Suikoden fans cried tears of joy when Konami announced news of the upcoming remaster. The renowned JRPG series that started life on the PlayStation 1 will make its way to modern platforms.
Konami confirmed that Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars will launch in 2023. And heading to the following platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC (available through Steam).
The debut title in the series hit the PlayStation on December 15, 1995, in Japan. It also came out in North America on December 1996 and in PAL territories on April 1997. The game proved so popular that Sega Saturn and Windows versions appeared in 1998.
And things didn’t end there, as several sequels and spin-offs hit later console generations and handhelds. But what made this series so popular with JRPG fans? For one, it’s renowned for its deep plot revolving around political machinations, corruption, and revolutionary upheavals. And secondly, players can recruit up to 108 characters, even though this isn’t necessary to complete a game.
While the earlier titles look a bit rough by today’s standards, Konami’s remaster aims to fix that. The pixel sprites, backgrounds, and all atmospheric effects will receive enhancements. And Junko Kawano, the character designer from the original title, returns to redraw the character portraits.
Furthermore, players can expect battle and field sound improvements, including quality of life features for the game system. All in all, the Suikoden I&II HD Remaster seems like the perfect entry point for newcomers to the series. But will this remaster satiate existing fans when they could’ve gotten a reboot of the series made entirely in 3D?
Who created the original Suikoden series?
Yoshitaka Murayama and Junko Kawano created the original series together with Junko Kawano. While the latter returned to work on the updated character designs, Murayama and Kawano left Konami and started their own studio — Rabbit & Bear Studios.
Rabbit & Bear Studios launched a successful Kickstarter campaign for the creation of a spiritual successor to Suikoden. This title is none other than Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, which has caused much excitement in the JRPG community.
But can it hold up to Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes?
Now, if you’ve watched the trailer and seen the screenshots in our Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes article, you’ll have noticed that it looks much prettier than the upcoming Suikoden remaster. And due to the involvement of the original designers, hopes are high that it will turn out great.
So, can Konami’s remaster truly hold up — or is it too little, too late? From a visual standpoint, it simply cannot compete. However, the first two Suikodens have rock-solid stories, world-building, and gameplay. To top it off, they feature memorable characters with well-written backstories.
Therefore, if Konami retains the essence of the original titles, then this HD remaster should win over existing and new fans!