Suikoden

Categories: Suikoden

English Genso Suikoden
Kanji 幻想 水滸伝
Kana げんそう すいこでん
Rōmaji gensō suikoden

Suikoden (Japanese: Genso Suikoden, 幻想水滸伝), is a Japanese RPG series created by Konami:

Contents

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Current Installations

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Coming Installations

  • Suikoden Tactics (Playstation 2: November, 2005, North America)
  • Genso Suikoden V (Playstation 2: February 23, 2006, Japan)
  • Suikoden I and II (PSP: Release Date Unknown, Japan) [1]

Note: Suikoden Tactics is the English title for the Japanese Rhapsodia.

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Characteristics

The games are based loosely on a classical Chinese novel, Shui Hu Zhuan (Outlaws of the Marsh), by Shi Nai'an. They take the idea of the "108 Stars of Destiny" from this novel, and the first game's story and characters are also very loosely based on the novel. The storylines of the first three games are based around revolution, politics, intrigue, and the capacity of an extraordinary, good-hearted hero to overcome any struggle with the right amount of allies and willpower.

The games are unique within the RPG genre, as they allow dozens of playable characters — most of the 108 Stars of Destiny in each game can be in the playable party. It does use features standard to most RPGs, such as random overworld & dungeon battles, saving the game at inns, a turn-based combat system in which you input the commands via command menu, but also introduces several unusual features such as turn-based strategic pitched battles as well as one-on-one battles, a headquarters that grows as the story progresses (and only develops fully if obscure characters are recruited) and several mini-games and side quests. Another unique aspect of Suikoden is that the entire series takes place within the same world and the histories are connected; so much so that some characters appear in more than one installation. Also, saved game data can be transferred from Suikoden 1 to Suikoden 2 and Suikoden 2 to Suikoden 3 (Suikogaiden Vol.1 can also receive data from Suikoden 2, and is transferrable to Suikogaiden Vol.2, but only in Japan).

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Plot Elements

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The 27 True Runes

Being the backbone of the Suikoden World that allows the existence of the universe, True Runes are the gods of the Suikoden world. Wholly sentient with its own will, each True Rune holds immeasurable power and has been the cause of many wars in the past. True Runes are often sought by those in power due to its power of granting agelessness to its bearer. All bearers of True Runes stop aging and become immune to disease and all other natural causes of death, although they could still die from physical causes, such as accidents or murder.

No one knows for certain where True Runes came from, but legend tells that the 27 True Runes were created when the brothers, "Sword" and "Shield" fought against each other, shattering itself to form heaven and earth, with the 27 jewels adorning them became the True Runes.

All True Runes represent a certain power, and bring both benefits and curses to its bearer, such as immortality, which could be a great benefit and a great curse. Furthermore, a True Rune's sentience, or ego, could often overwhelm novice bearers who do not know how to dominate True Runes. This often results in the reversal of the "master-servant" relationship, reducing a True Rune's bearer into a mere vessel that the True Rune controls to achieve its own purposes.

All True Runes hold a purpose, and this purpose tends to be pursued with no moral consideration due to the fact that True Runes are forces of nature. True Runes may cause its bearer to save lives, but also may force its bearer to kill thousands of people against the bearer's will if it serves the rune's purpose.

True Runes could be quite fickle, and could abandon its bearer in favor of another, and when its bearer dies, it tends to vanish and remain hidden (within the earth or at the bottom of the ocean) until it feels like reappearing. One person can not bear more than one True Rune, but it is said that a secret exists that allows one person to bear more than one True Rune.

Hikusaak, the High Priest of the Kingdom of Harmonia and bearer of the Circle Rune, is rumored to have the goal of acquiring and controlling all 27 True Runes for the purpose of creating a world of true order. To circumvent the limitation of one True Rune per bearer, Hikusaak issued the creation of clones of himself, each one to bear one True Rune and be loyal to Hikusaak unto death. The Harmonian Bishops Luc and Sasarai are two such clones.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

List of True Runes (In the order of Name: Bearer):

  • Beast Rune: The Blight Family
  • Rune of the Beginning
    • Bright Shield Rune: Genkaku → Hero of Suikoden 2 (Riou according to the novelization)
    • Black Sword Rune: Han Cunningham → Jowy Atreides/Blight
  • Rune of Change: Leader of the Sindar
  • Circle Rune: Hikusaak
  • Rune of Dawn: Unknown
  • Rune of Dusk: Unknown
  • Dragon Rune: Joshua Levenheit → Milia
  • Gate Rune
    • Front Gate Rune: Windy
    • Back Gate Rune: Leknaat
  • Hachifusa (Eightfold) Rune: Yuber.
  • Rune of Life and Death (aka Souleater): Ted's Grandpa → Ted → Mist Ship Captain → Ted → Hero of Suikoden 1(Tir McDohl according to the novelization)
  • Moon Rune (aka Blue Moon Rune): Sierra Mikain → Blue Moon Village → Neclord → Sierra Mikain
  • Night Rune: Star Dragon Sword (Viktor → Edge)
  • Rune of Punishment: Queen of Obel → Unknown → Graham Cray → Cray's Son → Unknown → Rakghi's Father → Unknown → Steele → Brandeau → Glen Cott → Hero of Suikoden 4 (Lazlo according to the novelization)
  • Sovereign Rune: Dragon King Sword (Barbarosa Rugner)
  • Sun Rune: Arshetat Falenas
  • True Fire Rune: Flame Champion → Hugo (according to the comics)
  • True Water Rune: Wyatt Lightfellow → Chris Lightfellow (according to the comics)
  • True Lightning Rune: Geddoe (according to the comics)
  • True Earth Rune: Sasarai
  • True Wind Rune: Luc
Spoilers end here.
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Main Characters

A list of the main characters in the series so far. The names given below are according to information which was revealed in the games or authorized by the creators through official novelizations. The names are in order from Suikoden 1-5.

  • 1: Tir McDohl (According to the novelization)
  • 2: Riou
  • 3: Hugo, Geddoe, Chris Lightfellow, and Thomas
  • 4: Lazlo en Kuldes. (The name was given to him by citizens of Razril in the official novel.)
  • 5: Unknown

Note: These names (with the exception of 3's) are exclusive to the novelisations, and such they do not appear elsewhere in the series.

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Development Team

The Suikoden series was created, written, produced, and overseen by Yoshitaka Murayama, who left Konami near the end of Suikoden III's development. Noritada Matsukawa took over as Senior Director of Suikoden III following Murayama's departure. Suikoden IV was directed by Matsukawa as well but was produced by Junko Kawano, who was the chief designer in Suikoden 1.

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Publications & Adaptations

Countless publications, such as the Suikoden World Guide and Suikoden Encyclopedia exist for Suikoden, but these mostly only exist in Japanese. Suikoden and Suikoden II have novel adaptations (both written by Shinjiro Hori), which were only released in Japan, while Suikoden III was adapted into a manga (by Aki Shimizu) which was released on a small scale in English markets by Tokyopop.

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External links


Suikoden series
Suikoden | Suikoden II | Suikoden III | Suikoden IV | Suikoden V
Spinoffs and related games
Genso Suikogaiden Vol. 1 | Genso Suikogaiden Vol. 2 | Suikoden Tactics
Characters
108 Stars of Destiny
ja:幻想水滸伝

sv:Suikoden