Well... hope you point out you cannot 100% Suikoden II if you don't 100% suikoden 1. It is a super necessary fact. Thanks for revieweing my classic series. I still think the 1st is a lil tad ahead overall. But the graphics and gameplay were fixed in a couple ways in the II. Haven't cared for any others since. Ordered Eiyuden. Waiting for it physical!
great video. I much prefer Suikoden 1, but this game is still great. The soundtrack of the original game is one of the best of all time. Exact same thing here - I only played through Suikoden II once - multiple playthroughs of Suikoden 1.
Suikoden 2 was and remains one of my favorite RPGs ever simply on account of the direct continuity with the first game. Never mind the timeline jumping the rest of the series did, a direct follow up with a huge recurring cast, taking place only a stone's throw in time after the first game was just... fuggin' awesome. You never saw much of that in the genre back then. I know I never had. It's still not common today. My mind was blown the moment I saw Viktor's portrait on screen the first time. On that note, if you like that sort of continuity and have... uh, a lot of time, I might recommend the Trails series. Just judging from your what you seem to enjoy playing and covering the most, they will absolutely be right up your alley. I know they've reignited my love for the genre in a way I didn't expect.
Absolutely wonderful to revisit the series and finding this 9 months after it dropped, was excited to keep going. Subscribing in hopes a lengthy retrospective on the rest of the mainline series at least.
It's always weird to me that I played 2 before 1 and that lead me to play them in order later. Your retro talking about 1 did cover my niggles on why it can't be my #1 game in the series, because 2 always felt like it had more heart. Nanami was a huge part of that, and the conflict with your friend feels more impactful than the first games setup. Neither is bad but I like 2's story telling better, and often had more enjoyment out of the side content 2 added as well. My husband watched me play through the game and his love was the cooking mini-game side story. I watched my sweet heart cry at how it ended, despite it not being main story. I can readily say it is nostalgia for me that makes this so good, like how I find FFIV my most beloved of that series because it was my first, despite it's flaws in translation I played the SNES version so often I could do it in my sleep. I personally believe that if you love something, hearing about it's flaws shouldn't detract from that love, it's not a attack on our enjoyment! Retrospectives like this really enhance the good parts, and expose things we overlook but forgive out of that love. Either way I loved every minute of this and the previous version. Thanks for making it!
I have played this game the least (twice) my whole life and between the first, fourth and fifth game. This had the most emotional impact to me with how rich the story is and how endearing the main cast that I almost find it too taxing for my weak and soft spotted heart. If thinking about replaying this I have to stop and think if I can manage to go for another roller coaster of feels and the time and commitment to get the Perfect Ending. If the premise was just a simple, easy to pick up and not as time consuming adventure then definitely I'm in the same boat as you as the First game is the go to pick. I also want to personally thank you for the work and effort put into these videos. The classic games of the 90's is what I grew up with and had shaped me into the woman that I am today and I feel represented by you as someone who also now has a lot of responsibilities, work and family of their own and yet still manages to find the time to relish in their passion and love of video games! So excited for more of your projects to come and more power to your channel 😁
Imho one of the best things of Suikoden2 is the Boss music of the Neclord fight. I listen to it if i ever feel down and it instantly pushes me. Damn i love this game so much. Even more than FF8. Wich was my game i put the most gametime ever into.
This retrospective review is a deep dive into the timeless classic that is Suikoden II. It's fascinating to see how the game has left a lasting impact on the JRPG genre and its community. The review does an excellent job of capturing the essence of what makes Suikoden II a masterpiece, from its intricate plot and well-crafted characters to the strategic gameplay. A must-watch for both veterans and newcomers to the series! 🌟🎮✨
I waited for suikoden 2 for so long . I still recall the first time I heard the intro music start and I knew I was in for a new adventure, one I would cherish.
I've been wanting to replay 1 and 2 for so long. I beat the first game, but I character died! I was conflicted whether to start a new game, but never did (this was all back in high school). I started 2 and loaded save data, but didn't finish it because I wanted to replay 1 and have all characters alive lol... but from I played of suikoden II, I absolutely loved it!
@@ABitMoreJordan i am planning to! I've a psp that I plan to install those games into and play when I can hehe. Just gotta make the right choice that Gremio stays alive this time around...!
I'm glad you're covering the entire series. III was my first Suikoden and it was a great time, though my opinion of it is heavily affected by nostalgia.
Sitting and smoking while watching 3 hours of a guy that speaks everything about my favourite game of all time 3 hours spent 100% well, totally worth it. Thank you ♥
Idk how to put a funky monkey 😭😭😭😭 Suikoden 2 is one of my fav games ever, I'm happy to hear such a nice look through the game. I've never come to finish Suikoden 1 cuz of lack of time and mental space, so thank you too for the analysis of that one, I do enjoy your videos a lot!!
@@ABitMoreJordan to suikoden yes, to suikoden 1....maybe. It's hard to find time these days to go back to games instead of trying the ones you've never get a hold to, but after your review I feel like I have to at some point ^^
actually you'll get your original McDohl's name right if you name it in all caps and at least 6 character. so if you name your old Tir as TIR... in S2 you will get TIRohl... if you name him TIRONE, you'll correctly get TIRONE in S2. just funky s2 stuff lol
My favorite thing about at least these early Suikoden games is that there are some long-term consequences to particular actions and character deaths. spoilers: Such as if you have save data from the first game and get to do the sidequest for Tir. If your save data shows that you didn't save Gremio's life in the first game, he won't be involved in the side quest either. Or if the kobold commander Ridley dies permanently in the second game, his son Boris will replace him under the sign of the same star of destiny in your party.
This is by far my favorite dead franchise. Even the entries that I'm not as fond of (4 and 5) are pretty awesome. It is a real shame these are shackled to a company like Konami.
@@ABitMoreJordan probably because I am a sucker, haha. But seriously if it gets us more real Suikoden games, I don't mind. I have my doubts though given Konami's track record.
Great video, friend. As someone relatively new to PC gaming and JRPGs, i am really interested in retro ganes like Suikoden. I just saw Xygor's retrospective of it. Is the remaster coming out on PC?
