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Most memorable RPG of the year

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 16
Date: December 06, 1999
Author: Amazon User

After being thoroughly disappointed with supposed RPG of the year, Final Fantasy 8, I turned to Suikoden 2 , a sequel to Suikoden which I played few years back, hoping this underdog had something up its sleeve to restore my faith in RPGs. This game did not let me down.

Even though it didn't have anything extraordinary up its sleeve, it had every bare essentials that makes a classic RPG. The graphics, for example, may appear simple and not as impressive as some other games, its sheer charisma is more than enough to put anyone under the its spell.

However, what impressed me the most, as did its predecessor, was the intriguing storyline. Right off the start, the story takes off and draws the player into the world of friendship, loyalty, love, and of course, betrayal. I was so surprised at how it was able to draw me in so quickly and made me want to keep on going and see what twists and turns awaited for me. I won't even deny that I had to hold my breath on many occasions because it was so emotional and moving.

Another great thing about Suikoden 2 is the 108 characters. Despite the large number, they all have identifiable personalities and characteristics, making it lots of fun to play them all. It does take time to explore them all, but I highly recommend to do so.

This is a truly memorable RPG, and worthy successor to the original. Whether you've played the original or not, do not miss this game.

a masterpiece of minimal esthetics and balanced gameplay

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 13
Date: May 20, 2000
Author: Amazon User

great plot, great characters (unlike the first suikoden's generic collection), great music (a wonderful combination of eastern themes and renaissance and other early western harmonies), incredible graphics (i really like the tile-based graphics which unlike the first suikoden game really "blend" together beautifully and unlike all these recent pre-rendered rpgs are very solid and exploration-friendly)

most importantly, this game has the most carefully thought out and well-designed battle system, magic system, item system, party system, and even equipment system (one of the few rpgs where a limited inventory system really works). simply a joy to play, nonlinear rpg fun at it's very best. there is also such a warm and delicately crafted feel to the game (the birds that fly off when you walk by them in the first town, the simple descriptions of every single pot and barrel (pot of salted fish, pot of soy sauce, empty barrel, pot of boiling potatoes etc, etc :))). this game was designed with alot of careful thought and it really shows. you can spend hours and hours wandering around from town to town trading goods (what a great idea it was to add this gameplay mechanic to an rpg!) and talking to the townsfolk finding things to do (there are innummerable side quests) or new characters to join your massive party. in short, this is the perfect rpg. in a sea of mediocre rpgs for the playstation, this one really stands out.

My Favorite Game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: March 15, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I'm not kidding as far as the title to my review. The "big name" reviewers have been so off when it comes to the Suikoden series - including the editorial reviewers right here on Amazon. Just read the "customer reviews". We all love it! Why aren't the "real" reviewers responding?

Suikoden is just like Final Fantasy (My second favorite series) except better. It's easier to play, has more lovable characters, has a simpler battle system, a more exciting plot, and a lot more options about how to spend your time. In this game, you will sincerely grow attached to the characters - and when one dies, you will weep. (OK, only if you're as sentimental as I am.) There are lots of games within the game - like tossing dice or going fishing or entering cooking contests. You don't have to do that stuff, but if you think it's fun, it's there for the taking.

You can hurry through the game, just trying as hard as you can to win it, or you can choose to slow down and play around with the characters inside your castle. What you do will affect the ending.

The makers of Suikoden II took all of the annoying glitches out of fantasy roll playing games. If you run into a random encounter that's just way too easy for you at your level, you can put your characters on automatic, and just have them take care of it so that you don't have to have a boring battle. When you go in shops, all the items say right on them whether they're as good as what you already have. They've just made it easier so that you can spend more time having fun!

