Two extra things I want to mention: 1. I really like how fast low level characters level up in this game. Your party may be in the 40s or 50s, but you don't need to worry about bringing a level 10 character with you because they'll catch up in just a few battles. That was a great touch for a game like this with so many characters in it. 2. A lot of the information in the development history section of this video came from a great book called The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers. You can get the book yourself here, and I totally recommend it! www.amazon.com/Untold-History-Japanese-Game-Developers/dp/0992926025/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EKMGAW17XV7Z28DD8YPT Other than that, it's time to move on to Suikoden 2!

Suikoden 1 and 2 was my childhood especially suikoden 2 the story ,the villain and gameplay was ahead of its time.

Suikoden and Suikoden II helped me learn English and expand my vocabulary at a very young age.

Now if only we could get Konami to abandon slot machines and make a new Suikoden

In my opinion, the Play Station 1 was the golden era of RPGs/JRPGs with a few games on newer consoles, with The Legend of Dragoon being one of my favourite games

Wonderful tribute to a masterpiece. The game has so much heart and soul in it that you can tell the developers really cared about it. I still have a copy of it I bought not long after it was released and have replayed it on emulation more recently so I could finally get all 108 for the special ending and save export for Suikoden 2. It's also worth noting that the Outlaws of the Marsh novel is highly readable in translation (I'd suggest the non-abridged version by Moss Roberts and Sidney Shapiro) as you get the same level of characterization of the supporting cast (the "main character" of Song Jiang is not even introduced until many chapters into the story).

How dare you remind me that I haven’t played this game I own yet

I love the first Suikoden, i always hear the 2nd is better but my nostalgia for the 1st is so strong that there is no game better than the original.

This and Suikoden 2 was me and my brothers favourite RPG as a kid

I remember getting Suikoden for my birthday because everyone knew I loved RPGs. I looked at the title and the cover art (which I'm sad wasn't mentioned in the video) and I was like "What the heck is this about?!" Needless to say I loved it and after I beat it I told myself "With some polish, this could be one of the best games ever made." Little did I know what was to come next.

One of my all time favorites. Suikoden 1 and 2. These games are golden and totally underrated. Touching story with great sense of humor, unforgettable characters, and cool gameplay features mixing minigames with tactics type game and rpg. Like the castle part of the game that grows with the recruits. So unique. Even the runes and leveling system for the characters and special abilities. Worth playing again and again

Suikoden was my first RPG and my first game for Playstation. I remember 24 years ago being with my dad in the game store to buy the console and a game,for it. I chose Suikoden and he thought I wouldn't like it and tried persuading me to get another game instead. But I wanted it and still it's the best RPG I have ever played along with Suikoden 2. Still I remember the names of the characters, the locations and the plot. Many good memories there both in game and out!

The Suikoden 1 soundtrack is one of the best OSTs of all time. Nothing like it anywhere. ANd far better than any other Suikoden game

It's nice to see people still talk about this game nearly 23 years after it launched in North America. I remember playing this game when I was 13 or so. Rented it at Blockbuster Video. Later I found a used copy of it luckily which I still have today at Gamestop (EB Games/Electronics Boutique at the time). For me personally, this is the best in the series. Great soundtrack, great story, awesome battle system. Nails all three, which is quite difficult to do in today's standards. They really don't make soundtracks like this anymore either. The acoustic flair of the Nylon Guitar in it's solo pieces, along with the Celtic scores, really make the game feel more alive. I keep remembering listening to that Guitar during Gremio' and Teo's deaths. The soundtrack really made this game. Village of the Elves, Warrior's Village, Dragon Knight's Den! Brilliance. The battle system was very fast paced with the options provided. "Free Will" was just simply great in Battles. I don't know, there was just something to it that made the fighting refreshing. Some people rave about Suikoden 2. It was good, but I feel that the first one was well balanced overall. If you ever find this, grab it. It's an ultimate gem for any JRPG player.

Absolutely fantastic review and very well researched, This game was my very first JRPG and it will always remain one of my faves, Thank you for this.

omg, I remember a few months back I had hoped you did a Suikoden retrospective and searched for it in your channel. Thanks the hard work!