When you were playing through the story did you get the hidden scene with Luc during the war battle where your army surrounds Luca? Don't think I saw it til my 5th playthrough..but it's a nice little scene..you have to not injure Luca for a few turns til all his reinforcements show up ...then it triggers shortly after that
Im not even going to lie the way you positioned the bit about if Nanami survived and then said "no" took me out. I actually thought she was going to make it, there are no losses like the old jrpg losses. Cut and dry. Brilliant video you always got me locked in for the ride man. Fantastic Edit: she's alive oh my god she's alive 😭😭😭😭😭
1:14:20 I present to you... myself who is a dude going by the nickname of "Sheena" ... and is pointing to Suikoden as kinda-proof that the name could be used for males as well ^^
@@ABitMoreJordan That's great, thank you for replying, also, great content, just finished watching your suikoden I & II retrospective, excited to see the third one 👍🏻
I personally think they did an even better job with suikoden 5’s silent protagonist. He’s very animated and expresses emotions often despite being silent. It has the advantage in this area because 3d cutscenes allow for more room for character expression, but it drastically outperforms suikoden 4 in this aspect as well. Great review! Can’t wait for the next ones!
Suikoden II is one of the best games of all time and the best Suikoden game hands down. Far better than any of those games put out by Square / Square Enix. Also, Suikoden IV was a really solid game with a good story and some pretty decent characters. However, Suikoden III was bloody awful in just about every single aspect. PS: I have my original CD's for Suikoden 1,2,3,4,5 and Tactics. 😁 🐒
@@ABitMoreJordan The graphics are rough and do not hold up well but that is a minor complaint. The two rows of 3 are really split into 3 pairs of 2 and you can only issue 1 command to each pair making combat a mess, oh and they move all over the battle map and do not stay in the lines of 3. Combat is pretty crap. The characters are subpar at best, piss poor honestly and you are forced to do chapters 1, 2, and 3 THREE times because there are three different "main characters" and depending on what order you do them in you can spoil events in others characters chapters. Oh and then there is the 2 chapters which are optional of the only interesting character you can play as, and involves your castle, but alas he is not you main character so don't bother getting to invested. The army battles are the worst in the series. There are really only a couple side characters that are interesting but overall the cast is poor, the story is wretched, the combat is hideous. For all of the hate that IV gets it, IV is the superior game (though still flawed).
3 is exceptional in its dialogue. There is a lot of writing. And the opening thematic is just AMAZING. It is an important game to the suikoverse lore and story. I never adjusted to the weird camera. And the sprites look blocky and silly. They were so close to making an exceptional game. My first impression was the 3D sprites looked silly; these days I can easily deal with these issues. But I can still feel blind with the camera. I've played 4 multiple times. It is a very relaxing game, easy to play, and one I have always enjoyed. It has its problems - slow empty boat travel b4 u can teleport, 4 character party (3 swappable with ~100 characters). The game was never properly finished. You can notice it near the end of the game. It didn't have enough budget and time 4 development. Junko sometimes receives the blame for the game running over budget. 4 even appears to have affected 5s sales. 5 was a very good game, many words, slow battle-loading animations. I did not have suiko 3 so my experience with it is the weakest. I truly enjoyed Tactics as well, but i fell victim to trying to perfect battles, and a single battle could take an hour or two -- my head hurts and I'm tired. The battles were not difficult and I could stumble my way into an S victory several times. Suikoden 1 wins over 2 in a couple aspects. It is a shorter game but it has better pacing. But I would say 2 is more polished, has more content, better QoL (essentially 2 is better). But 1 is my first and favorite. Hard to let go of the soul eater, tir, ted etc. and I have genuine reasons for liking it over 2 beyond "nostalgia". (2 was also the second one i played, shortly after 1). So I'm compelled to learn the criticisms in these 3 hour retrospectives. My personal opinion is characters (stars, only for the true endings) should not be "missable." (Or the player needs [an option] to be informed). This gets worse with the longer entries in the series. But these games are supposed to have replay value, and that is certainly one way to do it.. I just think it makes it more likely someone *wont* pickup the game or finish it. And it means they are strongly compelled to play with a guide on their first full playthrough.. Clives quest is good for a replay and doesn't affect your ability to achieve the true ending; that kind of stuff is fine IMO. perma-deaths in battles are fine too, it is something the player is informed of and can fix if they wish. I think new game + modes are good. Glad some of the games have the option.
I'm complete other way..I thought the story to 3 was great and while alot of its characters are shit the core bulk of characters are solid and interesting.... 4 is absolutely awful and basically killed the series..despite 5 trying to pull it back
Nanami is the main reason I prefer 1 over 2. She's fine at the beginning but by the later acts she's just... frustrating. It's made much worse by how Riou is basically a non-character so you can never tell her "Look. Jowy tried to murder me. What don't you get?" When she tries to get you to run away you should be able to quit listening to her entirely.
@@ABitMoreJordan played 3 for the first time this year, liked it but did not love it. V is waaaaay better and we'll see what Eiyuden does for us. Rest In Peace Murayama-San!
Have the CD of this game, tried to play it multiple times as a kid, never got much further than Greenhill, iirc. Also, 🐒, I have a third Sheena, for your eyes only: Sheena Easton!
Suikoden I : first mission is taking a dragon and going to a magician's island... the taxes come AFTER .... Dude... seriously ??? :P Final Fantasy Iv : the Cecil crystal mission and package delivery... you played RPG only since FF 6 ? :P FF4 is the barometer for intro mission!!
I'm here listening to videos on repeat because they are awesome, and to screw with the YT algorithm. Too much legit good content gets buried by YT these days.
There's actually an alternate scene in the intro: where instead of heading east as Rowd ordered right after the ambush begins, you head immediately to the waterfall, where Jowy attempts to climb up, but to no avail. Rowd then shows up and asks why you didn't follow his orders and Luca appears as well. Then you'll have the first fight, and then you'll get the option to jump. After the fight though, you have the option to decline Jowy's suggestion to jump, and fight another batch until you agree. There's a few more of these alternate scenes sprinkled around the game, adding to the replayability. I absolutely love this series!
Speaking of, if you refuse to jump, Rowd sends more troops on you, right? Do this 108 times, and the intro cinematic becomes full-color! Very obscure easter egg.
