.

About the game, well, it is set on the Island nations (the home of Amada from Suikoden II), about 150 years before the events of the original Suikoden. You (the main character) are the inheritor of the terrible Rune of Punishment, one of the 27 true runes, but seemingly the worst of the bunch. Sure, the rune gives you power, but at the cost of sapping your life (most runes grant eternal life) until you die, at which point the rune finds another unlucky bearer. I can't say much more, since I refuse to read through the entire plot summary before I play the game, but if you must know, suikosource is the place to go.

Yes, I am culling together info from websites, so don't lambast me! Think of my scoring as a potential score - I am a fan of the Suikoden series, and the info I have found makes this game appear really good! Of course, I was a bit disappointed with the third game (as were the makers - check out some of their interviews!), but I have high hopes for this newest installment. Happy gaming (er, in March)!!

Addendum: I reviewed this game before it came out, but I still think it was quite good. Many of the reviewers here have underrated this game, in my opinion. Yes, there are flaws in the game mechanics (most notably is the insanely high encounter rate while you trudge out to sea - this is pretty much corrected once you recruit Viki and obtain the Glowing Hand (Blinking) Mirror for teleportation, but for some reason, the game designers won't let you teleport to key game destinations). However, I like the storyline (particularly after a 2nd runthrough) and the battle mechanics. I like many of the characters present in the story (indeed, Snowe Vingerhut is quite nicely developed, and the addition of Ted was a good idea as well). Suikoden has suffered immensely, graphically, from its transition to 3-D (the characters and backgrounds seem washed out and dull, and the Stars of Destiny don't differ that much from common folk). Nonetheless, I found this game much more enjoyable than the 3rd outing (the triple character system seemed to hurt the development of the storyline). I think this underrated game deserves a chance, particularly at the price that Amazon has it at!

It's like Skies of Arcadia meets Suikoden...RPG Heaven! ^_^

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 11 / 16
Date: February 05, 2005
Author: Amazon User

DISCLAIMER:
Before I begin, I should point out that I am biased in that I am a huge Suikoden fan, that I love anything having to do with old fashioned naval warfare, and that my favorite video game ever was Skies of Arcadia. That should be taken into account when reading this review. ^_^

INTRODUCTION:
Suikoden, as a series, has been around for some time (for those of you unfamiliar with the series). It has not become, nor has it ever truly been intended to be, a mainstream best-seller. It has however achieved "cult classic" status along with the likes of Lunar, Skies of Arcadia, Star Ocean, and other console RPGs which are typicaly well regarded yet which also sometimes lack the critical acclaim and popular success of other AAA titles such as Final Fantasy, KOTOR, etc.

Suikoden IV has thusfar received - allbeit not dismal - fairly underwhelming critical reviews, and has been lambasted by fans as being full of small flaws which add up to detract from the enjoyment of the game utterly. Everyone is welcome to their opinion, but I must say that I sharply dissagree with these people.

COMMENTARY:
The primary flaws attributed to Suikoden IV (sensitive and "unintuituve" ship control, a too frequent enemy encounter rate, a shorter story than Suikoden III featured, the lack of Suikoden III's "Trinity Sight System," and an alleged - yet, to me, mystifying and untrue - lack of character development) all fall into the categories of being either a) easily overcome by reading the game manual, b) consistent with other similar games which people, for some reason, seem to overlook the shortcomings of, or c) stem from a lack of experience with the Suikoden series.

In short people are spoiled and, frankly, more than just a teeny bit lazy when it comes to games these days it seems.

Here are some tips for those finding the game unenjoyable due to the above "flaws."

Sensitive or "unintuituve" ship control, and/or difficulty reaching port because of being "turned away" from islands: Press the camera button until you are in the overhead ship view. Toggle the compass in the lower right hand corner on. The red dots represent the ports. Don't approach the islands anywhere but at ports. Some islands are unexplored, and their ports are not visible on the compass yet. Simply keep your distance, and follow the island's border until you find a port. As for controlling the ship, press forward on the left analog stick to begin movement, then press the acceleration button to speed up. Steer with the left analog stick using GENTLE and GRACEFUL movements. That is the whole point of the analog control sticks - that you don't need to push them very far to make subtle course corrections. (Seriously, how some people manage to even walk at all in action games that utilize analog controls is a mystery to me if they cannot be more precise in their movements than this...)