Great work with these retrospective reviews of yours. Never played this game, but hearing you describing it in your stream got me excited

I miss JRPG's like this that have amazing stories and don't take 100 hours to complete. Suikoden was an incredible experience and Suikoden 2 is even better

For me I couldn’t agree more that 1 is as cherished as 2. For me, the things that make 2 better aren’t really about the core of the game or story, but refinements in style and quality-of-life improvements. The story/world and tone and core mechanics were all there in the original

The only RPG series ever made based on an adaption of a Chinese classic of literature (The Water Margin). I DID play it as a young teenager, probably 22 or 23 years ago or so at this point, and it had a strong effect on me, I remember where I was very well. The music had a strong effect on me, it's excellently composed. I have all the original files of it on my computer.

if possible could you do a follow up for suikoden 2.

i am here watching this after eiyuden achieved their kickstarter goal in less than 2 hours, feels really really good!

I'm only 40 seconds in. Had to pause and say thanks for the memories and thank to this game . I lived in this little world way back for a while . Feels like home , same with the sequel.

love your review of Suikoden I . And your review just brought up a lot of childhood memories , also learnt something new from this. awesome review

This game has been on my radar for a while, maybe I'll have to dive into it soon. My favorite part of these videos is how you sound like an actual person sitting down and chatting about stuff you like. I also really appreciate the research, it makes the people behind the game actually feel real.

THANK YOU! Suikoden has been largely overlooked - both at the time of release, and til this day. I really appreciate the nostalgic reminder of my favourite RPG of all time. I know it's not objectively the best, but it's the one nearest and dearest to my heart. Perhaps it's time that I revisit the game after all these years, and take command of Odessa Castle once more.

I just want to say, this is the video that has gotten me to my channel which is awesome. Thank you for making this. Suikoden is my favourite game and has been for a decade. I even have a Soul Eater tattoo. People always talk about Suikoden 2, and I do love that game. But I think the simplicity of the first is magical.

Suikoden feels to me like it tragically gets lost between the beloved late Super NES RPGs that came out slightly before it and the post-FF7 RPG explosion that came after it, and I think any RPG lovers who haven't played it need to give it a go. It's only $5.99 on PS3 or Vita, can't argue with a brilliant game that's cheaper than ordering a pizza

I love this franchise and I miss it so much, 2 and 5 are my favorite psx/ps2 rpgs of all time.

Thank you for making these excellent reviews. Everytime one is uploaded I get excited for the quality and intelligent work put into it. They really are great.

I wish I could forget all about it and erase all the memories so that I'd be able play these(Suikoden 1 and 2) games for the first time again. Favorite JRPG of all time! Great review! Liked and subscribed.

Really well done! I remember playing Suikoden in college, sitting on my apartment floor and relaxing after practice on my long Saturdays.

Great job Mike! You really captured the spirit of the game. One of my favorites, and so is your channel. Thanks a bunch!

Great video! I absolutely love Suikoden and your retrospective review brought back so many memories of playing this classic JRPG. The way you discussed the emotional impact of the music and the depth of the story was spot on. It's clear that you have a deep appreciation for the game and its place in the JRPG pantheon. Keep up the fantastic work!

I know I already commented. But I feel after I've watched more of your reviews and discussions videos ( the Xenogears ones in particular) , I most defiantly need to see a review of the Suikoden series ( at least Suikoden 1 through 5) . I feel your style of patient, analytical and thoughtful reviews are perfect to go over these fan faveroits. I felt the service of honest yet in-depth attention in your review for Xenogears was outstanding and prompted me to binge through many more of your content. I feel you would also enjoy many if not all of these titles in this series far more than the original ( witch has not aged well graphically). Please, please tell me you've started Suikoden II! Tell me you've started playing what many ( and myself) one of ( if not the) best ps1 era JRPG. Don't leave us hanging lol.