Random thing about this game you maybe didn't know: There's a mailbox in the hallway leading to the meeting room. A place you'll be running through and saving the game in like a hundred times. You can interact with the mailbox. There will be messages from the various characters. And you can miss them all and never know about it!
I first played the game when I was just a wee 4th grader in elementary. I did not remember the promise Riou and Jowy made in the beginning because I only had access to the Playstation on every school holiday not including weekends because my parents were strict about gaming, so it had been at least half a school year between starting the game and clearing it. I sat on the throne not thinking much about how Jowy is waiting for me with just a few days at best counting down to his demise. I only learnt about the true ending when I revisit the game mid-2020 during the lockdown. My heart fucking sank. It's an almost perfect game to me. The only thing that would make it perfect in my eyes would be mechanically challenging superbosses, but with so much side content it has to offer it's barely a complaint. Heck, those samurais you encounter if you tried to do the early Matilda glitch is basically on-par with the average JRPG superboss
Well... hope you point out you cannot 100% Suikoden II if you don't 100% suikoden 1. It is a super necessary fact. Thanks for revieweing my classic series. I still think the 1st is a lil tad ahead overall. But the graphics and gameplay were fixed in a couple ways in the II. Haven't cared for any others since. Ordered Eiyuden. Waiting for it physical!
@@ABitMoreJordan yes your video rocks , after watching it i approve : and i could send you footage of Boris the son of the kobold who can die. Did all varitions of suikoden 1 and 2 including minimum recruits and maximum character death during army fights
@2:46:00 the grind? Try Paladin's Quest! 7th Saga! Tecmo Secret of the Stars... Final Fantasy IV. Final Fantasy 1. Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior 1 That was the grind era!
@@ABitMoreJordan I agree, On PS-X it got casual. Final Fantasy Tactics is punishing because of the timing. Vandal Hearts is rough cause you can't level up. But Since FF7 things have becom grindy for completionist who want to 100%!
Love to see something about my favorite game of all time. I hope you ended playing 3! It was a stranger style than 1 and 2 but I liked it well enough. Personally ranking the games it goes 2,5,3,1,4. Not to say 1 was bad but I just didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the others.
🙈🙉🙊 Funky enough? I think you gave Jowy too easy of a time Sure he helped in defeating the empire but turned into a sociopath allong the away Murdered a good woman and slaugthered inocent people to get credibility with Luca Then used his position to get a charade of a marriage manipulating Luca and the princess, killing the king and then Luca to rise to the top Typical sociopath behaviour Then tried to kill his best friend 2x Instead of trying to explain his plan and coming to terms, continuingthe war and then again in the final showdown Plus althought it would be harder, there is no proof they could not defeat the empire the "normal way" Sure it made for a couple of -good- awesome plot twists but again total psycho Also I got all 3 first titles on PS3 a few years back cause I remember seen this on a playstation magazine and thought it was cool but have not played yet I'll try to get at them during my vacations
While there were some things I disagreed with, MAN you did an amazing job breaking down the story, your analysis, highlights, and stayed grounded about your opinions that changed some of my outlooks on my favorite game! SUBBED
Suikoden 1 was my absolute favorite of the series 2 being a close second it really FEELS like a continuation of the story. which I wouldv loved 3 to continue
Oh and personally, I like Suikoden III a LOT. I don't know if it is my favorite game in the series (I like each of the first three games quite a lot). Just be aware that the combat system is a bit different so if you try to approach it exactly like the first two games in the series, you are just going to be frustrated. It is better to think of it as a party with six slots that act as three so you are sort of mix and match creating characters depending on what combination of characters you take. I dig it. I also really liked the trinity sight system and I thought it did a great job of fleshing out the story by giving all of the plot points three different perspectives. And the overall cast of characters is probably my favorite in the series (with two being a close second place).
So excited to have both found (and already finished) your Suikoden 1 review today, and see this one already up! Unfortunately besides the intro, I can't continue since I want to play it as well before the new remasters come out- but you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be returning to this video as soon as possible! I happen to share your opinion of Suikoden 1 being my favorite, but for me though I've started it several times over- I could never bring myself to continue for whatever reason after the beginning. I vividly remember my emotions about 2 certain characters being okay after the ending of Suikoden 1, as i went in completely blind with no knowledge and remember literally shouting in joy haha. The scenes with both of them at the end made me cry in the OG, and seeing them again made me cry as well. The only other Suikoden I finished was Tierkreis and I intend to return to that one someday too as I remember being in the very small minority who genuinely enjoyed it. I just want to say your passion is palpable, and it's so wonderful to see your vigor and commitment in talking about this series(and Silent Hill; I also was a Resident Evil kid, thanks to my Dad- though i only watch. I can't play horror games since I freeze.) I eagerly look forward to your channel's growth and future videos! I personally would love to see your reactions to announcements/trailers if possible, like Eiyuden Chronicle and the Suikoden Remasters- only if you''d want to of course! Your thoughts on other series like Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Xenoblade and just any and all other rpg's you enjoy will also be a treat I'm sure! I use commentary vids to fall asleep when I have trouble(it's 230 am as i type this whoops-), and I just know that your initial Suikoden video will be a big comfort(as will this one, once I finish the game first!) Thanks for all your hard work- it's very much seen and appreciated!
I'm a SW viewer who always eventually watches your own channel videos. Set aside the 3hrs today to watch this before work. I legit can't wait to play this game when it gets released from Switch. I can't believe I missed either of these games back in their heyday. A very in depth review. I'm curious to see what Konami does with the remake, fingers crossed they do it justice. Unfortunately now I'm going to have to play the game with a guide because it'll make me mad to miss something cool during my playthrough. There are so many games coming to switch that I need to play this year. I thought it would be less so than last year but the spiritual successor to this game comes out also lol This review is going to age pretty well imo. Definitely deserves a lot more views. Keep it up man. I know these vids take a ton of time to make.
I feel pretty certain I've played the 2nd one, but I only know for sure I've played the first one multiple times. I've owned it, I've emulated it... had no idea a remaster was on the horizon! How exciting! Thanks for putting together these monstrous videos... they help pass my day at work when a new one comes out!
