Suikoden V

Game review---

Suikoden V, obviously, the fifth in the series. Little is known about this...well, unknown series. Suikoden is a politcal RPG. Where you must amass a rebel army to put down a tyrant of a nation, or foriegn power, or just simply to stand against a warring power. Each game takes place in a different region and time of a created world. For example; Suikoden 4, takes place in the southren region, amoung the Island Nations, around the year 100; where as Suikoden 1 takes place during the year 220ish and on the southren tip of the northren continent. Now as you may see the games are out of order due to timeline of the supposed story. Well, no. The story of Suikoden is a simple one.

During the years of the creation of the world, there was Sword and Shield. Sword boosted that it could cut through anything and Shield claimed that nothing could break it. So Sword and Shield fought over the land and there sparks made the stars in the heavens. After many years had gone by Sword broke Shield and Shield shattered Sword. They fell to the gound into 27 peices, which are today called the 27 true runes. These 27 runes wield incredible power beyond the scope of many. Each, of course, is also unique in power as well. After this war between Sword and Shield, an ancient race, that has no name, ruled the land, and most likely died out due to war and strife. After this ancient race, came the Sindar. Little is known about this race other than that there technology is vastly superior to the tech of today. The Sindar left many ruins and long forgotten tech about which brings question to how and why they left. Apparently they just disappered. It is known, however, that the Sindar understood the runes better than any alive today. So, many search and study these ruins left behind for clues and treasure, of course. That is the history of Suikoden. Today, many nations run themselves, many see war, many unite, and many fall. One nation; however, remains a constant throughout all the games and story. The Kingdom of Harmonia. This Kingdom is claimed to searching for all the 27 runes and obtaining them in order to be the most nation on the planet.

As said before, each game deals with one nation at a certain (maybe pennical) point in that nations history. And in each game the Kingdom of Harmonia is mentioned or sightly involed (by that I mean they have ONE liason advising to the current power of that nation). This is what I love about this series, the consistancy. And in each game, which probably the main focus of the overall picture, they contain 1 or more of the 27 true runes. I believe these games follow the story of the runes more so than the story of the world. This series is also a collection of books. I have yet to read any of these, but I believe that they will just as great as the games.

These games are also, usually, filled with great mini-games and gambling games taht I have never encounter before. There is also one add addiction the game to make it marketable. The Pokemon quality. Within each game, there is a side story of the 108 stars of destiny. During this uprisings you go around the country recuiting for your army. 108 to be exact. Each person represents a Star of Destiny that, of course, destiny decided will monumental to the outcome of the apporaching war. Now, in truth, not really. Collection all 108 stars fits the game into the timeline, as well as some reoccuring charaters from game to game. But, hardly is it nessesary to collect them all.

All that being said, I was disappointed in the fifth addition to the series (though not nearly as upset as the fourth one, god that one was horrible). The game had an incredible story, unbelieveable detail and background. Even the first few hours of game play are pretty much the intro.

A nation under the rule of a divine Queen who is imbued wuth the Sun rune (1 of 27). Unfortuantly the Sun rune has not been worn in centuries and that is due to the legend that the bearer of the rune went insane and destroy the entire nation in one go (the Sun rune, after all have all the abilities and power of the Sun itself). Well, due to 2 warring senators teh country is at war, the Queen dies, the heir to the throne is captured and the Prince flees. You play the part of the Prince and enventually raise an army against your sister, the new Queen. Great story.

My problem with the game was that, like the fourth, they introduced to many new elements and removed to many "oldie but goodie" ones. For instance, as you recruit people for your army, your castle gets bigger, due to all the people under that new recruits influence, working and fixing and making a bigger and better castle for a base of operations. Well, in this story that doesn't happen. The castle is built and will always remain the same regardless of what you do. Much like 4, where you had a massive ship of a HeadQuarters. The boat didn't get bigger, you just filled it. Now, I admit that is a lame reason to dislike it but the first 3 were like this and the series was beginning to fall. Games 1, 2, and 3 were incredible. I mean the the first was awesome, the second was better, and the third was frelling incredible. Then the fourth came out and I was excited cause it look place on the ocean and we were pirates and stuff, and I was like all "yeah" and stuff. And then I played it and it horrible, one of the worst games I have ever played. That is saying a lot coming from me.

Though 5 is much better than the last and the story is great, it doesn't live up to the first 3. But it is good and were I to rank it amoung its predeccors it would come in a tie with 3rd place, merely due to the incredible story.

I know this post sucks for like "What new" and "how're things man", but is what is on my mind, so in that respect it qualifies, so :P