I’ve only just found this channel and it’s amazing. As an 80s kid, there’s nothing I love more than hearing feedback on some of the gems that are my greatest memories

Great review. And as always with you, there goes another game to the "Must play ASAP" list

I know this video is a year old, but I just wanted to say thank you for making it. The first game is so often skipped over and not discussed- most people only mention II. But Suikoden has such a powerful hold on my heart, years and years later. The music is often stuck in my head even now.

This game is my most favourite game of all time. I really got sucked into the story and the music was beautiful. Amazing.

Great review! There was always something special about this series, I think you hit a lot of the key points. I liked hearing about the creators reasoning for crafting such a unique game. The soundtrack is one of the most memorable of any game. I am looking forward to the Suikoden 2 review!

You hit the nail on the head regarding the importance of a great soundtrack to RPGs. It can really elevate the game as a whole, not just individual scenes. I wish Miki Higashino would return to games because her style is one of a kind.

Suikoden 2 will always be the BEST. I still play it from time to time. It's like a book or a movie you keep coming back to even though you know the plot by heart. Y'know?

I love this game so much. And the music you have in the background is so nostalgic... i was so attached to this game

Wonderful review. Hearing the music made me tear up because it sent me back to a happier time. I miss being carefree and content in sitting in front of my CRT TV, with little worries other than what game I would rent that weekend.

Great doc! I really love the soundtrack in Suikoden and the first game is a beautiful experience.

Great video - thanks for highlighting the soundtrack - it is one of the top 5 OSTs of all time for me.

Just beat it again yesterday. In my teens Suikoden was an amazing adventure. In my twenties it was about the horrors of war. In my thirties the game is about the beauty of friendship. No matter how old you are this game holds up and it’s a masterpiece.

Please please please do more of these. These are some of the best reviews I have seen.

Everything in your intro is Shining Force III for me. So many tracks instantly transport my mind back to my childhood. Spot-on.

Awesome video! This was my very first JRPG. I got it from HMV in the 90's because I liked the box.. it changed my life.

Wow, way to give me a kick in the feels with that intro. I miss those weekend mornings, powering up the PS with those sounds and the music of the game to follow... Deciding between my brothers who got the first turn on the game... Watching eachother play, and hoping we'd be good enough to get to that same point when our turn came around. Man.. :/

your opening monologue really hit me deep, now feel like conquering the Suikoworld again...

Great job Mike. This totally makes me want to play Suikoden now.

I wish they would make more games like this. There was so much to do in this game i loved everything about it. Recruiting people to expand the base was my fave thing to do.

great video, hope you continue through the series!

Thank you for doing this! It was awesome to experience the nostalgia. I used to play this game on the PS with my best friend into the wee hours of the morning. Unfortunately I would always fall sleep first and would lost as to the story and some of the characters when I woke up the next day.

Just hearing that opening music instantly transports me back in time...

Saw this video in the recommendations and instantly subscribed and liked the video lol. This is my favorite game series. I still rock that “forgotten days” song when you see young ted, good times

I really miss the Suikoden series. It's my favorite video game series of all time. I honestly believe that it could have been up there with FF and DQ. It was the perfect blend of any JRPG I've ever played. The turn-based combat was done exceptionally, memorable music, phenomenal storytelling and lore and was even ahead of it's time with how much replayability it had. Collecting all the 108 Stars was amazing fun and all the characters, while not having entire backgrounds, still felt fleshed out and unique. There isn't any other game like it really. A revival of the series will never happen which kind of depresses me. Suikoden 3 was my intro to the series and even still no matter how many times I play it I never get tired of it.

so happy to see you guys after so long and boy was the wait worth it this video was great you never hear too many people praising this game it is often the second one that gets all the love so it was nice to hear how good this game is and what a worth while experience it is as well

Get ready for the Suikoden 1 and 2 remaster!!!

that opening stop your gonna make me cry

Suikoden 1 and 2 changed my life. And I still love them both.

That intro... it really gets to me. The game that comes to mind, for me at least, is Chrono Trigger. I only really played it half a year ago (although I tried it years earlier) and now, every time I hear the main theme or Frog's theme I start to cry. Anyways, back to our regularly scheduled Suikoden Review...