1:18:19 Yes, it is absolutely possible to save Ridley here. I had one playthrough where he just crit EVERYTHING and won the battle by himself. You don't get the captured scene and Leon just sends his message to your castle instead of giving it to Ridley.
I think when you visit gregminster and do Tir’s side quest. That was enough closure for me. It’s a shame Cleo and Pahn weren’t covered as much, but it was alright. I found out what they have been up to 😊
@A Bit More Jordan I wanted to recruit them,I thought lepant was gonna,be recuitable, when u saw his,portrait. I wanted to include the six General's too.especially after suikoden 2,I wanted to know what happened to victor and flik.I was,disappointed in the Luca blight fight.only because was too easy.I thought he was gonna be the final boss.
@A Bit More Jordan well,every jrpgs had bad,translation. Especially back then.they did confirm the remasters are,fixing the translation and add new dialogue
@ABitMoreJordan in my opinion, the 6 generals, Lepant and the others hace their own responsibilities in their own country , rather than helping with a foreign countries war
Suikoden 2 is my FIRST rpg game I played back when I still have a PS1. Unfortunately, the memory card that came along with the system was busted and I only played up to the Mist Shade. Until I just emulated and played on PC and PSP. I was so glad to play S1 AND S2 in the PSP PS emulator and always had a lol moment why Tir was named TcDohl in 2. Until today, I still lol at TcDohl
I played this one before the first one and it’s probably my favorite ps1 game but the first one was good too other than the absurd item management, that and the Rock Paper Scissors battles weren’t as good to me. This was originally supposed to be the first game but the director/writer thought it was too ambitious for the time so he wrote the first one after this as a prequel which makes sense if you know that, this is the better story of the two to me. Thanks for the video, I see 3 hour video about Suikoden 2 and I’m down always. You should definitely play Suikoden 3, good story, Luc and Yuber playing a staring role this time.
played for the first time around 1999, now i am 36 years old dad with 2 sons, to me #1 game till this date, not even close, i have played witcher 3, persona 5 royal, dragon age, etc, i already obtained 3 ending with this game and i cried on all endings😂
Well, it's finally here. I sincerely hope you enjoy it! Next up, Parasite Eve. But please be sure to subscribe.
Well... hope you point out you cannot 100% Suikoden II if you don't 100% suikoden 1.
It is a super necessary fact. Thanks for revieweing my classic series. I still think the 1st is a lil tad ahead overall. But the graphics and gameplay were fixed in a couple ways in the II. Haven't cared for any others since. Ordered Eiyuden. Waiting for it physical!
great video. I much prefer Suikoden 1, but this game is still great. The soundtrack of the original game is one of the best of all time. Exact same thing here - I only played through Suikoden II once - multiple playthroughs of Suikoden 1.
Looking forward to it.Subscribed as i just recently found the channel.
You’re a total maniac for making a 3 hr video on this and we’re all absolute maniacs for watching it 😂
🙌
A maniac?
Or an absolute LEGEND!
Haha we waiting on the rest of the series too so...
Still in my top 5 favs of all time, glad i kept my copy. The bloody cooking mini game alone is enough to love this title.
Cooking game is great!
@tyler marchis I hate cooking in games.that's was,me,least favorite part and the fishing. I only did it for the story
Will you do legend of legaia ?
Suikoden 2 is by far my favorite game of all time. First game that made me cry. Thank you for making this 3 hour nostalgic trip for me.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Suikoden 2 was and remains one of my favorite RPGs ever simply on account of the direct continuity with the first game. Never mind the timeline jumping the rest of the series did, a direct follow up with a huge recurring cast, taking place only a stone's throw in time after the first game was just... fuggin' awesome. You never saw much of that in the genre back then. I know I never had. It's still not common today. My mind was blown the moment I saw Viktor's portrait on screen the first time.
On that note, if you like that sort of continuity and have... uh, a lot of time, I might recommend the Trails series. Just judging from your what you seem to enjoy playing and covering the most, they will absolutely be right up your alley. I know they've reignited my love for the genre in a way I didn't expect.
Oh man I’m so excited to jump into Trails someday. Gonna be epic
@@ABitMoreJordanprepare my man for you will face a monster of a jRPG serious with trails also love your retrospectives man keep on rocking
Absolutely wonderful to revisit the series and finding this 9 months after it dropped, was excited to keep going. Subscribing in hopes a lengthy retrospective on the rest of the mainline series at least.
It's always weird to me that I played 2 before 1 and that lead me to play them in order later. Your retro talking about 1 did cover my niggles on why it can't be my #1 game in the series, because 2 always felt like it had more heart. Nanami was a huge part of that, and the conflict with your friend feels more impactful than the first games setup. Neither is bad but I like 2's story telling better, and often had more enjoyment out of the side content 2 added as well. My husband watched me play through the game and his love was the cooking mini-game side story. I watched my sweet heart cry at how it ended, despite it not being main story. I can readily say it is nostalgia for me that makes this so good, like how I find FFIV my most beloved of that series because it was my first, despite it's flaws in translation I played the SNES version so often I could do it in my sleep. I personally believe that if you love something, hearing about it's flaws shouldn't detract from that love, it's not a attack on our enjoyment! Retrospectives like this really enhance the good parts, and expose things we overlook but forgive out of that love. Either way I loved every minute of this and the previous version. Thanks for making it!
Thanks for the lovely comment 😃
I have played this game the least (twice) my whole life and between the first, fourth and fifth game. This had the most emotional impact to me with how rich the story is and how endearing the main cast that I almost find it too taxing for my weak and soft spotted heart. If thinking about replaying this I have to stop and think if I can manage to go for another roller coaster of feels and the time and commitment to get the Perfect Ending.
If the premise was just a simple, easy to pick up and not as time consuming adventure then definitely I'm in the same boat as you as the First game is the go to pick.
I also want to personally thank you for the work and effort put into these videos. The classic games of the 90's is what I grew up with and had shaped me into the woman that I am today and I feel represented by you as someone who also now has a lot of responsibilities, work and family of their own and yet still manages to find the time to relish in their passion and love of video games!
So excited for more of your projects to come and more power to your channel 😁
Thanks so much for the wonderful comment :)
Imho one of the best things of Suikoden2 is the Boss music of the Neclord fight. I listen to it if i ever feel down and it instantly pushes me. Damn i love this game so much. Even more than FF8. Wich was my game i put the most gametime ever into.