The Suikoden series is my favorite. I would buy a Playstation just so I could play this game. I think maybe some of the reviewers who call it "nothing special" should ask themselves why all of us regular people who play it think it's incredibly special!

best of the series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: April 18, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have played the suikoden series from the beginning and suikoden II is by far the best of them. If you enjoy enjoy an rpg with a good story and gameplay mechanics this should occupy your time. The major battles are one of best parts in my opinion. Your basicly playing a tatic game with recruited character for your army. Also there are a lot mini-games in your caslte. If you like a challenge try to recruit the 108 stars for your army. If you think a couple hundred dollars is too steep for this game wait a year or 18 months. Suikoden II should be released for Psp in 2007. Psp is remaking old rpgs for its system and this is one of them. I will get my copy even though I own the original. I just like the idea of playing one of my favorite games on a potable system. Overall suikoden II is one of the best 2-D rpgs of the 1990's. If your a retro gamer this is a game for collectors value and a fun game to play. And for rpg players, if you don't like to read play kingdom hearts or diablo 2.

When a game combines these many qualities, comes Suikoden 2

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 11 / 15
Date: December 01, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Everything about this game is going to change the way that you think of RPGs. It has emotional parts, action parts, everything possible packed into a solid 35+ hours of gaming. Truly one of the best RPGs to date on any system. However, my only 'con' about this game is this: This game is going to get trampled on. Trampled on by Square's collassal masterpiece (which I hated) and other games that have paid millions for advertising. While this game may not bare the best graphics, or advertise 8 times between every commercial break, it will grab your heart from the very beginning and never let go.

Join the main character, and Jowy for the ride of a lifetime which tells the tale of friendship and betrayel. Story twists around every corner, and a grand adventure only steps ahead. I dare anyone to play this game and not agree that this game is phenomenal. Abosolutely pleasent and fun in every single way. I can't find words to show my love for this game, but I'll leave you with this: Suikoden 2 is an instant classic. It's the perfect gift for any RPG Gamer on your list, and it's the perfect RPG of all time. Embrace yourself in it's story, characters and war, as you embark on the most incredible journey possible. I salute Konami.

One of the Gilded Greats

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: July 13, 2006
Author: Amazon User

When I look back now at when I bought this game, as well as several other great games, I can't remember exactly what inspired me to buy it. What I do know is why I kept it. Suikoden 2 is not only the best game in the suikoden series, it's also one of the greatest role playing games to ever grace the market. The story is rich and immersive, the characters memorable and iconic, and the battle system is classical perfection.

The game puts you in control of one of the two main characters who, although they are best friends, have opposing destinies. When their own country betrays them for an excuse to go to war, the two start on a path to try and find their place in the world, trapped between the home that betrayed them and their sworn enemies.

A lot happens during the course of the story, not unlike the drastic changes that would take place during a war. Yet the story never stretches itself thin. It keeps you interested in every step up to the final confrontation. The game also takes advantage of genius war tactics, that were used in actual campaigns in history, as part of the story.

There are also the customary 108 characters that are collected through out the game. Some are support characters that will add functions to your army and dimensions to your base castle, and most of them are playable characters that you can use in battle. Each of the characters, even if shortly introduced, are memorable and full of dimensions that are sometimes established with only a few short sentences. Even in such situations, the characters are rich with life making this perhaps the best cast in any suikoden game. Each character is animated in an anime-esque style, which makes sense it being a japanese game. Even if you are not a fan of the style of art it is the perfect face for the game when you see it all together.

The battle system in the game is traditional RPG turn based format. But they use the turn based system to perfection. There are six characters on screen, 3 in the front row 3 in the back. Characters in front can attack freely but characters in the back row can only attack if they have long range weapons, such as a bow. Characters that share some kind of history, or know similar fighting styles, can team up to do combined special moves. These moves range from being simply entertaining to completely devastating. Charactes who can't attack from the back row can still function as fighters if they have a combo attack with another character. This adds a well rounded strategic element to the set up of a conventional group, since characters with combo attacks usually need to be in the same row or in the same column to perfom their attacks.

I have beaten this role playing game multiple times and still find it just as entertaining as the first day i picked it up. It is truly a gilded great, and that's not just a funny phrase. Anyone who has looked for this game in recent years has probably found it ranging from $55 to $250! I will certainly say, I am grateful I never sold this game, and if you ever obtain it, you will not be disappointed.