Random enemy encounters being too frequent: Yes, Suikoden IV features an encounter rate higher than most. Yes, it is higher than in Suikoden III. However, it is not - by FAR - the highest encounter rate ever seen in an RPG of this sort. If this bothers you, then perhaps RPGs aren't for you. The point is to level up as much, and as quickly as possible, so that you are well prepared for future boss battles. I for one am thankful for the plentiful opportunities to level. Can you imagine how long it would take to level up the many many characters you will have to use in the game if the encounter rate were much slower?

A shorter story than Suikoden III featured: Suikoden II's plot was even shorter. My advice? Don't rush. This isn't Fable, where no matter how much time you spend finding secrets and tackling sidequests, you'll still finish in under 30 hours. Unlike some games, in Suikoden if you take your time and level up your characters, buy (or craft) the best armor you can for them, stop and enjoy the scenery in first person mode (the waterfalls on Nay-Kobold's bridge are lovely...), try to get all 108 stars of destiny, etc. your gameplay time will baloon to 80+ hours in short order. And that's a small number compared to what you could experience. I spent over 200 hours in Suikoden III maxing everyone out. For me, that was too long to spend leveling everyone up. That's why I'm pleased with the training options and the frequent enemy encounter rate in Suikoden IV, and it's why I look forward to spending around 90-100+ hours in Suikoden IV (which is FAR more than enough and MUCH more than your money's worth) to max out all of my characters, and explore the entire world map.

No "Trinity Sight System:" Suikoden III was a fun and interesting experiment on Konami's part. Suikoden IV is not Suikoden III. Suikoden IV is character driven, and at it's heart is exploration and wonder. Suikoden III's core was stat building, a robust skills system, and the juxtaposition of three unique storylines. I found it distracting, confusing, and at times frustrating to have to start all over again with a new character. Don't get me wrong - I loved Suikoden III. But it lacked something that it's two predecessors had in terms of plot development and character development. Suikoden IV rekindles the spirit of Suikoden I and II in my humble opinion, in a way that Suikoden III - for all it's greatness - could not. In my view, by focussing on one character instead of three and building his relationships with the other stars of destiny, a more compelling and emotionaly satisfying story is created.

Lack of character development: This complaint simply always confuses me to no end. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but after playing the drab storyline of Suikoden III, Suikoden IV's fresh adventurous spirit and in-depth voice acted interaction between the main characters is a welcome departure. Infact, I daresay suikoden IV has the most well executed character development of any game in the series, save - perhaps - for the venerable Suikoden II.

REVIEW:
Graphics - The best graphics of the Suikoden series to date, which while inferior to most games of the generation, are remarkably expresive and convincing in the context of the world in which the story takes place. Character animations are some of the most lifelike (almost to the point of being slightly creepy) I have ever seen in a game. There is nothing robotic or forced in the animation whatsoever. They act like humans (and mermaids, and Nay-Kobolds, and...everything else...) would in real life (if the latter beings existed...which I like to think they do...^_^)

Gameplay - The combination of ship battles that are highly reminiscent of Skies of Arcadia, a varied and beautiful series of locations, a large overworld set on the high seas, the fun of piloting your own ship, the recruitment of 108 characters, multiple genuinely enjoyable minigames (of a calibur higher than one would expect from a game of this sort by the way), and the simple but fun combat sequences all combine to make for an immersive and enjoyable experience. I cannot fault the gameplay.

Story - The story is well told, and makes sense (unlike much of Suikoden III in my opinion...). The emotional ressonance of the relationships which form - and sometimes break apart - during the course of the game, is at times simplistic, at times intricate and powerful. In particular, the evolution of Snowe is a compelling and unique character arc.

Audio - Contrary to most reviews, I must say that I love the audio in Suikoden IV. The music is moving (to me, anyhow) and, once again, reminiscent of Skies of Arcadia as well as past Suikoden titles. The voice acting is startlingly good for an RPG of this sort. Infact, it may be the finest english translation of Japanese dialogue I have ever heard outside of blockbuster titles such as Final Fantasy.