LOL i never seen sierra faint in field battle as part of your own team and she is ADORABLE
Is it bad I wanted her to stay fainted because it was so cute? 😂
Flik losing his love in Suikoden 1 followed by Viktor losing his love in Suikoden 2 is a sad parallel.
man remember using the glitch on matilda border .
This retrospective review is a deep dive into the timeless classic that is Suikoden II. It's fascinating to see how the game has left a lasting impact on the JRPG genre and its community. The review does an excellent job of capturing the essence of what makes Suikoden II a masterpiece, from its intricate plot and well-crafted characters to the strategic gameplay. A must-watch for both veterans and newcomers to the series! 🌟🎮✨
I was not ready for "The Smeg Army" 😂
I waited for suikoden 2 for so long . I still recall the first time I heard the intro music start and I knew I was in for a new adventure, one I would cherish.
I've been wanting to replay 1 and 2 for so long. I beat the first game, but I character died! I was conflicted whether to start a new game, but never did (this was all back in high school). I started 2 and loaded save data, but didn't finish it because I wanted to replay 1 and have all characters alive lol... but from I played of suikoden II, I absolutely loved it!
It's best to play S1 and S2 back to back and full completely them both. Daunting task though!
@@ABitMoreJordan i am planning to! I've a psp that I plan to install those games into and play when I can hehe. Just gotta make the right choice that Gremio stays alive this time around...!
Awesome retrospective. May give this a try when it releases on switch this year
If only it would!
Oops. Thought I was replying to your Skies of Arcadia comment 😂
I'm glad you're covering the entire series. III was my first Suikoden and it was a great time, though my opinion of it is heavily affected by nostalgia.
I'm looking forward to giving it a try!
1:06:33 squirrel looks like it has necklords cape, but it's just his cape combined with Viki's hair 🤣🐒💨
I've watched this a couple times now and everytime you get to the build up to "MUKUMUKU!" at 2:19:10 always gets me 😂
This was perfect! Pls do suikoden 3 one day. It’s my personal favorite and I think is greatly misunderstood. Thank you ask always for these!!
Thanks a lot. Maybe not for half a year or so since I want to spread them out a bit 😊
The Luca Blight battle can possibly be harder than the final boss fight.
I think it is actually if you are not prepared
The puns were appreciated. You be you.
Sitting and smoking while watching 3 hours of a guy that speaks everything about my favourite game of all time
3 hours spent 100% well, totally worth it.
Thank you ♥
Idk how to put a funky monkey 😭😭😭😭
Suikoden 2 is one of my fav games ever, I'm happy to hear such a nice look through the game. I've never come to finish Suikoden 1 cuz of lack of time and mental space, so thank you too for the analysis of that one, I do enjoy your videos a lot!!
🪩 🐒 think you’ll go back to it one day?
@@ABitMoreJordan to suikoden yes, to suikoden 1....maybe. It's hard to find time these days to go back to games instead of trying the ones you've never get a hold to, but after your review I feel like I have to at some point ^^
actually you'll get your original McDohl's name right if you name it in all caps and at least 6 character.
so if you name your old Tir as TIR... in S2 you will get TIRohl...
if you name him TIRONE, you'll correctly get TIRONE in S2.
just funky s2 stuff lol
Ha! It’s like a no win choice. Do I want to bork his name in S1 or S2? 😂
My favorite thing about at least these early Suikoden games is that there are some long-term consequences to particular actions and character deaths.
spoilers:
Such as if you have save data from the first game and get to do the sidequest for Tir. If your save data shows that you didn't save Gremio's life in the first game, he won't be involved in the side quest either. Or if the kobold commander Ridley dies permanently in the second game, his son Boris will replace him under the sign of the same star of destiny in your party.
This is by far my favorite dead franchise. Even the entries that I'm not as fond of (4 and 5) are pretty awesome. It is a real shame these are shackled to a company like Konami.
Going to be picking up the remasters?
@@ABitMoreJordan probably because I am a sucker, haha. But seriously if it gets us more real Suikoden games, I don't mind. I have my doubts though given Konami's track record.
@P M they are doing remasters and said they wanna do more suikoden games,if the remasters are successful
Great video, friend. As someone relatively new to PC gaming and JRPGs, i am really interested in retro ganes like Suikoden. I just saw Xygor's retrospective of it. Is the remaster coming out on PC?
Jowy is very comparable to Delita from FF Tactics. I always had that vibe.
That’s a good comparison
Fun fact if you fight the highland solders 108 time before jumping the intro is in colour
That sounds like a rumour some kid would tell you just to waste an hour of your life 😂
The games you mentioned are rpgs that don't require grinding especially suikoden the designer set it up to where grinding would be nullified
1:44:40 I enjoyed that pun!
When you were playing through the story did you get the hidden scene with Luc during the war battle where your army surrounds Luca?
Don't think I saw it til my 5th playthrough..but it's a nice little scene..you have to not injure Luca for a few turns til all his reinforcements show up ...then it triggers shortly after that
It adds a little more to suikoden 3 as well
Im not even going to lie the way you positioned the bit about if Nanami survived and then said "no" took me out. I actually thought she was going to make it, there are no losses like the old jrpg losses. Cut and dry. Brilliant video you always got me locked in for the ride man. Fantastic
Edit: she's alive oh my god she's alive 😭😭😭😭😭
Playing these in a certain way allows the story to fall in so you don't lose the chance to see your play style affect their world.
Suikoden 2 is the GOAT! bring on Eiyuden Chronicles
You need to do a 5-hour Suikoden 3 retrospective to top this.
Ah yes. One of my favourite JRPG’s of all time! Suikoden Sword and Shield
1:14:20 I present to you... myself who is a dude going by the nickname of "Sheena" ... and is pointing to Suikoden as kinda-proof that the name could be used for males as well ^^
Will you ever do suikoden 3 in your retrospective series?
Eventually. Maybe some time later in the year.