The Best Old School RPG on the Market

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: March 06, 2000
Author: Amazon User

If you enjoyed games like Chrono Trigger and Lunar and of course, the original Suikoden, you'll enjoy Suikoden II. First the bad news: If you're hoping for jaw-dropping CG effects, lots of FMV, dating elements, real-time strategy, or anything that vaguely resembles innovation, you won't get it here. However, the good news is that none of that matters. This game eschews visual flash or lame attempts to catch some fad for good solid gameplay. All Suikoden II has to offer likable characters, a satisfying storyline, tons of fun minigames, and a game engine that is more or less flawless in its intuitiveness and ease of use. It could be a bit more challenging, and some of the good elements of the first game are missing, but overall this is a great game for RPG fans.

On Par RPG

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: July 25, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I like this one better than Final Fantasy 8 (well almost every RPG is better). One thing about this one is it is too easy. If you get the right runes (RAGE, MOTHER EARTH, CYCLONE, BLUE MOON) You can really lay waste to everything and anything including the end boss. Thank goodness there are no Neclord puzzles in this one my hair has finally began to grow back from the first Suikoden. This is a good RPG for the money. I think I spent about 60 hours on it, a good deal of that time was leveling up weapons, characters and acquiring cash. This RPG delivers classic gameplay and is right on with the first game. If you are born of the Dragon Quest, Zork era like I am and you just like to keep it simple this will pass the time.

The most complete and truly epic game ever.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: July 15, 2001
Author: Amazon User

When I bought this game I had no idea what I was letting myself in for. I had never played it nor its predesessor before and didn't know what to expect. After I had started playing it, I couldn't stop until I had finished it with all 108 characters and got all of the secrets I could find. It really is that good!!

You take the role of an anonymous young boy who is serving in the youth brigade of the Highland Army with his best and childhood friend Jowy. After the two are decieved by their home country of Highland in a surprise night attack, they embark on a quest to bring their country back to rights and out of the control of the evil prince Luca Blight. It is a poignant tale of friendship, love, trust, betrayal and destiny which will have you gripped till the end. The characters are those whom you feel a real connection with and actually start to harbour feelings for (I say that at the risk of sounding totally cheesy, but it's true.) The story is admittedly not a hundred miles away from that of every other RPG out there but there is something that makes it seem very special.

Many people I have heard have tried to put it down for its graphics, which are to say the least are hardly ground breaking, but with a story and gameplay this good who cares. I personaly think that if Konami had created Suikoden II in 3D, it would have made it considerably less enjoyable. The music also adds a lot to the atmosphere of the game (especially noticeable in the amazing starting sequence.) There are great orchestral tunes for the more dramatic parts yet happy, perky tunes for the more light-hearted moments. No matter the situation the music and SFX are always fitting.

The battles play major role in the game and are very similar to the first game (which i played after the second.) There are the usual random party battles with up to six characters being in the party at once. In these battles you will fight many different enemies in a variety of different backdrops. Characters have the commands to attack using standard weapons, use magic from their different runes which can be attached, use items (e.g. curative and attacking) of which each character can carry three, defend, change between back and front row positions, and special unite moves. Unite allows the characters to team up with other specific characters and use a more powerful combined attack. Not all of the characters can use these attacks. This is a great way of encouraging you to experiment with characters rather than staying with the same old party throughout the game. There are also one-on-one battles with important characters at certain points of the game, which aren't exactly brilliant but offer an interesting change. Then there are the strategic army battles in which the good guys (you and your followers) take on the bad guys (the Highland Army) with entire armies. These are some of my favourite parts of the game and are great fun. Although sometimes you are forced to lose because that is the way of the story line.

All of the elements of Suikoden II come together to make the most complete, entertaining and truly epic game I have ever played. If you don't buy this or at least give it a chance and try it you will truly have missed something special.

Best RPG ever

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: November 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game a few years ago at Wal-Mart in a bargin bin. It has become my favorite game since them. I have played the game, beat it, and started again a total of 4 times. This game is the strongest link in the Suikoden series and it will remain si if things keep going like they do (regarding the Suikoden 4 disaster). This game is worth ever penny of the average $150 (even though I only pain $10) This game will always be a classic, and an all-around great game.

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