CONCLUSION:
Please, have some patience and persistence. If after you've been to the first three or four islands, gotten used to the ship controls, and leveled up a bit you still dislike this game, then my apologies for being a weirdo who loves this game. But I must confess that the lack of effort and imagination by some reviewers - professional and otherwise - with respect to this game, dissapoints and saddens me to a high degree.

This is a real gem of a game set in a beautiful and fully explorable world of seagoing adventure. If you can just give it a fighting chance, use your imagination (You remember that thing you had in your mind when you were little right?) and ignore the negative hype, you will likely not be dissapointed.

Thanks Konami for a great game, and thanks to amazon.com and techdepot for the quick devlivery.

Meh...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: April 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Well well well. What can I say about Suikoden IV? First thing's first, I guess. This game was really quite good, yet... it was somehow lacking.

The Suikodens have always been some of the least known about yet hardest to find games. They were always great quality. Not to say that this one isn't, it's just bad compared to the others. It does have its good sides and its bad sides. Here's a nice little list for you.

The Good:
1. The graphics were stunning
2. VOICES FOR SUIKODEN! FINALLY!
3. Colorful characters from every spectrum
4. The voices fit the characters well and weren't annoying
5. The opening song, La Mer, was awesome
6. No more paired fighting, a la Suikoden III

The Bad:
1. The game was far too short
2. The storyline was confusing and it didn't end very well
3. Other than La Mer none of the music really stuck out to me
4. Though the Stars of Destiny were colorful, some of them didn't possess much personality so they weren't very memorable
5. The map was small, but the ship was slow
6. The duel system and ship battles were far too easy
7. The ship controls were very jerky

The Stuff That Can Be Either Depending On Your Preferances:
1. The main character didn't talk
2. Though there were several mini-games, the game was very linear
3. There were very few characters from the previous games
4. One of the few who did return was the seductive Jeane
5. Only four (4) people per party, but you can have up to three parties when on the deck of your ship
6. No default name for the hero other than Hero 4

Overall, this game had a good story, no matter how confusing it may have been. I liked this game because the gameplay reminded me a lot of a very watered down version of Skies of Arcadia. I do recommend this game if you don't have much time and want to play an RPG all the way through. Happy sailing!

An attempt to relive the old, but ended up ambiguous...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: January 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I'm thinking whether to rate Suikoden IV through the eyes of a longtime fan of the series or through the eyes of a game critic. I guess as a fan, I would rate it slightly higher, given the fact that it did try to relive some of the Suikoden I and II glory. The freedom to control ALL your party members was better suited for this game than SIII's more tedious and more PC-like party customization. The bringing back of one perspective suited the story better than multiple, like in SIII. However, let's get some things straight: I also love the ingenuity of SIII. However, SIV's story was a simpler one, not as complex as SIII's. In the eyes of a fan, it was more like a traditional Suikoden story, with a more straightforward storyline and your run-of-the-mill silent Hero that represents the masses. Yet, there are aspects that I miss: the sense of emotional attachment that ALL previous Suikoden stories instilled in us (no matter how simple the plot), the gradually increasing complexity in character development that was the best part in Suikoden III, the lack of a good "villian" (sorry, the Kooluk were very bland for me and Cray felt like a sidequest rather than a main storyline), and the lack of background/relationship/friendships of the Hero (his friendship with Snowe was horribly undeveloped compared to Gremio and Tir's relationship and Riou and Jowy's friendship). Overall, as a fan, the game lacked it's original luster, it's inspiration of history, politics, and wonder that all previous Suikodens have inspired. The entire story would have made a good addition to the Suikoden timeline but the lack of development in the game makes the event seem so insignificant and...well, boring.

