Suikoden to Suikoden 2
 

Is it really necessary to finish Suikoden 1 in order to fully understand Suikoden 2? I read in reviews that it is a true sequel so the storylines are directly connected. The thing is, I've tried to play Suikoden 1 three times now and each time I get bored about 7 hours into it. I don't know why, but it just gets really old really quick. A friend of mine says Suikoden 2 is tons better than 1 so I really want to give it a try, but I don't know if I should play it before finishing the first one. Should I just go read a plot synopsis for 1 and play 2? Blargh

Suiko I some characters carry over into Suiko II.

If you get bored with Suiko I, I'm guessing it was a little before your time or something? No offense, but folks who chimed into RPGs around FFVII or FFX refuse to touch anything prior to it.

Suiko I is very good. Suiko II is leaps and bounds better simply because they focus a little more on character development. Flik & Victor (two heroes from Suiko I) are big-time main characters in Suiko I. If you play the first from beginning to end, there is continuation data that opens up some storyline sequences.

But Suiko II itself is over $100 on most places. Hope you have the ability to burn and run a game.

Bottom-line advice? Toughen it out through Suiko I. Dropping an RPG 7 hours into it might be a little too quick at times...

But Grandia III deserved it, Tails!!! :(

Alright I'll give it a try. It actually wan't before my time. My first RPG was Chrono Trigger so I'm not a true RPG veteran in hardcore RPG fans' eyes, but I was playing RPGs before Suikoden came out. I don't know why I haven't been able to finish this one though. I'll keep at it though since I've heard it's not even that long (20 hours maybe? If I don't go searching for all 108 stars). Anyways, thanks for the input.

And I have no problem acquiring the games since my friend who's a die hard Suikoden fan has them so he just lets me borrow.

If you want all the goodies and such from Suiko II unlocked, get all 108 stars and leave a save file before you enter the final town on foot (last place where the last boss is). You need to save at that point for the save data to be good in #2.

Oh. Good. You're not some FFVII Cloud-whore ;D You will enjoy Suiko II, though =) Just get through #1. It's quite good if you get further into it.

It's 20 hours with all 108 characters acquired. And your friend must really trust you to let you borrow his Suikodens. But yeah, in my first attempt to play through Suikoden {back in like 99 maybe}, I stopped at around the six hour mark, then came back to it a couple months later and got into it and seriously enjoyed it greatly.

I've always thought the Suikoden series was good enough at providing enough good swerves in the storylines that were good enough at keeping them from getting boring. The pacing is generally excellent.

Just curious: At what point were you when you stopped Suikoden 1?

I really dunno if someone who didn't care for the original Suikoden would really like 2 a great deal. Seven hours into 1 a lot of stuff happens...Seven hours into 2, you're JUST getting to the start of the good part(s). Both games are at their strongest from the mid-point and on, IMO.

But as for storylines, the only real thing you'd have to worry about from skipping 1 and going to 2 are some recurring characters and an event that happens late in the game to tie the two games together.

I am at the point where I'm supposed to find Liukan (sp?). I just got the old man to give me the engine for my boat so that I can get passed the river rapids in the world map.

Uh. If you don't like Suikoden 1, I don't see how you'd enjoy Suikoden 2 all that much. I mean, sure, it is better all around, but it's pretty much the same "game."

Anyway. I started with Suikoden 2. It's only a sequel in the sense that the events take place after the first one, so it's not like because of something that happened before, Suikoden 2 happened.

To be fair, Suikoden 2 is a vastly superior game to 1. Basically it's the first game, but with most of the sucky parts ironed out. I could see how someone would find the first game a little boring. The followup in Suikoden 2 is worth the trip, though.

Spike, a suggestion? Hit Gamefaqs for a guide to the 108 stars. There's a few that are perilously easy to miss if you don't know how to get them. If you're not past that part yet, make sure to upgrade the hell out of Parn's weapon.

It gets better after this. For the first time playing it, you are bored for several hours. I'll admit it--and I'm a huge fan. But, I bought my game, and I was going to finish it. And I was glad I did. The story picks up right after this.

Merged the thread asking the question with the main Suikoden Club thread.

Just finished Suikoden V last night and got the same ending others in the thread got when they didn't have all 108.

This is definitely the best Suikoden I have played since the second one, and at the same time it's in a league of its own that doesn't compete with 2 since they both have certain qualities and scenes that will always stand out in my mind. Definitely among my top favorites in the Suikoden series. I'm looking forward to playing through it again :)

Finished Suikoden V a few nights ago.

It's been a long time since I saw an ending that made me cry...and this was the HAPPY, all living 108 S.o.D. ending.

I doubt I've enjoyed an RPG this much in YEARS.

All right, fine. I fucking buckled. I hope you're all happy. I now own Tactics and V and I'll be tearing into them tomorrow. These better be substantially stronger games than III and IV or I'll cut all your balls (or respective lady bits) off.

Tactics is just a Suikoden IV spin off and it is better than Suikoden IV. You shall not be dissappointed. Suikoden V may come off like a mere suikoden II rip off but just ignore the references. The game outshines all the suikoden games in my opinion for a reason that sticks out - the amazing line-up of recruitable characters.

Enjoy.

The character designs in V look exquisite. And I'll take those beavers over a bunch of lousy fucking ducks any day.

This is pretty much blasphemy, but whatever.

Suikoden V was pretty great, although it's marred by some technical issues (load times, clunky-ass menus). The recruiting is as obscure as ever, though, probably worse than 1 and 2 in that regard.

Agreed. I thought that with some of those characters where you need to bug them about 5 times before they join you that I instead had to build up a sort of friendly rep with them first before they'd decide to join me. So I missed some characters on my first playthrough just because I wasn't a nagging, annoying little brat.

The ducks wore Kaiser helmets and waddled. If you can't understand why that is lame, you're a mental fucking defective.

Wow, sounds like you're taking this too seriously. I like Sgt. Joe. I think he turned out to be a solid mentor character in spite of his ridiculous appearance. That's all.

Not really. I make a point of not using the term "mental defective" in serious discussions. Also, I could never stay mad at someone with that avatar.

And you did? Really? I found Joe so irritating. Then again, I flat out hated III.

Fair enough.

I'm guessing that you really liked the first two and then soured on the series as it went on? Dunno how you'd feel about V if so. It does have technical issues like loading times and a bad menu system, but it also has a much stronger story than the others.

See, my problem with III and IV WAS the story. I just felt they really dropped off in terms of quality.

There is nothing lame about Kaiser helmuts, dipsuck.

Also, how ELSE is a duck going to walk? He certainly can't trot.

Has anyone recruited all 108 SoD's in any of the Suikoden's without the use of a guide? I know that I haven't. Suikoden I and IV I remember being the most plausible in terms of accomplishing.

Suikoden V however I do not believe that any one person could manage it. :) Wayyy too many obscurities and stricter windows of opportunity for recruitments.