Suikoden IV
Suikoden IV brings the popular role-playing adventure back to complete the story of the first games. This game begins 150 years prior to the original Suikoden, with a young knight in service to the Gaien navy. When he comes into contact with the cursed Rune of Punishment, he's banished from his country -- and his adventure begins.
Suikoden IV Accessories
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Suikoden 3
Suikoden Tactics
Suikoden IV Official Strategy Guide
Suikoden V Official Strategy Guide (Official Strategy Guides (Bradygames))
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Suikoden IV Reviews
If you are open minded, get this game. This is a great game, but it does go a bit left for some who are used to strategy games. If you don't like battles at sea, stay away.
If only the gameplay had been a bit more fun then I definitely would have seen this game as more of a treasure. I guess it's understood that when in an area surrounded by water you will be sailing, a lot, but this is a video game so it would have been reasonable to perhaps make the islands closer just so you don't have to spend hours trying to get from one point to the next. I'd say rent it. If you particularly find yourself taken by the game then you can always buy it later. It's not like you'll have time to really enjoy sailing too because every 15 seconds you have another fight on the ocean. The story is relatively predictable and while it starts off well enough (which I won't spoil) I think that it's no where near on the level of the other Suikoden games. The game does have beautiful music though and I loved the opening song.
So, if you can just keep in mind that patience is a virtue, this may very well be a game that you would appreciate. Johnson. The problem with this. If you add in the numerous playable characters, the classic RPG battle system, and the customization, you might be able to overlook the boredom of the sea. Story 9/10. To me, a disappointment in the Suikoden series. If you let yourself, you'll feel his pain, his joy, his excitement and the finality that is his story.
-Brandon S. Graphics 8/10. You spend most of your time traveling on a large ship out on the ocean. This is where Suikoden IV excels. It seemed so promising, and though much of the game can be very entertaining, it is definitely a game that will need patience to beat. But its not all bad. when you're moving, it gives you no "sense" of actually getting anywhere.
That, along with the fact that the islands you're visiting are somewhat far apart, keeps this game at a snails pace. The gameplay is probably what you would expect for most RPG's. You find yourself connected to the nameless hero.
Here's my break down:. Gameplay: 6/10. Nothing spectacular or horrendous about it. When it was released, it was about the standard for this type of game.
Lets face it, this isn't the newest game on the block, and if you keep that in mind, you'll do just fine. The story is quite frankly captivating. except for one small little detail.
In a fight, out of 50 blows they could hit 13. You also have the "forced to answer one answer when there's two available option" haunts this game. Also the characters misses the enemy A LOT. Disaster. A big reason not to play this game. So you HAVE TO choose Yes. The battle system was awful.
You can choose yes or no. If you choose no, the game pauses for a couple of seconds, then the question returns - with the exact same answers. It's a nightmare, only 2-3 could act, they rest couldn't act AT ALL. One question is "Do you want to use the rune.". The english dubbing is the worst I have ever heard. The story was predicable and stupid. A slooooow watery effect show up before every battle, it's between 10-20 seconds long.
Why even bother making you be able to choose if No has no effect.
Mechanically, it's got everything it's supposed to have, 108 stars, recruitment binges, battles, random fights, everything you've grown to expect from the franchise. Emphasis on little. I'd recommend it over S3, which I never finished playing. There's just not much going on in this game to set it apart from the others.
I won't go into too much more detail about the game's shortcomings, as they really aren't all that glaring. On the other hand, this is probably the most visually pleasing game in the series, and has something of a surprise ending, if you're paying attention. Yes, you can make your own accessories, and having three battle groups at one time on your base is pretty darned nifty, but that's about it. Well, this is definitely a Suikoden game.
Warts and all, it's a pretty decent little game. Problem is, it doesn't offer much we haven't already seen. There's just not much new going on here.
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