@@ABitMoreJordan That's great, thank you for replying, also, great content, just finished watching your suikoden I & II retrospective, excited to see the third one 👍🏻
I personally think they did an even better job with suikoden 5’s silent protagonist. He’s very animated and expresses emotions often despite being silent. It has the advantage in this area because 3d cutscenes allow for more room for character expression, but it drastically outperforms suikoden 4 in this aspect as well. Great review! Can’t wait for the next ones!
Thanks. Hoping to get to 3 before the end of the year
By looking at Georg's level, I assume you are using PAL version of the game?
I can’t remember which I used to be honest
1 of my fav rpg game in the early 2000s , along with xenogear, breath of fire, ff7, ff9, the legend of dragoon
Would like to tackle Xenogears some time. But that 60 hour length is scaring me 😆
@Addicted2Ripz did u ever play,ps1 lunar 1 & 2?wild arms?they are doing a ff9 remake.
My first ps1 game that and saga frontier 2 both games are awesome
Wow great choices
Suikoden II is one of the best games of all time and the best Suikoden game hands down. Far better than any of those games put out by Square / Square Enix.
Also, Suikoden IV was a really solid game with a good story and some pretty decent characters. However, Suikoden III was bloody awful in just about every single aspect.
PS: I have my original CD's for Suikoden 1,2,3,4,5 and Tactics. 😁 🐒
What were the big problems with 3? I’m so confused by the different opinions on each side. Some love it, some hate it
@@ABitMoreJordan The graphics are rough and do not hold up well but that is a minor complaint. The two rows of 3 are really split into 3 pairs of 2 and you can only issue 1 command to each pair making combat a mess, oh and they move all over the battle map and do not stay in the lines of 3. Combat is pretty crap. The characters are subpar at best, piss poor honestly and you are forced to do chapters 1, 2, and 3 THREE times because there are three different "main characters" and depending on what order you do them in you can spoil events in others characters chapters. Oh and then there is the 2 chapters which are optional of the only interesting character you can play as, and involves your castle, but alas he is not you main character so don't bother getting to invested. The army battles are the worst in the series. There are really only a couple side characters that are interesting but overall the cast is poor, the story is wretched, the combat is hideous. For all of the hate that IV gets it, IV is the superior game (though still flawed).
3 is exceptional in its dialogue. There is a lot of writing. And the opening thematic is just AMAZING. It is an important game to the suikoverse lore and story.
I never adjusted to the weird camera. And the sprites look blocky and silly. They were so close to making an exceptional game. My first impression was the 3D sprites looked silly; these days I can easily deal with these issues. But I can still feel blind with the camera.
I've played 4 multiple times. It is a very relaxing game, easy to play, and one I have always enjoyed. It has its problems - slow empty boat travel b4 u can teleport, 4 character party (3 swappable with ~100 characters). The game was never properly finished. You can notice it near the end of the game. It didn't have enough budget and time 4 development. Junko sometimes receives the blame for the game running over budget. 4 even appears to have affected 5s sales. 5 was a very good game, many words, slow battle-loading animations.
I did not have suiko 3 so my experience with it is the weakest. I truly enjoyed Tactics as well, but i fell victim to trying to perfect battles, and a single battle could take an hour or two -- my head hurts and I'm tired. The battles were not difficult and I could stumble my way into an S victory several times.
Suikoden 1 wins over 2 in a couple aspects. It is a shorter game but it has better pacing. But I would say 2 is more polished, has more content, better QoL (essentially 2 is better). But 1 is my first and favorite. Hard to let go of the soul eater, tir, ted etc. and I have genuine reasons for liking it over 2 beyond "nostalgia". (2 was also the second one i played, shortly after 1). So I'm compelled to learn the criticisms in these 3 hour retrospectives.
My personal opinion is characters (stars, only for the true endings) should not be "missable." (Or the player needs [an option] to be informed). This gets worse with the longer entries in the series. But these games are supposed to have replay value, and that is certainly one way to do it.. I just think it makes it more likely someone *wont* pickup the game or finish it. And it means they are strongly compelled to play with a guide on their first full playthrough.. Clives quest is good for a replay and doesn't affect your ability to achieve the true ending; that kind of stuff is fine IMO. perma-deaths in battles are fine too, it is something the player is informed of and can fix if they wish.
I think new game + modes are good. Glad some of the games have the option.
I'm complete other way..I thought the story to 3 was great and while alot of its characters are shit the core bulk of characters are solid and interesting.... 4 is absolutely awful and basically killed the series..despite 5 trying to pull it back
This is epic Jordan!
Thanks so much! Hope you enjoyed it 😊
Why do you crop the images? any valid reason?
I’m not sure what you are referring to since it’s been over a year
When I think of Sheena, I think of the movie Sheena Queen of the Jungle 😂
love this. very well done. so much nostalgia and has forced me to play the game again (probably played it more than 10x now) 🐵
Wow that’s a lot of times! 🐒
Nanami is the main reason I prefer 1 over 2. She's fine at the beginning but by the later acts she's just... frustrating. It's made much worse by how Riou is basically a non-character so you can never tell her "Look. Jowy tried to murder me. What don't you get?" When she tries to get you to run away you should be able to quit listening to her entirely.
Theee hours! You mad lad!
🤘
Joker in Persona5 , i think where a silent protagonist was done very well
Now that you mention it P4 was decent too
In game politics are different than modern day politics. Or at least thats how it should be
If you've watched the entire thing through to the end, leave... ALL THE EMOJIS!!
Yeah, that feels right.
One emoji per minute of the video
@A Bit More Jordan I'm more a jrpg guy,id prefer Xzenogears, the legend of dragoon, lunar retrospectives. But,I get these take soo long.
I hope to get to them all some day!
For the record Jordan, this was one of the first Game Guide games... Like FF7 at the same time... That's why the cryptic BS is in this game
PEANUT HEAD FOR LYFE
🥜
Have you ever played xenogears. A true tale of two discs😂. It's certainly flawed but I'd recommend that jrpg to anyone despite the shortcomings
I haven't but the 60 hour run time is scaring me.
subbed
Thank you! Hope you enjoy the future videos
And now its 2024 and the remaster of 1 and 2 still isn't here yet.....Soon I hope
🤞
Suikoden Tier List (OFFICIAL)
S2, S1, S5, S3, dog poop, S4
I think most would agree with this list 😅
Grinding is not a myth 😂 100% final fantasy 12 and you will grind, good sir
So the 3rd when? lol
Maybe this year 😂
@@ABitMoreJordan played 3 for the first time this year, liked it but did not love it. V is waaaaay better and we'll see what Eiyuden does for us. Rest In Peace Murayama-San!