Nice video my absolute favorite game of all time! Rented a copy from the local blockbuster when I was 9 or 10 and loved it so much that I hired it out over and over again. It was months later that I actually realized you had to go back to Kraze to start the first mission. So I just ran around the map and villages in the first area. When I finally went back to Kraze and flew on that dragon that sounds like an elephant I elated and then my love just grew as the game progressed. Better than my first girlfriend. I replay it every 2 years or so and love it every time. Surprised at the mention of Michael Moorcock as an influence. I found one of his novels in early highschool and he was my favorite author throughout my teens. I think the artwork by Yoshitaka Amano on the front cover of the Corum novel is what drew me to it in the first place. Pretty sure Michael Moorcocks universe mixed with music encouraged me to try all sorts of psychedelics... now I'm rambling. Suikoden is amazing, this review is fantastic!

Best video i’ve seen this year. It’s like you’re in my head

As someone who is interested in picking these games up before the PS3 PSN store closes, I just want to say thank you so much for being super in depth while not spoiling the game. Great video! Now, onto the next ones!

Thank you for this review, really brought back my Childhood. You captured the way these games made us feel to the T! Think I may have to to dig up my PSX in storage.

I managed to pick this game up at a second hand game store for around $15 recently, and this review makes me think its about time i get around to playing it!

I do remember sitting in my best friend Codys room and both of us taking turns going back and forth playing through our runs of the game. Man, so much nostalgia.

fantastic review! when I played this game I really enjoyed it thoroughly, it was such a quality, compact and complete jrpg experience in 20 something hours

You know how you started this video? Talking about that song that floods you with emotion and everything? The moment I heard the first note of that opening song you used gave me that feeling bud. Goosebumps and everything. My all time favorite game, and all time favorite sound track.

Nice video! Thank you for keeping us entertained. Keep it up.

Great review. Looking forward to the review of 2 so much

My favorite RPG series of all time. Amazing retrospective, loved it! You've earned yourself a subscriber my friend :)

I love these videos! Awesome job!

This Suikoden game looks pretty fun! Maybe I'll give it a try

Very interesting analysis. This WAS my first JRPG and I thought this was what they would all be like! One of my all time favourite games. BUT I have always called it Sue- koden and you call it Swee- koden. Of course I knew no-one else who played the game so I had no clue how to pronounce it. I wrote a review for it years ago and my title for it was: Suikoden is the proof that the whole IS greater than the sum of its parts. Which is pretty much what you say early on. It's nice to hear a different view of the game, but one that comes to the same conclusion about how fantastic it is. Bad luck losing your Blinking Mirror! So pleased you referenced the wonderful music of Miko Higashino. She's an amazing composer.

Thank you for another great review! Couldn't agree more about the music in the game.

I loved Suikoden so much when I was younger. It had so many great ideas that I'm sad didn't spread to other series. To this day I'm disappointed that the standard RPG party is limited to 3 or 4 characters. Also, and I can't remember if it was 1 or 2 that did this, but I thought it was a great touch how you could queue up a healing spell and, even if the enemies were cleared out before the healer acted, the heal would still go through. So many games end the battle the instant the last enemy dies and then you have to spend extra time digging through a menu to heal after the battle.

I really love this game. And I love seeing your review. Thank you for bringing my childhood memories back in a while. :)

I just got that feeling. Your first line was massively true and powerful. When i heard the first few notes i stopped paying attention to everything else going on and zoned in and got sucked back 20 years. This game HERE man....i cant believe i forgot about it. It was one of the most epic and underrated jrpgs ever. WOW. And now i remembered that I never got to play 2, it was just so rare to find at the time. Wonder if i can find it easier now? Definitely gonna play all the others again. Holy shit im still trippin. Im not even 15 seconds into the vid, gonna go watch it. Thanks in advance for doing a review on it

Great video, I hope to see you do ones for the rest of the Suikoden series as well!

