Suikoden V Talkback

[K-S-O]

Boy, I hope I'm not the only one in this forum who got this game.

Before I get to my initial impressions, I would like to mention that stores are giving away a promotional package in limited quantities. It comes with a small artbook and a bonus soundtrack. The artbook comes with some select character artwork (doesn't contain all 108 unfortuantely), the Japanese poster arts, images from the opening movie, rune images, and the US advertisement. The artbook isn't that great, but the bonus CD rocks! It contains re-arrangements of selected music from the game and two bonus tracks that may or may not have been re-arranged. It's really good music.

Now for my impressions. I just got past four hours of the game, and I have to warn you that the beginning is kind of slow. It contains lots of cutscenes and little moments of gameplay. Though at the point where I am now, it is starting to get interesting and I am allowed to experiment with the battles more. I'm sure it will start getting good eventually, but I'm still at the beginning.

The graphics have been given a great improvement over III and IV's graphics. The characters have been given a cel-shaded type look, they look just like they do in their hand drawn portraits, and each character changes their facial expressions very fluidly. (a la Kingdom Hearts) It works exceptionally well for the main character. As usual, he doesn't talk but his expressions actually show how he is feeling and actually shows a personality.

The battles have returned to the battles used in the first two games. You can use six characters this time and you control them individually and not in teams like in III. The usual stuff is there: runes, unites, bribery, auto battles, ranged characters, etc. This time around, short-ranged characters can attack from the back row but they get reduced accuracy. I haven't got to try the formations since I apparently have to learn them over the course of the game. As for the one-on-one duels, they play just like in the first four except you have a time limit in choosing your actions this time. Haven't gotten an army battle yet.

So, I am happy to say that this game is great. If you hated III and/or IV, do not worry about this game. It is great, and I mean Suikoden I and II great!

Personally, III was my favorite in the series but I don't if V will top it.

[K-S-O]

Okay, I finally got a couple of war battles. I must say that these battles are a big improvement from what the first four got. This time the wars play out like a simplified RTS and the whole rock-paper-scissors factor plays a role in it once again. The initial wars were pretty easy but I've heard from reviews that they do get more difficult as the game goes along.

[Mr. Obsession]

I had some trouble getting a copy, but I finally found one. Anyway.

Yeah, it's slow at first. But that time is used to set up the story, which so far I'm loving. Right now I'm in Lordlake for the second time, right after the first major battle, and almost every prediction I've made about the plot so far is been wrong. But that's not a bad thing.

So far I love all the changes to the battle system. The major battles seem a little chaotic. And the time limit in the duels isn't nearly as frustrating as I was anticipating.

Visually, this is the best game in the series. The BGM is fantastic. The character development is progressing nicely. The camera angles haven't been as annoying as reported, so far. The load times aren't frustratingly long. And the plots starting to pick up.

I'm really looking forward to where this story is going to take me.

[Jowy Blight]

Wow, I been playing for a while and I can definitely say this game makes up for Suikoden IV. All the characters have been likeable thus far and the game also brings back that sort of Suikoden atmosphere that IV was lacking. This game is shaping up in a way that it could to possibly rival Suikoden II.

Luca Blight also has company in the "most evil villian" category.

almost every prediction I've made about the plot so far is been wrong.
That has been one of my favorite things about this game so far. :)

[Mr. Obsession]

Just when I was starting to complain running back and forth between the towns I've already visited in the game, guess who shows up? :)

Let's see: I got the main character's True Rune (at least I assume it's a True Rune...), my kickass Suikoden I style tower HQ, and the main character's war outfit (which I find amusing that it's featured in the box art and the opening, but the character doesn't start wearing it until after he's gotten his army, something takes place after the scenes in the opening).

The only thing that's starting to tick me off is I keep running into SoDs that won't join me yet. Oh well, at least most of the SoDs I’ve already gotten are getting some decent character development.

[K-S-O]

Yeah, it seems that it is more difficult to recruit all the stars this time around. Heck, I found Jeane but she won't join me and I have no idea how to make her.

[Jowy Blight]

You have to bring her to the big hole that's northwest of Rainwall. There's a cave there and you have to take her to the end of it if you want her to join.

[K-S-O]

Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately, I have reached the final battle so I cannot recruit anymore. Yes, I am unusually fast with RPGs and I cannot help it if the story captivated me so much that I had to keep moving forward just so I can see what happens next!

[Mr. Obsession]

One thing about Jeane, you find her in the Leluca rune shop after the Godwin's burn the western third of the town. But I think there's a timing issue involved. For myself I couldn't get her to appear until after the Bever's allied with me.

Then there's what's at the end of the cave in The Big Hole that she drags you to. So far I'm just getting more questions, and no answers, to the big question: who (or what) the hell is Jeane really?

From what I understand most of the non-plot Stars either have timing triggers or they won't join unless you keep harassing them.

Unfortunately, I have reached the final battle so I cannot recruit anymore. How many hours in are you? Maybe I'm just taking this slowly, trying to find everything, but I'm just over 30 hours in and Leknaat just appeared.

[K-S-O]

How many hours in are you? Maybe I'm just taking this slowly, trying to find everything, but I'm just over 30 hours in and Leknaat just appeared.

