Genso Suikoden II: Play or Not to Play?

Back at times when the PS is still a little weenie at its first year of appearance, Suikoden was one of the first generation RPGs released for it (besides other title like Beyond the Beyond) released in late 1996 by Konami. The game quickly became the console’s most heralded RPG, acclaimed for enhancing the traditional RPG experience with innovative additions such as unheard of 108 playable characters, a castle headquarters (no cheap inns or clunky airships for this cast of characters), and two unique battle types: the one-on-one duel and epic battles pitting entire armies against each other. And now Konami looks to treat its audience with same formula for success that made Suikoden a hit with their impending sequel, Akatsuki Teikokugawa, roughly meaning “Scarlet Moon: Imperial Side.”

In Scarlet Moon, Konami has decided to stick for the unique elements that made its predecessor a success. Staying true to the Chinese fable around which the Suikoden series is loosely based, the game will revolve around a central figure and his 107 allies. Army battles and a headquarters for allies to hang their hats in also included and improved upon. Even the battle engine will remain basically the same as the original, but will be souped up with a higher number of individual combination attacks.

The story of Scarlet Moon will be tightly intertwined with its predecessor, taking place just three years afterwards. When in this sequel, you play the part of the same empire that you battle against in the original the Imperil Side which your character coming from.

There’s the traditionally nameless hero, Joey and Nanami. The hero and Nanami (described a a cheerful tomboy) share the same father via adoption whose name is Genkaku, a master of a local dojo. Joey is the hero’s childhood friend and a member of the distinguished, well-to-do Atreido family. The hero and Joey join UNICORN, a military youth corps of Highland Kingdom after the death of Genkaku. While in this unit, they participate in a series of border dispute fueled battles against the Jouston Cities Alliance that only result in a stalemate.

When a truce is finally achieved, the animosity between the two sides still lingers as the story unfolds. The bulk of the allies the hero gains along the way are defectors from the Jouston Cities Alliance, implying that Highland Kingdom is a member of the Scarlet Moon Empire. Expect appearances from about one third of Suikoden’s characters in Scarlet Moon, including Flik and Victor.