✌✌
✌️
Have the CD of this game, tried to play it multiple times as a kid, never got much further than Greenhill, iirc.
Also, 🐒, I have a third Sheena, for your eyes only: Sheena Easton!
I hope she’s a punk rocker!
🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒
Suikoden I : first mission is taking a dragon and going to a magician's island... the taxes come AFTER ....
Dude... seriously ??? :P Final Fantasy Iv : the Cecil crystal mission and package delivery... you played RPG only since FF 6 ? :P FF4 is the barometer for intro mission!!
the taxes come after line made me chuckle hehe.
I know, I just thought taxes was a funnier punchline than astral readings 😆
I'm here listening to videos on repeat because they are awesome, and to screw with the YT algorithm. Too much legit good content gets buried by YT these days.
I very much appreciate that!
Oops i watched it again. Hope the remaster is coming soon. Still placeholder releasedates on retailers :(
Thanks a lot! Can’t wait for the remasters too
There's actually an alternate scene in the intro: where instead of heading east as Rowd ordered right after the ambush begins, you head immediately to the waterfall, where Jowy attempts to climb up, but to no avail. Rowd then shows up and asks why you didn't follow his orders and Luca appears as well. Then you'll have the first fight, and then you'll get the option to jump. After the fight though, you have the option to decline Jowy's suggestion to jump, and fight another batch until you agree.
There's a few more of these alternate scenes sprinkled around the game, adding to the replayability. I absolutely love this series!
Sure this game is full of secrets and alternative scenes. Amazing attention to detail
Speaking of, if you refuse to jump, Rowd sends more troops on you, right? Do this 108 times, and the intro cinematic becomes full-color! Very obscure easter egg.
@@JustLou08that is some crazy obscure little detail. Wild.
I used to farm that encounter until I literally only gained 1xp
2:06:55 that trap where Luca open is a wooden amulet that Jowy bought for Pilika. It was a gift for Pilika's father which Luca killed.
Didn’t catch that!
"Thanks a lot. I'll pay you back sometime." Jowy in Muse when purchasing the amulet.
Random thing about this game you maybe didn't know: There's a mailbox in the hallway leading to the meeting room. A place you'll be running through and saving the game in like a hundred times.
You can interact with the mailbox. There will be messages from the various characters. And you can miss them all and never know about it!
I first played the game when I was just a wee 4th grader in elementary. I did not remember the promise Riou and Jowy made in the beginning because I only had access to the Playstation on every school holiday not including weekends because my parents were strict about gaming, so it had been at least half a school year between starting the game and clearing it. I sat on the throne not thinking much about how Jowy is waiting for me with just a few days at best counting down to his demise. I only learnt about the true ending when I revisit the game mid-2020 during the lockdown. My heart fucking sank.
It's an almost perfect game to me. The only thing that would make it perfect in my eyes would be mechanically challenging superbosses, but with so much side content it has to offer it's barely a complaint. Heck, those samurais you encounter if you tried to do the early Matilda glitch is basically on-par with the average JRPG superboss
Well... hope you point out you cannot 100% Suikoden II if you don't 100% suikoden 1.
It is a super necessary fact. Thanks for revieweing my classic series. I still think the 1st is a lil tad ahead overall. But the graphics and gameplay were fixed in a couple ways in the II. Haven't cared for any others since. Ordered Eiyuden. Waiting for it physical!
I show Tir 😊
The DLC vote for eiyuden is killing me. I wish someone post a case for each. (I think voting ends tomorrow)
@@ABitMoreJordan yes your video rocks , after watching it i approve : and i could send you footage of Boris the son of the kobold who can die. Did all varitions of suikoden 1 and 2 including minimum recruits and maximum character death during army fights
@34:00 = Suikoden has never been about puzzles?
There are 3 minimum in Suikoden I... (dwarf cave, neclord's castle, Jupo's contraption)
The mildest of mild puzzles 😄
@2:46:00 the grind? Try Paladin's Quest! 7th Saga! Tecmo Secret of the Stars...
Final Fantasy IV. Final Fantasy 1. Dragon Quest/Dragon Warrior 1
That was the grind era!
Yeah those are way old school
@@ABitMoreJordan I agree, On PS-X it got casual. Final Fantasy Tactics is punishing because of the timing. Vandal Hearts is rough cause you can't level up. But Since FF7 things have becom grindy for completionist who want to 100%!
Suikoden is an under-rates series. My only regret is never finding a copy of V.
I'm surprised that in the UK S5 isn't ungodly expensive these day. It ain't cheap, but I was expecting it to be much worse.
The ninja Jowy talks to is from Suikoden 1
Kage is much mysterious!
Chrono trigger had a great silent protagonist
Love to see something about my favorite game of all time. I hope you ended playing 3! It was a stranger style than 1 and 2 but I liked it well enough. Personally ranking the games it goes 2,5,3,1,4. Not to say 1 was bad but I just didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the others.
🙈🙉🙊 Funky enough?
I think you gave Jowy too easy of a time
Sure he helped in defeating the empire but turned into a sociopath allong the away
Murdered a good woman and slaugthered inocent people to get credibility with Luca
Then used his position to get a charade of a marriage manipulating Luca and the princess, killing the king and then Luca to rise to the top
Typical sociopath behaviour
Then tried to kill his best friend 2x
Instead of trying to explain his plan and coming to terms, continuingthe war and then again in the final showdown
Plus althought it would be harder, there is no proof they could not defeat the empire the "normal way"
Sure it made for a couple of -good- awesome plot twists but again total psycho
Also I got all 3 first titles on PS3 a few years back cause I remember seen this on a playstation magazine and thought it was cool but have not played yet
I'll try to get at them during my vacations
Another amazing video, loved it!! You did Suikoden 1&2 justice, so much effort goes into these videos.