From my perspective as a critic, i would say the game lacked what it needed to compete with the heavy-hit, cutthroat RPG genre of nowadays. Although Suikoden never bought new things to the table, but it had quality stories where it lacked in quantity of graphics and special effects. Instead of a fantasy-like good hero verses great forces of evil storyline that most RPG's base themselves off of, Suikoden has a more practical story to tell, one that, albeit magical runes, reflects more of the actual world. It is a world ridden with politics, gray rather tha black and white, and the age-old question of how much a mortal can play god. The villians are never purely evil, but always corrupted individuals or even individuals whose only flaw is their nationalism and duty to their own country (which just happens to be the enemy). It is a world where nothng is ever what it seems, both in political sense and in a supernatural sense. However, unlike other RPG's, Suikoden never blows their supernatural duel of order/chaos out of porportion. It always stems back to human will-power and how much freedom mortals really have over their fates and destinies. In that respect, this is where SIV deeply failed, to upgrade their graphics and effects (which were only B-rated compared to some other RPG's out there) and badly neglecting the story development which has always allowed the Suikoden games to hold its own ground.

Overall, the game is not horrible, but it is not great either. It is decent, and for long-time fans of the series, they will enjoy the little moments that bring back the pre-SIII nostalgia. However, fans and players just introduced to the series will both concur that the game just lacks what it takes to make it a great addition to the series and a great RPG.

Somewhat of a letdown

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: January 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Okay so i've finished the game and let me tell you i'm pretty damn unimpressed with a few aspects of the game.

Most importantly and my major complaint is while the game had plenty of story potential it fell VERY flat at the end. About 22 hours into the game i had trouble fighting a boss so i grabbed up a copy of the strategy guide to get some pointers and guess what - that boss was the final boss? Yep you heard me - this game is incredibly and frustratingly short. After spending a couple more hours leveling up i beat the game with about 90 of the 108 stars of destiny.

While all the fundimentals i loved from the previous games were all there and i really loved my entire experience. (however short it was) The bad ending (it was almost as if the game was released unfinished) costs this latest chapter of Suikoden major points in my mind.

If you haven't played Suikoden III yet get a copy and ignore this one unless you're already a fan and can get over the fact that it is so short and unmeaningful plotwise.

Someone who ACTUALLY played it

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: January 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Alright I'm gonna start off by saying I'm a huge RPG fan. I have all the Suikodens, Final Fantasies, Quest for Glories, Chronos, Legend of Dragoon, and I'm very honest with them. There's some i love (see Suikoden II) and some I wasnt too impressed with (see Legend of Legaia) and Suikoden IV is NOT as bad or mediocre as some magazines made it out to be. I hear a lot of people complain about the towns. Interestingly enough all these people are in their first or second hour. I'm in ONLY the third town and the third town was very colorful and unique. If someone hasnt played enough to reach the THIRD town their opinion on the game and the graphics of towns based on the first one where u spend the first two hours, then they should not be playing RPGs. For those who have played Baten Kaitos and stuck with it past the second town (the first two were nothing special) got treated with unique and amazing towns that were just pure eye candy and for those who played Skies of Arcadia and overcame the blocky, weird characters and two building town at the beginning of the game were treated to one of the best RPGs of that console era. My point is this, Suikoden is a respected trusted franchise for a reason, do not base your purchase on the someone's experience within the first two hours or even the first five. An RPG is a tale that develops and gets to the point were you feel for the characters. People like Snowe, Troy, and Glen are some unique powerful characters and are all within the first three hours. The beauty of what makes a suikoden unique is the castle aspect. I wont tell you where or when your base is but it is pretty cool, not as cool as previous ones but still a cool base. You cannot review a suikoden without seeing YOUR own base, where the majority if the action and development happens.
Your character doesnt seem to have much personality but in Chrono Trigger, what many consider THE best RPG ever, Chrono does not say a word, Chrono does not show emotion, but Chrono is a great character. Why is this? Because you feel for Chrono, you become Chrono, the hero is this game is not as cool looking as Chrono, but he has the same exact personality... yours. Dont buy this game because of what others say, like I said Ive seen my share of RPGs, I've played all the classic of nearly every system, and Suikoden IV's story, graphics, and battles are not the absolute best, not even in this series, II holds that distinction, but they are better than 90% of the ones out there. I was pleased with this game, and I am going to continue being pleased for another five hours when i wake up tomorrow to finish playing. Make the choice, if you love RPGs go for it, if not, everyone has their thing, just give it past the first few hours cause you might be the one missin out. You never know

Not fantastic, but not bad either.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Well, this is definitely a Suikoden game. Mechanically, it's got everything it's supposed to have, 108 stars, recruitment binges, battles, random fights, everything you've grown to expect from the franchise.

