This is just a reminder to all you rpg fans that the fourth installment of one of the most beloved rpg series, Suikoden, arrives in stores this week. Suikoden IV, unlike the games before it, isn't so much as a sequel in terms of timeline in the history of Suikoden but a prequel to the first Suikoden taking place 100 years before the first Suikoden. This is a different step in direction. So those hoping to see McDhol make an appearance again will be disappointed as we all know you were when he didn't make an appearance in Suikoden III. It will be interesting to see how the core fans of the series will receive this game. It's no secret that Suikoden III was a let down for them compare to Suikoden I and Suikoden II. This is what happens when you don't have Flik and Viktor in the game. The suggested retail price of Suikoden IV is $39.99. Get your copy quick before all copies are sold out at your local gaming store.

I'm jealous. Bloody jealous. Because my Japanese version one is spoilt. >.< My fault actually, but that doesn't make me happier. Am wondering, this is the English version, right?

Don't think it's a big spoiler but Ted makes an appearance in Suikoden IV ^^ He's cute in the teddy bear so of way (thus the name?). Also not a big spoiler, Suikoden IV takes place mostly on ships. War battles are fought using the ships. Yet another not that big a spoiler, there's voice acting, though I'm not very certain that English version has it too.

Well I'm sorry to report that Suikoden IV is even worse in the field of returning characters. Only 4 of them make an appearance in this game, and 3 are playable.

I'm hoping Suikoden IV is going to do well, but there are already some negativity floating around about lack of plot and the game being too short.
I'd still say it's worth playing if you are a Suikoden fan.

Yeah, I kind of have been hearing the same thing. It's a good RPG, but not as a great sequel to the Suikoden games, which is a bit disspointing. Despite that, I still want to play anything that is part of the Suikoden story.

Heh, and personally I thought Suikoden III held up pretty well to the rest of the Suikoden series. Other then a few problems with the battle system I loved just about everything else about it.

Yep. I am glad. My firiend is going to get it for sure, and I will as well as soon as I get money to spare.

Suikoden is an excellent series. IMO, it beats the $H!+ out of FF.
I will definitely look forward to getting this. Thanks Chi san!

ohmygoodness, thats such hawtt news. :]

I want this game pretty badly...in fact I was saving up for it for a while. o_O; Only got $30 in the end, but now that its so exspensive and the whole boom for it....I actually think I might wait it out. Haven't heard much about it yet, but I'm sure it won't disappoint me when I *do* get it.

Too bad I Heard Apple isn't in it...? ;-;

I'm pretty much frozen in the series considering I still need to obtain Suikoden 2 to advance in this series. Oh, I also need to finish up Suikoden 1 still. I have been putting that off for sometime now. I'll be this title up when it's cheaper.

Good to see Suikoden 4 been released, and I doubt Suikoden IV will be sold out in stores.

I will wait for this game to drop in price considerably before buying it. Returning players? Nah don't bother me, just needs to retain the same suikoden-like elements. And Eva, give up on looking for Suikoden II, its no longer being produced, and IF...IF you find it, it might be for over 100$.

TT.TT I'm trying to find stores that sell the Jap version now... Like Sel said, our disc was scratched and we are unable to play it now.

Anyway, spoilers and feedback from the game.

It is kind of interesting with one different element in the game from the others. However, it went nowhere near Suikoden II.

*Spoilers*

The difference in this game from the others is mainly in the land formation.

Previously in Suikoden I, II and III, the castles were all on land and travel is by foot. Now, our 'castle' is one big ship which had literally barged out of a cave during one of the wars. And perhaps the only good thing about it is the fact that we are in the castle at least 75% of the time. Bad thing, the ship travels slow.

Also, in this game, only a half or less of the characters are playable(fightable) and some of the games are almost ridiculous. E.g. Coin flipping and top spinning, both of which i don't like mainly because there isn't much you can do to win those games, and the explanations are difficult to read in jap.