Glad you enjoyed them! 😃
While there were some things I disagreed with, MAN you did an amazing job breaking down the story, your analysis, highlights, and stayed grounded about your opinions that changed some of my outlooks on my favorite game! SUBBED
Thanks a lot! Really appreciate it
Suikoden 1 was my absolute favorite of the series 2 being a close second it really FEELS like a continuation of the story. which I wouldv loved 3 to continue
4 felt more like part of the universe
Oh and personally, I like Suikoden III a LOT. I don't know if it is my favorite game in the series (I like each of the first three games quite a lot). Just be aware that the combat system is a bit different so if you try to approach it exactly like the first two games in the series, you are just going to be frustrated. It is better to think of it as a party with six slots that act as three so you are sort of mix and match creating characters depending on what combination of characters you take. I dig it.
I also really liked the trinity sight system and I thought it did a great job of fleshing out the story by giving all of the plot points three different perspectives. And the overall cast of characters is probably my favorite in the series (with two being a close second place).
So excited to have both found (and already finished) your Suikoden 1 review today, and see this one already up! Unfortunately besides the intro, I can't continue since I want to play it as well before the new remasters come out- but you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be returning to this video as soon as possible!
I happen to share your opinion of Suikoden 1 being my favorite, but for me though I've started it several times over- I could never bring myself to continue for whatever reason after the beginning. I vividly remember my emotions about 2 certain characters being okay after the ending of Suikoden 1, as i went in completely blind with no knowledge and remember literally shouting in joy haha. The scenes with both of them at the end made me cry in the OG, and seeing them again made me cry as well. The only other Suikoden I finished was Tierkreis and I intend to return to that one someday too as I remember being in the very small minority who genuinely enjoyed it.
I just want to say your passion is palpable, and it's so wonderful to see your vigor and commitment in talking about this series(and Silent Hill; I also was a Resident Evil kid, thanks to my Dad- though i only watch. I can't play horror games since I freeze.) I eagerly look forward to your channel's growth and future videos! I personally would love to see your reactions to announcements/trailers if possible, like Eiyuden Chronicle and the Suikoden Remasters- only if you''d want to of course! Your thoughts on other series like Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Xenoblade and just any and all other rpg's you enjoy will also be a treat I'm sure!
I use commentary vids to fall asleep when I have trouble(it's 230 am as i type this whoops-), and I just know that your initial Suikoden video will be a big comfort(as will this one, once I finish the game first!)
Thanks for all your hard work- it's very much seen and appreciated!
Thanks for the great comment! It might be something I look into with trailer reactions and things. As long as I have something interesting to say 😅
I'm a SW viewer who always eventually watches your own channel videos. Set aside the 3hrs today to watch this before work. I legit can't wait to play this game when it gets released from Switch. I can't believe I missed either of these games back in their heyday.
A very in depth review. I'm curious to see what Konami does with the remake, fingers crossed they do it justice. Unfortunately now I'm going to have to play the game with a guide because it'll make me mad to miss something cool during my playthrough.
There are so many games coming to switch that I need to play this year. I thought it would be less so than last year but the spiritual successor to this game comes out also lol
This review is going to age pretty well imo. Definitely deserves a lot more views. Keep it up man. I know these vids take a ton of time to make.
Thanks a lot for the great comment 😊
I feel pretty certain I've played the 2nd one, but I only know for sure I've played the first one multiple times. I've owned it, I've emulated it... had no idea a remaster was on the horizon! How exciting! Thanks for putting together these monstrous videos... they help pass my day at work when a new one comes out!
1:18:19 Yes, it is absolutely possible to save Ridley here. I had one playthrough where he just crit EVERYTHING and won the battle by himself. You don't get the captured scene and Leon just sends his message to your castle instead of giving it to Ridley.
Jordan, I wanna come to your house just so I can carefully peruse your game shelf that’s always in the background
You'll find mostly dust and weird games 😂
My biggest issue was I wanted more story with Tir,Pahn,Cleo and gremino.like what happened after the ending, where they go?
I think when you visit gregminster and do Tir’s side quest. That was enough closure for me. It’s a shame Cleo and Pahn weren’t covered as much, but it was alright. I found out what they have been up to 😊
@A Bit More Jordan I wanted to recruit them,I thought lepant was gonna,be recuitable, when u saw his,portrait. I wanted to include the six General's too.especially after suikoden 2,I wanted to know what happened to victor and flik.I was,disappointed in the Luca blight fight.only because was too easy.I thought he was gonna be the final boss.
@A Bit More Jordan well,every jrpgs had bad,translation. Especially back then.they did confirm the remasters are,fixing the translation and add new dialogue
@ABitMoreJordan in my opinion, the 6 generals, Lepant and the others hace their own responsibilities in their own country , rather than helping with a foreign countries war
do suikoden 3, 4 and 5
I’ll probably do 3 this year
Suikoden 2 indeed AAA jrpg but it have many flaw, lots of item glitch like sound set or recipe the bgm suddenly stop at map war and manymore
Its not a myth. Play Breath of Fire 2 and you NEED grinding. Or Final Fantasy 1.
Suikoden 2 is my FIRST rpg game I played back when I still have a PS1. Unfortunately, the memory card that came along with the system was busted and I only played up to the Mist Shade. Until I just emulated and played on PC and PSP.
I was so glad to play S1 AND S2 in the PSP PS emulator and always had a lol moment why Tir was named TcDohl in 2. Until today, I still lol at TcDohl
I played this one before the first one and it’s probably my favorite ps1 game but the first one was good too other than the absurd item management, that and the Rock Paper Scissors battles weren’t as good to me. This was originally supposed to be the first game but the director/writer thought it was too ambitious for the time so he wrote the first one after this as a prequel which makes sense if you know that, this is the better story of the two to me. Thanks for the video, I see 3 hour video about Suikoden 2 and I’m down always. You should definitely play Suikoden 3, good story, Luc and Yuber playing a staring role this time.
Amazing video!
I'm sure someone already corrected you, but stallion has a use. He lets you sprint in the world map
"Do you want to buy a cow for 3 grand?" "SHUT UP! OF COURSE I DO!" God, this kills me because that's literally me too.
played for the first time around 1999, now i am 36 years old dad with 2 sons, to me #1 game till this date, not even close, i have played witcher 3, persona 5 royal, dragon age, etc, i already obtained 3 ending with this game and i cried on all endings😂