Page 1: Genso Suikoden
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

Genso Suikogaiden Volume 1: Swordsman of Harmonia - PSOne (2000)

Japanese Cover

Genso Suikogaiden Volume 1

Genso Suikogaiden Volume 1

Suikogaiden (sometimes spelled Suiko Gaiden) is a spinoff that takes the form of a visual novel. Set during the events of Suikoden II, you play as Nash, a former noble from Kingdom of Harmonia, who wanders around gathering information about the True Runes in the Jowston region. During his adventures, he gets involved with the war, and meet many people from different backgrounds. While it helps expand on the events from Suikoden II, some events also flesh out Nash's mysterious background. Characters: Nash: A former Noble from Harmonia. He is part of Harmonian Southern Frontier Defense Force as the person who gathers information, and also appears as a secondary character in Suikoden III. Sierra Mikain: A fairly minor character from Suikoden II, Sierra is a vampire who is something of a fan favorite. She travels with Nash and fights off zombies in the first chapter of Suikogaiden. Since Suikogaiden is a visual novel, there's very little real interaction, meaning that you just sit, click through dialogue and look at the pretty pictures. There are four chapters in total, and the whole thing can be experienced over the course of a couple of hours. There are moments where you get to choose your actions, which can occasionally lead to branching scenarios. Certain selections will add "Luck Points", which can then be used later on to make specific choices. If you don't have enough LP for a specific choice, you can't take that plot branch. Other than that, it's pretty linear all the way. The game's certainly not for everyone, and those who want actual gameplay to go along with their game will be frustrated. On the other hand, if you are fan of Suikoden II, it does give plenty of insight, filling a few of the plot holes, and it's full of fan service. The artwork is quite good, and most of the music is taken from the other PSOne Suikoden games. Unfortunately, since Suikogaiden was released during the dawn of the PS2 era, and visual novels are fairly unpopular outside of Japan, Konami did not release this game overseas. However, there are guides and summaries online that help explain the events.

Genso Suikogaiden Volume 1 Genso Suikogaiden Volume 1 Genso Suikogaiden Volume 1

Genso Suikogaiden Volume 2: Duel at Crystal Valley - PSOne (2001)

Japanese Cover

Genso Suikogaiden Volume 2

Genso Suikogaiden Volume 2

Even though the end of the PSOne era was already on the horizon, and the release Suikoden III was impending, Konami released another Suikogaiden game. Suikogaiden Volume 2 is set three months after the events of Suikoden II. The story is once again told by Nash, as he wanders around to different regions and helps people in need. However, this time around, Nash has a goal - to defeat his enemy, Zaj Quilous, who is responsible for Nash's troubled past. Characters: Lena Suphina: She's the aunt of Nash. She works under the Bishop of Harmonia in Caleria. Julie Latkje: She's Nash's younger Sister. She's once engaged to Zaj Quilous until a tragic event happened. Since then she lived with her aunt. Zaj Quilous: His hatred towards Harmonia and Latkje family had grown immensely over time. What drives his anger towards the Harmonians? This game is basically the same thing as Suikogaiden Volume 1. There's a transfer feature from Suikogaiden Volume 1 where you'll get a couple of extra dialogues from the characters . You'll see many returning characters from Suikoden II, including Camus and Miklotov, the duo of knights, as well as the circus troupe. Also, you'll also see many characters from Suikoden II after the war, and there are some who are still resolving their problems, but for the most part, the story focuses on Nash and his struggles. It's an interesting story - there are a couple events that give interesting insight to Suikoden III, particularly events involving the Flame Champion. Once again, Suikogaiden Vol. 2 did not see a overseas release due to the nature of the visual novel genre.

Genso Suikogaiden Volume 2 Genso Suikogaiden Volume 2 Genso Suikogaiden Volume 2

Genso Suikoden Card Stories - Gameboy Advance (2001)

Japanese Cover

Genso Suikoden Card Stories

Genso Suikoden Card Stories

This Suikoden spin-off is on the Gameboy Advance, which was unusual at the time, because the Suikoden series had always been associated with the Playstation brand. However, it plays nothing like the mainline series. The story here is basically a retelling of the Suikoden II plot, the only difference being that it plays like a card game. You start out the game by setting up an event card, each of which has distinct objectives. For example, you must attack your opponent five times by using your soldiers in order to claim the card. The cards you hold out each have strengths and weaknesses. If you are successful, you claim the event card and you win a round. It keeps going on until you meet your objectives. It's a rather simple game for the most part. All the cards are all from Suikoden I and II, and several characters return as cutesy, super deformed sprites. There are even card-booster sets from Suikoden III. Everything else play like your standard card game. Like the Suikogaiden games, this was never released outside of Japan.

Genso Suikoden Card Stories Genso Suikoden Card Stories

Recurring Characters

Throughout of the main Suikoden games, there are well over five hundred characters. Covering them all would be a book in and of itself - however, there are a number of important recurring characters that help gives the series its identity. Here are some of the most interesting.

Leknaat One of the few characters found in each of the five mainline Suikoden games. She's a blind sorceress and is the "Keeper of the Balance", giving advice and guiding the players. She possesses part of the Gate Rune, one of the 27 True Runes, which accounts for her immortality.

Suikoden II

Viki Viki is a bit of scatterbrain. She appears in all five mainline Suikoden games and uses her rune to transport you to locations you've already visited. Due to the fact that she's the same age in every game, it seems to imply that she can also travel through time as well as space. In Suikoden III, she teams up with a younger version of herself, who seems to be infinitely more mature. She becomes playable in Suikoden II and has been usable in battle in every game since.

Suikoden

Suikoden II	Suikoden III	Suikoden IV	Suikoden V

Jeane This mysterious woman appears in all five Suikoden games, as well as Suikogaiden and Suikoden Tactics. Through each installment, she appears to be the same age, and tends to wear even more revealing outfits, if that's possible. She mostly takes on the role of selling and equipping runes. Although she plays a passive role in the first three games, she finally becomes active in battle in the fourth and fifth games. Her past is mysterious, and no one is clear as to why she hasn't aged.

Suikoden

Suikoden II	Suikoden III	Suikoden IV	Suikoden V

Yuber Little is known about Yuber, except that he's some kind of evil demon that interferes with the lives of mortals. He pops in and out of the first two Suikoden games, but dons a snazzy blue suit/hat combo in the third game, and teams up with the Masked Bishop and Sarah to wreck some havoc.

Suikoden II

Pesmerga Another strange demon with only a bit of implied backstory, Pesmerga seems to exist solely to hunt down and destroy Yuber. He joins your party in Suikoden I and II, but is sadly absent from the third. Many fans hoped that the conflict between the two would continue in succeeding games, but this particular thread seems to have been dropped.

Suikoden II

Links Due Fiumi The most comprehensive of Suikoden info you can ever find. Check out their Gensopedia section. Suikosource Another Suikoden fansite that has robust info on Suikoden. Suikox A message board for the Suikoden fans.

I, II & III Heroes