Problem is, it doesn't offer much we haven't already seen. Yes, you can make your own accessories, and having three battle groups at one time on your base is pretty darned nifty, but that's about it. There's just not much new going on here.

I won't go into too much more detail about the game's shortcomings, as they really aren't all that glaring. There's just not much going on in this game to set it apart from the others.

On the other hand, this is probably the most visually pleasing game in the series, and has something of a surprise ending, if you're paying attention.

I'd recommend it over S3, which I never finished playing.

Warts and all, it's a pretty decent little game. Emphasis on little.

Too long, too limited, too slow and too boring!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 11 / 28
Date: March 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Before I get into my review I want to make one thing clear: Suikoden IV or any game like it (Neverwinter Nights, Final Fantasy, Knights of the Old Republic, etc.) are not role playing games. The way I see it they are adventure games with limited character interactions. To me a role playing game involves sitting around a table with friends, dice and rule books while game master weaves his tale of adventure. A video game cannot hope to capture the detail, the immediacy, and possibilities that can and do occur in a well constructed, well balanced, rip-roaring epic spread across medieval fantasy nations or star-spanning empires. With that in mind, I still enjoy many games like the ones I listed, I just detach myself from any notion of actually playing a role and accepting that I will be following a carefully scripted series of events.

On that note I have to say that Suikoden IV is at best a mediocre outing from the video adventure game outing. The graphics are substandard, even for the aging Playstation 2 hardware; the music is entertaining with its cheesy synthesizer sound track, and the story and characters are weak. Suikoden IV divorces the player so much from even most other so-called role playing games- you have NO control over any of your character's stats, abilities, or weapons and only limited input on magic items or equipment, thanks to a limited number of equipment slots for items. Most damming, however, is the almost criminal lack of input when it comes to making decisions in conversations, asking questions, etc. The main character often simply stands and stares, complacent and bovine, yet always looking doleful.

You play the role of a Knight of Gaien on the eve of graduation and the adventure takes place in an archipelago, complete with ships and merry pirate crews. Arrr. Bad things happen to the Hero when it runs up against the pirate Brandeau and acquires the Rune of Punishment and is later accused of murder and forced into exile with a few of his close friends. You spend an utterly inordinate amount of time traveling between tiny islands on a relatively small map, which isn't so bad except you can barely travel a boat length before having an encounter with monsters. The first few times is interesting as you learn the best combos of magic items and runes, but when it turns into literally hundreds of encounters the battles get tedious very quickly. And combat is little more than selecting what you want your party to do then watch it happen then repeat as often as needed to kill the bad guys. At least travel time is cut done once you meet Viki, a wizard who teleports you where you want to go.

The only other bright spot in the game are the naval battles, but even they get dull fast because again your control and options are very minimal. You select which characters man the magical rune cannons then give your commands and watch it happen. There is very little pretense of strategy save for knowing which elemental rune beats the runes possessed by the other side. Also, the game provides you with no diaries, logs or screens that list completed, in progress or pending quests. Graphically, the game resembles first generation PS2 or any PC game circa 1996- textures are dull, low rez, and bland. Objects are low detail and clunky looking- you can't pick up or interact with the environment in any way. Map areas are small and load screens are often longer than it takes to move from one area to the next. You can't climb or jump and low curbs like sidewalks stop your guy cold. On the other hand the static character art (from menu screens, etc.) is first rate, which typical for the Suikoden series.

All in all, given the technology and capabilities provided by the current generation consoles, this is a very substandard outing. Even Xenosaga had more interesting characters and story lines. Suikoden IV seems like it continues through inertia rather than generating a real interest from the story and its people. It's a dull, lifeless spectacle. It doesn't reward cleverness or good ideas, though there is little reason to since you're basically on rails through out the whole adventure. And like a six hour lecture on the differences between pre and post Columbian pottery, you start wondering when it's going to end.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 Next 

Actions