The legendary JRPG series, Suikoden, returns in a duology pack enhanced with HD graphics and other quality of life improvements! Read on to learn about our first impressions of the game, its story, and gameplay.

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Suikoden 1 & 2 Remaster HD Gameplay

Turn-Based Combat, Exploration, Quests

Suikoden 1 and Suikoden 2 are JRPGs that feature turn-based combat, exploration, quests, and strategic elements. The games follow a traditional turn-based combat system with random enemy encounters, and players must strategically choose their actions per turn.

Combat makes use of unique abilities, which include regular attacks and special magic abilities. The battles involve strategizing the most effective use of these abilities. Moreover, players explore various dungeons and towns, where they can interact with NPCs, buy and sell items, gather information, and recruit characters.

Large-Scale Battles and One-on-One Combat

Army Battles, tactical large-scale battles with groups of characters called "Units." These battles involve rock-paper-scissors mechanics and different set of rules on how to attack. Players command groups of characters, called "Units," such as infantry, cavalry, and more, to gain advantages on the battlefield.

Players also engage in one-on-one combat, called Duel, as they progress through the game and encounter different characters. Duels also involve rock-paper-scissors mechanics and different set of rules on how to attack, as well as dialogue prompts that aid players in choosing the correct commands. However, players will only control one character and fight one enemy. The outcome of certain duels may affect the ending of the story.

Recruiting the Stars of Destiny

One of the main mechanics of the Suikoden games is recruiting over 100 characters, simply known as the Stars of Destiny, who each have their own unique sets of skills and magical abilities. Recruiting these characters is often tied to main quest events or side quests. Players assemble a party of up to six which includes the protagonist. Different combinations of parties can be assembled with a wide variety of characters to choose from, allowing players to perform combination attacks, called Unite Attacks, on the battlefield.

Inventory and Equipment Management

Players manage an inventory of items and equip characters with weapons, armor, and accessories like Runes, which enable them to access powerful magic or enhance stats.

Rune System

Runes are equippable items that grant magical abilities to characters. Throughout the game, players can equip characters with different runes that provide special abilities, such as offensive attacks and healing spellings. Some runes can be levelled up, while others are permanently attached to certain characters and grant them their own unique abilities.

Operating Headquarters

Players manage and operate a base called the Headquarters. The Headquarters can be upgraded as players progress through the game and recruit more characters, unlocking new facilities and services such as the Armor Shop, the base's Bath where unique animations can be unlocked, the Restaurant where a cooking minigame can be accessed, and more.

Choices and Multiple Endings

The games feature a main narrative revolving around a fictional world entrenched with politics and rebellion. There are different variations of the ending depending on the number of characters recruited and certain events in the game. Each ending provides a different perspective on the story's conclusion, and feature unique images displayed at the end of each scenario's finale.

New Features in Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster

The HD Remaster follows the classic JRPG gameplay of the original with enhancements to the game’s background illustrations to HD, updated pixel art animations and effects, new environmental sound effects, enhanced HD battle SFX, and other quality of life improvements.

To learn more about the different gameplay changes and features in Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster, please check out our articles that detailing them, linked below!

Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster Story

Suikoden 1 Plot

The story of Suikoden 1 follows the son of General McDohl, where a series of events lead to him becoming the head of the Liberation Army against the tyrant-led empire. To shape the course of history, the 108 stars of Destiny must gather together.

Suikoden 2 Plot

Suikoden 2 follows the story of two best friends who are members of the Unicorn Youth Brigade, a young military troop participating in a long border dispute between the Highland Kingdom and the City-States of Jowston. While a truce agreement was signed between both forces, little did they know it was only the beginning to stoke the fires of war yet again…

Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster Related Guides

Suikoden 1 Guides

Suikoden 1 Wiki
Suikoden 1
Suikoden 1 Recommended Guides
List of All Shops	List of All Unite Attacks
Weapon Range Guide	Army Battle Guide
Best Characters Tier List

Suikoden 2 Guides

Suikoden 2 Wiki
Suikoden 2
Suikoden 2 Recommended Guides
Best Characters Tier List	Best Party Setup
Money Farming Guide	EXP Farming Guide
Guardian Deity Rewards	List of All Shops
Missables Guide	How to Recruit Suikoden 1 Hero
List of All Unite Attacks

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Michael Gerra-Clarin

Resident fighting game nerd, avid FFXIV fan, and enjoyer of mostly anything gaming. He is currently addicted to gambling in TFT and dying to Light Rampant in Futures Rewritten Ultimate.