Page 1: Genso Suikoden
Suikoden Tactics / Rhapsodia - Playstation 2 (2005)
American Cover
Japanese Cover
Suikoden Tactics
Characters:
Even though it's technically a spin-off, there are still several aspects that retain the Suikoden feeling. You still recruit many characters throughout your adventure, and like the other Suikoden games, the playable characters are all assigned to given roles. Characters are now segregated into two types: Physical and Magical. Physical characters can only equip technique runes while Magical characters only equip elemental runes. There are also support characters, which can be paired up with any of the main characters. Each of them have unique abilities on the battlefield, such as digging, stat buffing or stealing, but they do not have any offensive capabilities. There are still Unite attacks, of course, but like Suikoden IV, certain conditions must be met before they are activated.
Suikoden Tactics also reintroduces a couple of features that were omitted in Suikoden IV. For starters, the data transfer function has returned. If you managed to recruit all 108 characters in Suikoden IV, you'll unlock a couple of characters, one of whom is so powerful that it totally breaks the game. The Skills system has returned too, and now all of the characters have passive abilities. However, the skill system works quite differently from Suikoden III. Everyone's level of skill is capped, and the only way to get over that cap is to recruit more characters.
The gameplay of Suikoden Tactics borrows several elements from other SRPGs. It's essentially a melting pot of Fire Emblem, Vandal Hearts and Final Fantasy Tactics, with bits of Suikoden flavor sprinkled into it. Characters can trigger conversation dialogue with another character by establishing good will, accomplished by placing characters adjacent to one another. If the character has a strong relationship with them, they can perform Unite attacks or establish mutual effects. If the characters are not significantly involved with the plot, they are marked with permadeath status. In other words, once they die in battle, they MAY die for good, although there are some workarounds. If you're not used to games that feature permadeath, this can be frustrating.
There are also some very interesting stage designs. Some areas can trigger reinforcements, the stages are littered with destructible objects, and some even contain animals that can be mounted. Different stages also have different objectives. Aside from the usual "Kill all enemies" and "Defeat the boss" goals, you may need to kill off various objects scattered throughout the battlefield. There are also guilds that give you rewards and a bit of extra money. Like the propositions found in Final Fantasy Tactics, you send out one of your guys for a little trip. who will return a little while later with some bonus stuff.
With Suikoden Tactics taking bits and pieces from other strategy RPGs, you might think that the experience isn't particularly original, but there are a couple of aspects that make it stand out from the other similar games. Aside from the commonalities with the mainline Suikoden games, Suikoden Tactics especially stresses terrain elements. Each character has a given innate element, which are unleashed during certain actions and affect the terrain. For the most part, it functions similarly to a buff or debuff system. Those who posses the same affinity as the element they're standing on will get a stat increase, as well as replenished HP. Naturally, standing on an opposing element will make you weaker. To flesh out the Suikoden IV characters and the Tactics characters a bit more, you can use the Camp command to watch the various party members interact. Overall, it's a very solid game in terms of plot and gameplay, and nicely fleshes out the Suikoden IV portion of the universe, however underappreciated it may be.
MP3s Download here
A Place to Rest on the Journey
Suikoden Tactics
Suikoden Tactics
Suikoden Tactics
Suikoden Tactics
Suikoden Tactics
Suikoden Tactics
Suikoden Tactics
Suikoden Tactics
Suikoden Tactics
Page 2: Genso Suikoden II
Page 3: Genso Suikoden III
Page 4: Genso Suikoden IV
Page 5: Suikoden Tactics
Page 6: Genso Suikoden V
Page 7: Suikoden Tierkreis
Page 8: Suikogaiden Volume 1, Volume 2 and Card Stories
After the lukewarm reception on Suikoden IV, many believed that the series would fade into obscurity. In 2005, Konami announced another Suikoden game, but this one would depart from the formula a bit, taking on the form of a strategy RPG. Tying in with the previous game, the setting occurs both before and after the events of Suikoden IV. The plot revolves the character named Kyril, who travels with his father and several of his companions to investigate the Rune Cannons. After the events of Suikoden IV, the Rune Cannons had been considered weapons of mass destruction, due to its incredibly destructive force. However, Kyril and the others are not aware of the hidden effects that lie in the Rune Cannons - an effect that could have a significant consequences.
Kyril
He's the son of Walter. Like his father, he investigates the effects of the Rune Cannons.
Andarc
One of Kyril's companions. He's loyal to the group, almost to a fault, and tends to be apologetic whenever something unfortunate happens.
Seneca
Like Andarc, she travels with Kyril. She's the big sister of the group and loves to tease her companions.
Yohn
A mysterious goat-person who cannot speak. What is her reason for traveling with Walter and the others...?
Corselia
A young noble living in the Kooluk Empire. Upon meeting Kyril, she often struggles to make amends with the other nobles in Kooluk.
Iskas
A prominent noble in the Kooluk Empire trying to gain political power as well as tapping the hidden potential of the Rune Cannons.
Born of the Beholder
Town of Research Institution