I also love that this game "legally" allows you to "cheat", in a way, with stuff built in the game. For instance: save your game before playing the cups game. Each time you choose the correct option memorise which cup you needed to pick. Every time you load the game it may change, but if you just leave the minigame and enter it again it should remain the same. You can check the pattern out by playing slow first. And then just play with high bets at high speed and just re-enter the minigame every 10 turns or however many you were able to memorise. You can max out your money as soon as the first visit in Rockland. Or later on save your game just before playing dice game and just try gambling with high value bets, and just reload the game in case you lose. It's a less safe way of getting money than the cups game but much faster. And having the basically unlimited money for free that way you can always have the equipment maxed out on all 108 characters (or just those that you need to be equipped well I guess) easily, also takes worry away from costs of appraising, runes, whatever. Same principles apply to the 2nd game as well :) And I figured it all out even as a elementary school kid that barely spoke English at all, hahaha, so you have a good point about it being a good stress free entry level game... though I remember that as a child (especially a non-english-speaking one, I literally acquired English by playing RPGs on my Playstation) I got stuck a few times at some boss battles I couldn't beat. So it's still not foolproof. On the other hand, I remember sometimes exploring the map (instead of doing what I'm told - because, again, not understanding English very well) I'd go west at the beginning of the game and wander around that mountain instead of going to Rockland, and therefore be massively over buffed my characters with the incidental grinding I did that way (and it was probably one of the reasons I struck wall at the zombie dragon as a kid, as I gained traction with over buffed characters I progressed too fast and too easily and started to avoid battles too much and then when I got to that damn dragon I was actually underleveled and also with weakened health and used up healing items, etc. - so the battle was impossible and so going back from deep inside a dungeon to a nearest hotel to rest and no prior save files to load - but then again, that's a necessary bit of a learning curve with the genre I guess!). Hahaha. Fun times

Just yesterday I was thinking I should play Suikoden 1 and then replay Suikoden 2, so this could not have had better timing. I think you've convinced me to do just that.

Most people says suiko 2 is good, but this is just as great and has to be cherished the same. Very true!! The first suiko game I played was suikoden 2 at my junior high, I loved it. Then I play suikoden 1 at junior high as well. At first I don't love it as much as suikoden 2. But now.. I play it again when I'm 25, I learn so many new things.. wisdoms.. I come to love suikoden 1 very much and now I can't move on from suikoden 1. It's awesome, tear jerking, heart warming, inspiring, epic, hillarious.. gosh.. suikoden 1 and suikoden 2 and hunter x hunter is lyfe..

You are talking in depth about many of my favourite games, even terranigma! you got a new subscriber

I had no idea that Michael Moorcock’s “Eternal Champion” series provided some of the inspiration and influence for the “Suikoden” series!!! It has been one of my all-tine favorite dark fantasy book series since I was a teenager!

RIP Muruyama

Here lies a troubled man "Loneliness is a slow-acting but fatal poison" .......has stuck with me since early teens. Those gravestones in Rockland were deep.

I like returning to this and Suikoden 2 's retrospective just because. If you would ever do a podcast for any of this two, man I'm going to FREAK OUT lol

Also just to add, I love the story of the Soul Eater rune and how it gains abilities as Tir loses his loved ones, and it does it without explaining anything. Such a nice little thing that just adds to the Tragedy of Tir as well as Ted. It is probably still my favorite True Rune still because of it, not to mention the power of it!

The best game of all time! This is the Origin of my Nickname. By the way... here's a trick for war and not lose a character. If you don't know the enemies attack (by Ninja or Thieves) then only use core characters groups. Core characters can't die in battle, because they are necessary for the story! ✌😉

I have been waiting for you to cover this series since the first days of dark pixel gaming. So excited to finally see this!

I picked Suikoden up randomly one weekend as a rental - played it nonstop Friday to Sunday. Blew my mind!

Aah, here we have another series I've been planning to play but not gotten to yet. Great video.

This was really well done. Thank you.

This video is really cool and documented. Greetings from France :)

Great video. This took me back to being a 20 year old and now I have to go dig it up and replay it.

Very happy to see Legend of Mana on that list at 1:45. Thats a game that will always remain my favourite. There is just still so many magical, mystical, whimsical, dark, and emotional moving elements to that game.