Story plot, isn't really much. You're basically maneuvering a guy who uses double knives as his weapons. In the beginning him and his best friend, Snowe, are in charge of a ship, and are attacked by pirates. The chance of victory for that battle isn't really high. (Wars are fought in ships)

Many many scenes and events later, they are attacked again by the pirates. The leader of them(i think) will be killed by your character. He attempts to kill all on the ship by using a skill using the punishment rune. Somehow, your character survives and the leader of the pirates dies from the usage of the skill. The punishment is then automatically transferred to the the captain of your character.

Later, during an attack on your starting city(i forgot the name), the captain accidentally activates the skill that the leader of the pirates used. The enemies are obliterated and the rune transfers itself onto your character.

He is accused of killing his captain, who smothered into ashes shortly after his death, and sent to exile. Two out of four of his friends will follow him in secret and somehow they would end up with lots of crisis and in the end, on an island. If i didn't remember wrongly, the characters will also be able to meet one of your enemies in the war, Troyl, for the first time.

I can't remember much after that, but a war will cause you to have to escape in your castle. You go about liberating countries after that.

Characters' design are kind of alright, and there is actually a character that you have to *fish* for.

Overall, alright but not as good as Suikoden II.

*End spoilers*

Hmm. i got the game and i started it (however i want to finish KOTOR before i start any other RPGs ori get the storys mixed lol) but i just couldn't resist it. so i started a game for fun, to see what it's like.
the graphics are neh... the way our main character runs looks liek he has a stick placed where no stick should go. and i'm not too sure what i think about the "war" mode, or pirate ship battles. i'm WAAAAY to early in the game to give a proper opinion on it though but so far i'm not very impressed.
the first and second suikoden games gave the series a great name but unless they make a really good one like the older ones i don't know if they'll be big sellers for much longer. EB was totally sold out and it was crazy insane the day that it came out. and i set one aside for myself but now that i'm looking at it i think "why did so many people want it? i must be missing something" lol
i also got the art book for it and was dissappointed to see the lack of familiar faces i want flik back! ><
but hopefully it will get better as i get futher into the game. i'm looking forward to getting started on it again. curiousity is killin me.

Hmmm been a long wait for this. Anyway the dialogue is weird. Whenever a voice dialogue activates, all other characters but you talk. The battle system is decent to say at least, but I still miss the original six man formation. The story line seems intriguing for the most part, but I haven't gotten that far yet. The music isn't what I expected, and I was hoping to load my Suikoden III data into this. Oh well, at least I can look forward to meeting Ted. I wonder if I'll get the chance to hear his voice?

Yes, get it quick before it runs out and another shipment is sent.

I'm very interested in this one, I absolutely loved the first two on the PS1 and I found them to be some of the more solid RPGs out on the market. Sadly I sold both copies awhile back for a bag or two, and definitely regret that decision as they're worth quite a bit now.

I must get a PS2 though, I have no way of playing this great series.

Actually the downfall for the Suikoden series is they make so little copies. You really DO have to get them quick, unless that changed with Suikoden 4.. I remember back with Suikoden 3 you couldn't find a brand new copy anywhere after maybe 3 or 4 months.. So that's the one downfall.

It was a good series in my opinion. I wasn't very big on the ending however, I did enjoy the game as a whole.

For all you Suikoden fans I say this:

Don't compare it to your favorite Suikoden. If you do you WILL be disappointed. Keep an open mind when you first hit the power. It is part of a series, not a replica of your favorite game..

Thats it.. rant off.

or think it like this

be lucky you had Suikoden III and IV

That as well some places won't even be recieving shipment on it .. Poor guys/gals

its a nice one though. the new Rush option is preety helpful. but i miss the old 6 formation team. plus the support one will be better. there is no cook off mini game. i miss my hai yo,and Bright Shield rune. Hope that Suikoden 5 will gather those Rune.

Actually the Rush system won quite a few of the smaller battles for me in one move.. I liked the way it was limited to every 6 battles too. That way it couldn't be overused. It was an interesting new feature for the Suikoden series