Konami Cult Classics, the first two games in the series return to the remastered versions
The series Sulkoden He started his journey in 1995 on the first PlayStation and took some time to win a popularity among players as a new Konami Jrpg franchise, which has become known for their epic stories and mechanics to recruit over 100 characters.
And now the first two games of the series have returned from the 90s in the high definition remastered versions for the current consoles with the package Sulkoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars – This new compilation is actually an improvement based on Sulkoden I and II, a collection launched in 2006 exclusively in Japan on the PSP laptop, which in turn has already made some improvements.
For JRPG games and also for new players, this remastering offers the opportunity to experiment or revisit these classics with significant improvements that respect the essence of the original titles. Take a look here with Game on What we think of this version.
A hero written in the stars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vil88zqqurq
Suikoden is set in a fantastic world that recalls feudal China and presents the political struggles of the scarlet moon empire. The player controls the son of a general of this empire, who is destined to look for 108 warriors (called 108 destination stars) to create an army and a revolt against the sovereign and corrupt state, to bring peace to a land devastated by war.
The narrative is vaguely based on the margin of water, one of the four main classic novels of Chinese literature, written during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The work is inspired by legends and historical events, narrating the story of a group of 108 meadows that rebel against the corruption of the imperial government.
The game accompanies a young protagonist, called by the standard of Tir Mcdohl (but can be renamed by the player) who, after being betrayed by the empire he served, joins a resistance to the fight against tyranny. The plot mixes the drama, betrayal and development of the character, making the journey exciting.
One of its big differentials compared to the other jrpg of the time is the possibility of recruiting 108 characters, each with its history and skill, influencing the gameplay and the end of the game – to see the real ending, it is necessary to recruit all the characters.
The battle system follows the classic random meeting on the shift map, in which the player can control a group with a maximum of six characters. In addition, there are also an individual duel 1v1 in the key moments of the story, as well as strategic -scale strategic armies, a precursor of what would be expanded to Sulkoden II.
The player has a base of operations to accommodate the 108 characters that will be recruited, but it is noteworthy that not everyone is playable and some offer some advantages such as teleportation to cities, the minimum, among others. As your group grows, even your headquarters change, gaining more space and adding shops, services and even minigames, making a central and key game of the game.
Despite being a playstation game, the first Sulikoden has a simple but very fascinating pixelated graphics that looks like 16 -bit systems with classic aerial vision on maps and underground. The main campaign can be completed in about 20-25 hours, making the game relatively short.
Sulkoden II
Launched in 1998 also on PSONE, Sull’IKODEN II reported several elements that have marked the predecessor, but improving and expanding practically every aspect of the original. The game is set in the same universe about three years after the events of the previous game, but with new protagonists: some first characters of Sulkoden return and play important roles.
The story revolves around the friendship and rivalry between the protagonist Riou, his friend Jowy and the young Nanami, while trying to survive the war between the kingdom of Highland and the city-state of Jowston. The plot is full of political intrigues, betrayal, sacrifices, twists and moral choices, highlighting the bad Luca Blight, the prince heir of the Kingdom of Highland and an extremely sadistic, cruel and powerful warrior – you will surely feel a fatal hatred for him in the grass of history.
And again, the game allows you to recruit 108 characters, many of which can be used in combat or simply provide essential services at the base. The variety and depth of the characters make exploration useful, which are now much more developed, with dialogues and interactions with the deepest player, with some and can influence important events in history. With a narrative and more processed characters, the main campaign has also undergone an increase in duration, about 35 hours.
As in the first game, the player’s choices influence the development of the story and the destination of various characters, offering more finals, including, it is possible to transfer the rescue from the previous game, unlocking extra characters and special events, including a meeting with Tir Mcdohl.
Sulkoden II brings the same combat system as the predecessor, with the player who controls a group of six people in shifts, but with the possibility of joint attacks among the characters. Already the battles of the armies have received a great reformulation, obtaining a more tactical style that recalls classics such as Shinig Force and Final Fantasy Tattics.
In audiovisual terms, Sukoden II also presents many improvements, with much more detailed, colorful and fluid animations: everything is presented more alive and attractive than the previous game. The soundtrack of Suikoden I Orchestrated was already very good, but Sulkoden II managed to overcome herself, bringing various exciting and memorable themes and songs during the key moments.
The remastered collection
Now that we have talked a little about each game, I think it is worth marking the salient points of this collection, starting with graphics and graphics, which brings high definition improvements to the appearance of the characters and also for the scenarios, which have been slightly redone to adapt to a wide, richer, colorful and detailed visual experience, but without distinguishing a lot from the original games.
In addition, the package includes new sound effects, which have been updated to offer a more engaging environment, such as water sounds that flow into rivers, wind, insects and steps that have also been added. The new features also include the recording of dialogues (important for situating if it has spent a few days without playing), automatic battles and the possibility of folding the speed in the fighting.
Unfortunately we do not take place for the Portuguese, with all the menus and dialogues available in English, so be sure to be updated with the language to enjoy the narrative well and navigate in the menus (which are simple and very convenient).
Finally, it is noteworthy that this collection acts as a tribute to Yoshitaka Murayama, creator of the series that worked in the first three games and unfortunately died in 2024 at 55 years of age, due to complications caused by an unveiled disease.
Considerations
Sulkoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is a collection that brings together two classics Jrpg Konami, who will be able to favor fans of this kind, with all their style and retro formula preserved. Despite its simple and short graphics, Sulkoden I presented a unique and impactful experience, with an exciting story with political plots and hiring of over 100 characters. Sulkoden II not only resumed all the successes of the predecessor, but also improved and expanded in every respect, bringing an adventure simply unmissable to JRPG fans, marking an entire generation of players and can now be revisited during their splendor, with several improvements.
Sulkoden I & II Remaster HD: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars arrives on March 6 and will be available for PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X |
This analysis was done on PlayStation 5, with a copy of the game kindly provided by Konami.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