I have about 50 hours logged in. And that includes the little time I spent trying to find any hidden characters.

[BlackCat]

Before I get to my initial impressions, I would like to mention that stores are giving away a promotional package in limited quantities. It comes with a small artbook and a bonus soundtrack. The artbook comes with some select character artwork (doesn't contain all 108 unfortuantely), the Japanese poster arts, images from the opening movie, rune images, and the US advertisement. The artbook isn't that great, but the bonus CD rocks! It contains re-arrangements of selected music from the game and two bonus tracks that may or may not have been re-arranged. It's really good music.

Are any online stores still having this promotion? I was torn between purchasing this game or Kingdom Hearts II first, and I ended up choosing the latter. I was disappointed in IV, so I was a bit hesitant about V. The GameStop I was in didn't have this package available, so I may order this before they discontinue it.

So, I am happy to say that this game is great. If you hated III and/or IV, do not worry about this game. It is great, and I mean Suikoden I and II great!

Personally, III was my favorite in the series but I don't if V will top it.

I agree. Although III made some changes to the series, it's still my favorite. It's nice to see the series go back to its roots, though.

[Artimus Gigan]

Are any online stores still having this promotion? I was torn between purchasing this game or Kingdom Hearts II first, and I ended up choosing the latter. I was disappointed in IV, so I was a bit hesitant about V. The GameStop I was in didn't have this package available, so I may order this before they discontinue it.


I got the artbook but not the game

I just went into a Gamestop and asked if they had the artbook, and they just gave me one

I paid nothing for it...I did this today mind you, so stores should still have it

[K-S-O]

Whee! I just finished the game yesterday. I don't think it surpassed III as my favorite game in the series (though I should play III again just to make sure) but it is much, MUCH better than IV!

I didn't get all 108 characters and Lyon ended up dying! :crying: I assume she doesn't die if I do get all 108 characters since the same happened with Gremio and Nanami.

[Mr. Obsession]

I finally finished, and whether Suikoden II or III is your favorite game in the series, V will be a very close second.

There were a lot of things I thought Konami got right in this one, and while I don't know how much of this was due to the inclusion of new talent involved in developing this game, I hope they stick around for future installments. The actually character development of most of the Stars of Destay, the time devoted to developing the story, the villans, and the awesome improvements to the battle system.

On the other hand, there were some detractions. The loading times were the worst in the series (compared with III, the first PS2 Suikoden game, where there weren't loading times). There was no minigame equivalent to II's cook-offs, III's theater, or IV's confession booth. The BGM, while enjoyable, wasn't very memorable outside of some remixes from the previous games. And once again there was no loading of save files from the previous games for some sort of bonus.

But hey, those are minor complaints from a long time fan of the series. New players to the series will probably only complain about the loading times.

Anyway, thanks Konmai for giving me a satisfying game experience.

I didn't get all 108 characters and Lyon ended up dying! :crying: I assume she doesn't die if I do get all 108 characters since the same happened with Gremio and Nanami.

Yeah, if you get all 108 Stars Lyon lives. Leknaat appears and explains it's part of the dual nature of the Sun Rune.

From what I understand there are a total of 11 endings in the game: 2 good one's, 2 regular ones (depending on how many stars you recruit), and 7 bad ones depending on duels lost or dialog choices.

I'll defiantly have to play again sometime, just to see the other endings. Though, hopefully next time it won't take me 90 hours. :eek: I can probably shave about 30 hours off that since I've figured out the timing and location of the Stars, and I probably won't bother with character investigations and minigames.

[K-S-O]

There was no minigame equivalent to II's cook-offs, III's theater, or IV's confession booth.

In terms of enjoyability, I thought the fishing game came pretty close. If you meant having a game that had all the recruited stars involved like the ones you mentioned, then it is disappointing that such a game wasn't included this time. (I don't believe that Egbert's board games count since they were just game pieces and not the actual characters)

I just completed my second playthrough, got all 108 stars and got one of the good endings.

Yep, Lyon lives like I thought she would. Then after the scene with Georg, you get to choose if you want to go on a journey or rebuild Falena. I chose the latter and I got to see the Prince and Lyon in Queen's Knight attire. Very cool! I haven't seen the other ending yet but I will soon.

[Jude Santos]

I've finally started playing Suikoden V, and out of fear being spoiled, I've avoided the FAQ's and the rest of this thread.

I have a question though, does it matter what option you choose when the hero gets to talk (with the exception of recruiting people based on SI-IV)? I'm only 7 hours into the game and I've been keeping two save slots just in case, but Like I said, I was just wondering if there is going to be significant change in the story of you choose different options when the hero talks. Also, I haven't gotten that far in the game so I'm not in the recruiting part yet.

[Vidfreak]

Ive been playing this game for a while and now im at the Liberation of Stormfist and i just had to stop playing , the load times mixed with the constant random battles made me dread playing this game. The story is good but Konami needs to work out a lot of technical aspects for it. Suikoden 3 had beeter graphics but had Zero load times between graphically intense battles so i dont see why this one cant.

[firespot]

I have suikoden 5 too, its already been a year since i got it, i am just about done with my second playthrough.
Suikoden 5 is my second most favorite suikoden so far.