Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster – Everything You Need to Know

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Konami’s gradual comeback to its core gaming roots has been off to a strong start, thanks in part to the successful remake of the classic game Silent Hill 2. The company has several other projects lined up as well. Among them is the beloved but long-idle franchise, Suikoden, which is set to make its return. Following a slight delay, the Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster is soon to be released, promising to bring the original RPG classics to current platforms with enhanced and remastered visuals. In anticipation of this upcoming launch, we’re going to discuss some crucial details about the two games themselves, as well as what you can expect from their remasters, starting with the latter.

GRAPHICAL UPGRADES

The remastered versions of Suikoden 1 and 2 are undoubtedly going to showcase visual improvements, given that they’re remasters. You can clearly see the difference between the original and enhanced versions. Notably, the backdrops and environments have been reworked, lighting has been improved, and there are additional features as well. Fortunately, it appears that the classic 16-bit pixel art style typical of Suikoden will still be present, despite these graphical upgrades.

MORE GRAPHICAL UPGRADES

Apart from the eye-catching visual enhancements mentioned earlier, the Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster is set to introduce other significant changes too. For one, you can anticipate fresh character portraits, skillfully crafted by Suikoden veteran Junko Kawano, who was involved in both original games. Furthermore, Konami hints at improved battle effects, promising more thrilling combat sequences (fingers crossed).

AUDIO IMPROVEMENTS

The remaster will follow a similar path when it comes to improving audio quality. The music has been kept true to its original form for fans to recognize, but each sound effect has received an enhancement to make the gaming experience more immersive. Additionally, you’ll notice some fresh sounds and effects added, such as footsteps.

UI IMPROVEMENTS

Naturally, considering how long it’s been since the initial releases, the Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster will likely introduce several enhancements designed to improve your gaming experience. The most significant change is an updated user interface in both games. This isn’t just a facelift; it includes fresh, modern designs. Additionally, features like changing equipment have been refined to ensure smoother gameplay.

QoL UPGRADES

As a gamer diving into the Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster, here’s what I’m excited about:

First off, the battles can now be fast-forwarded, making long fights less tedious. And for those quick moments when you want to move around swiftly, a simple button press will do the trick.

Another handy feature is the new conversation log, which keeps track of all chats, making it easier to follow along in complex storylines. Not to forget, the autosave functionality that ensures your progress is safe and sound.

In essence, Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster is delivering all the quality-of-life improvements you’d hope for in a remaster of games nearly three decades old.

SUIKODEN 1 STORY DETAILS

How about we momentarily halt our discussion on remastering and instead delve into the original games themselves. For those who might not be familiar, Suikoden 1 is inspired by the ancient Chinese novel Water Margin, and it revolves around a corrupt empire, known as the Scarlet Moon Empire. The players take on the role of a General’s son, embarking on a journey to overthrow the current regime and bring tranquility back to the kingdom.

SUIKODEN 2 STORY DETAILS

Three years after the events of the initial game, Suikoden 2 finds us in the same world, but delving into a fresh conflict. Instead of the previous struggle, armies from the Kingdom of Highland are now invading the City-States of Jowston. In this tumultuous scenario, you assume the role of the son who was adopted by the hero who once defended and rescued the City-States from Highland in a past war. A key component of the narrative revolves around a potent and enigmatic rune that could potentially alter the outcome of the ongoing war.

COMBAT

The Suikoden games are indeed traditional Role-Playing Games, and that includes turn-based fighting. Just as expected, the makeup of your party significantly matters, with characters having varying attack ranges. In every fight, enemies line up in front of you in two rows, and whether a member of your party can attack one row or the other depends on their range: short, medium, or long.

MORE COMBAT DETAILS

Beyond wielding diverse melee and distant combat tools (affecting the reach they cover), characters will also have the ability to harness magic via runes. Utilizing runes involves spell slots, so each character has a unique number based on their magical aptitude, preventing excessive use of magical attacks and abilities.

DUELS

Besides the standard fights, both Suikoden 1 and 2 incorporate unique battle modes called duels where two characters square off directly. Each character can perform three distinct actions, with each one being effective against a certain action but weak against another. This rock-paper-scissors mechanism determines who inflicts more damage. Paying close attention to the enemies’ movements is crucial for success in duels as they often give hints about their actions beforehand.

WAR BATTLES

In my gaming adventures, I’ve discovered an intriguing combat mode called “war battles.” These aren’t your typical skirmishes; they’re grand-scale conflicts, as the name implies. Much like duels, the results are decided by a rock-paper-scissors mechanic. However, in the captivating world of Suikoden 2, war battles undergo a significant transformation, morphing into strategic grid-based combats where each unit and character brings unique advantages and bonuses to the fight. But

BUILDING AN ARMY

At the core of both Suikoden 1 and Suikoden 2 lies the mission to gather the 108 Stars of Destiny, a powerful army consisting of 108 legendary figures who have the ability to alter the world’s future. As you journey across the globe, encountering new individuals and incorporating them into your forces forms the essence of the gameplay. While many of your recruits can join you in combat, a significant number prove valuable in entirely different aspects.

HEADQUARTERS

In both Suikoden 1 and 2, players are given the responsibility of managing a headquarters, which in reality is an entire castle. As new characters join your team, they contribute to improving your base by setting up various facilities. Building and managing your base is one of the key features that makes Suikoden stand out. Whether you’re a newcomer or a returning fan, there’s plenty to look forward to as you oversee your castle and make it even more impressive.

PC REQUIREMENTS

It’s not surprising that the system requirements for the HD Remaster of Suikoden 1 and 2 on PC are relatively modest given their ages (30 and 27 years old). At a minimum, players will need a 3.30Ghz Intel Core i5-4440 processor, an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card, 8 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of free storage space. However, the game has not been given a Steam Deck Verified tag yet, but hopefully that will change soon. On a positive note, it does currently have a Playable tag for portable devices like the Steam Deck.

SWITCH FILE SIZE

The file size for the HD Remastered versions of Suikoden 1 and 2 on the Nintendo Switch will be approximately 6.8 GB. Compared to other platforms, this is smaller, which is typically the case with games on the Nintendo Switch.

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2025-02-23 21:19