The Most Underrated JRPG of the ’90s Has the Best Story in Gaming History

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The 1990s are still considered a peak time for Japanese role-playing games, or JRPGs. Developers for both the Super Nintendo and PlayStation 1 created some of the most beloved games ever made. While the Final Fantasy series was incredibly popular and successful, many other fantastic, but less famous, JRPG franchises also released classic titles that remain enjoyable today.

The Suikoden series from Konami was truly one of a kind. While the first game was great, Suikoden II, released in 1999, was even better. However, it wasn’t made in large quantities, making it hard to find. Plus, with the arrival of the PlayStation 2, many gamers lost interest in older PlayStation 1 titles. That’s a shame, because those who played it consider this hidden JRPG gem to have one of the greatest stories in video game history.

Suikoden II Builds On An Already Great Foundation

The first Suikoden game came about when Konami asked Junko Kawano and Yoshitaka Murayama to create a role-playing game for the new Sony PlayStation. They wanted to make an RPG that could stand alongside the best games of the time, and the result was a truly unique title. Its combat system was particularly complex, featuring three different styles: traditional turn-based battles, individual duels, and massive wars. The story focused on political themes, following the journey of a general’s son who is forced to go into hiding to liberate his country from a tyrannical leader.

While the original Suikoden was excellent, Suikoden II was a significant step up, particularly in its storytelling. The first game had a simple good-versus-evil plot, but the sequel offered a much more nuanced and complex narrative. It immediately draws players into a war between the City-States of Jowston and the Kingdom of Highland. This time, you don’t play as a general’s son, but as Riou, a young soldier alongside his friend Jowy. Their lives are turned upside down when their entire unit is betrayed and killed, providing Highland with a reason to invade Jowston.

After being forced to run, Riou and Jowy join a mercenary group connected to the Jowston Alliance. Because Suikoden II shares a world with the original game, familiar faces like Viktor and Flik appear as leaders within this group. Their return adds depth to the story as we meet the new main characters. Just when things seem settled, Riou and Jowy are thrown into another challenge with the arrival of the game’s primary antagonist.

Suikoden II Features A Legendary Villain

One of the things that makes Suikoden II so unforgettable is its compelling villain. Luca Blight, a prince from the Kingdom of Highland, drives much of the game’s story forward. He’s responsible for the Highland army destroying its own young soldiers, which provides an excuse to attack the City States of Jowston. Blight is ruthless, wiping out entire villages and even killing his own father when he becomes an obstacle.

Luca Blight is a fantastic villain, the type often missing in role-playing games. He’s incredibly dramatic and over-the-top in everything he does, which makes him really stand out. His single-minded goal is to destroy the City-States of Jowston, and he’s shown to be completely ruthless in pursuing it.

I have to admit, even though Luca does some terrible things, I think there’s a reason behind it all. It turns out he had a really rough childhood. When he was young, his family was attacked by soldiers, and while his dad managed to get away, Luca was forced to watch as his mother was hurt and killed. It completely broke him and filled him with so much hatred – it’s awful, but it explains a lot about why he is the way he is.

Okay, so even after we finally beat Luca’s forces with the Jowston Alliance, Blight is still a huge problem! Honestly, fighting him was one of the hardest parts of the game. It wasn’t just one battle, either – we had to fight him three separate times with different groups just to wear him down. Then, even after all that, Riou had to face him alone in a final duel to really finish him off. But get this – even after we defeated Blight, the game wasn’t over! It turns out that fight was just the halfway point, which was totally unexpected!

Suikoden II’s Story Is Still About More Than Just One Villain

Many games would consider Luca Blight a fantastic villain – he’s remained popular with Suikoden fans for years. But Suikoden II didn’t want a simple story of good versus evil. After Blight is defeated, the game reveals its true antagonist: Jowy, a friend from Riou’s past.

During a previous mission with the Jowston Alliance, Jowy and Riou became separated, and Jowy was captured. While it appeared he escaped, it was later discovered he’d betrayed the Alliance, even killing one of its leaders. After this, Jowy allied himself with the Kingdom of Highland, quickly becoming a trusted advisor and close associate of Luca Blight.

Although Blight is primarily focused on getting revenge against the City-States, Jowy is secretly planning his own moves. He ultimately betrays Blight, leading to Blight’s death at the hands of Riou and the New State Army. Jowy then marries Blight’s sister, Jillia, and becomes the King of Highland. However, instead of working towards peace, Jowy realizes that the long-standing conflict between Highland and Jowston is too deeply rooted to ever be fully resolved.

Suikoden II stands out for its complex story, refusing to offer simple resolutions. It shows that lasting peace is difficult to achieve, especially when old wounds between countries run deep. Jowy, despite his regrets, understands that uniting the nations is the only way to move forward. However, the fate of Jowston and Highland is intertwined with the strained friendship between Riou and Jowy. The game cleverly focuses the entire conflict on this personal connection, allowing players to stay engaged with the story even if they aren’t fully following the political details.

Although Jowston and Highland always meet the same fate, the outcome of Riou and Jowy’s friendship varies based on the player’s choices. Like all Suikoden games, Suikoden II centers around recruiting all 108 Stars of Destiny, but it also challenges players to delve into the game’s story to unlock the best possible ending. Alternatively, players can simply choose to end the game without pursuing that optimal conclusion.

As a huge fan, I always thought Suikoden II was something special – a truly innovative game that, sadly, didn’t get the attention it deserved when it first came out. But it’s amazing to see Konami is really bringing Suikoden back! They released a gorgeous remaster of the original games in 2025 with Suikoden I & II HD Remaster, and now they’ve even announced an anime adaptation of Suikoden II made by their own animation studio! I really hope, with both the remastered game and the new anime, this incredible, but often overlooked, JRPG story finally gets the massive fanbase it deserves.

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2025-11-06 21:39