Earlier this week, Konami delighted fans of classic RPGs with a special live stream dedicated entirely to the beloved Suikoden series. The franchise, which hasn't seen a new main entry since a Japanese and PSP-exclusive side story more than a decade ago, sparked a wide range of expectations among its followers. The announcements brought a mix of emotions: excitement for a new Suikoden anime (yay!), cautious optimism for a brand new Suikoden game finally in the works...but for mobile (okay, sure!), and disappointment over the inclusion of gacha mechanics (oh no!).
Let's dive into the anime first, aptly titled Suikoden: The Anime. This series will adapt the events of Suikoden 2 and marks the inaugural production of Konami Animation. While we didn't get a deep look into its visuals or any specifics on international availability, a brief scenery clip was shared:
This is thrilling news for dedicated Suikoden fans and could serve as an excellent introduction for newcomers, provided the anime becomes widely accessible.
The second major announcement, however, has left fans with mixed feelings. A new game, Suikoden Star Leap, was unveiled, showcasing stunning visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler with its 2D sprites set against 3D backgrounds. The game is set a few years before Suikoden 1 and a few years after Suikoden 5, and it retains the series' signature feature of including 108 characters.
However, the excitement is tempered by the fact that Star Leap is slated for release on mobile platforms only, at least for now. While this might not be a deal-breaker for die-hard fans, the inclusion of gacha mechanics and ongoing monetization strategies has raised concerns. Historically, Suikoden has been a premium series on consoles and PCs, and the shift to a mobile game with gacha elements is a significant departure. Fans will need to see how these monetization choices impact gameplay and the ability to collect all 108 characters.
In the meantime, Suikoden enthusiasts can look forward to the re-releases of Suikoden 1 and 2 in the Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars. A new trailer for this collection was showcased during the live event, and it's set to launch tomorrow, March 6.
