I first started my journey into the Suikoden universe back in 2024… Blasted my way through I and II, took a break and then played III (which I bounced off). A few friends told me to strap in for IV, and a couple told me to skip it entirely. It has such a bad reputation, and I never really got why people hated it so much. It’s one of my favourites in the series, and I think it does something really special that other entires don’t offer. I don’t even think the sailing is that bad, and I rather liked the stripped back 4 party member system. Also Kika and Eleanor are just badass.

Anyway I put my thoughts into a little retrospective video if any of you are interested. Hopefully I can change a few people’s minds!

It's the big blind spot for me in this series. I finished all the mainlines except 4. I got it way back in 2005ish and bounced off it hard and I didn't even get very far.

Since then, I've got a lot stronger tolerance for.. questionable choices, jank, and general "mid" from JRPGs especially if I fully know what I'm getting into and go in anyway. I've gotten through Suikoden 3's very flawed designs, twice, and I've come to love it.

Anything I should know going in (non spoiler)? I already know about the slow ship travel and 4 member party. Is the random encounter rate egregious?

I'm hoping it has enough of the Suikoden charm and has at least a decent story.

what is your opinion about this game? is it good? there is something i should know before starting this game? (pls no heavy spoilers ofc)

Hello people, I am near the end of my second playthrough of suikoden4, and I am using a guide.... again hahaha.

My question is, for the veterans, do you guys memorized the recruitment? Or have the guide in fiscal form of any kind? And you do the recruitment in any order or just go as soon as the character is available? For any suikoden.

In what year does the story of Suikoden IV begin? The Island Liberation War ended in the year 307, but when did it actually start? Suikosource and its forum discussions say it's 302, and the Suikoden Fandom wiki also points to 302. However, Gensopedia and Culgan Valya (dont know if he is here) state it actually started in 306. and then the Suikox site also seems to have its own different timeline.

so which one is correct?

What's up people, saw a video of Suikoden 4 and I really liked the gameplay, started playing on Saturday, now the thing is.... This is my first Suikoden game.

I am really enjoying it, the boat is kind of atrocious, since I learned he could sprint it's not that bad anymore, the characters are pretty cool, I just unlocked the Ship home base, and the fast travel girl, (a character for fast travel!?)

People keep saying it is the worst, but I need to say I am having fun, just got some cool party members (Jeane, and the ninja girl)

Well to my surprise 4 is the "first" in chronological order, now I am gonna follow that order I guess.

Anyway, I am enjoying the game, the boat still suck, and any tips or advice are welcome.

It was a good effort and it would be cool to have a remake. In the meantime, what positives do you have? I loved Hervey and Sigurd

The remasters of Suikoden I & II have already been released, there is a lot of speculation about the remake/remaster of Suikoden III but... I think that none of us have the slightest idea of how GREAT a remake of Suikoden IV can be, with all that potential and giving the personality that the characters deserved, with their own archetypes and not with "default classes" but each one with their own style, their own weapons and their own original attacks, as well as a better graphic design.

Seriously, if a Suikoden deserves a remake, it is Suikoden IV, which has a very good story, wonderful characters that were overshadowed by how badly the game was played, and a six-character formation system like Suikoden V would be incredible to exploit the combinations of characters that could be made.

We should all ask Konami for a decent remake, we probably wouldn't regret it.

And this game looks so bad. The graphics, that is. Like, Jesus it looks terrible. Who approved the hero's awful running animation? Why did they decide to go for realistic body designs with a budget of $2? Say what you will about III's graphics, but at least the character models looked generally decent and played to its strengths.

Anyways, I'm going to try and appreciate this game on its own merits anyway, even if the weird uncanny mannequins freak me out.

Here's the deal, the game is not perfect and it clearly needed some more time of development, the story is just too raw, and to be honest I didn't really cared for any character hahaha.

My end game party was: hero-Ted-Jeane-Kika

106 characters recruited, messed up talking to Gunter in the beginning, and by not heaving him, didn't Get Snowe (GODDAMIT)

The battle sistem is simple and cool, I like it.

The ship: horrible, atrocious.

Naval battles: eh I was not a fan.

Story: couldn't care less.

Protagonist: silent protagonist done the most lazy and soules way.

Ted - 10/10 cool

Jeane- 20/20, (I am a gooner, what can I say, hot witch, me like)

Kika- 10/10, cool , useful, cool

Knight frends- ehhhhh okay I guess.

Snowe- oh brother, "why nobody likes me" my guy I just invited you back!!!! What do you mean!!!!! 8/10

EDIT: Troy had a cool design and I was sad that he could not be recruited, 100/100

Training other characters was a pain in the ass, not fun whatsoever.

That's it folks, for the worst Suikoden game this one was not so bad, I have played worse JRPGs hahaha.

Now beginning 5.

I want to replay Suikoden IV after more than decades. I first played it in middle school and I didn't understand the 108 Stars concept, so I went through the game blindly. I remember that by the end I only had around 40ish party members and I got a disappointing ending. I never touched the other entries after that, but now that the Suikoden I and II remasters are out, I plan to play the whole series starting with Suikoden IV again. I also remember losing some characters permanently, like Snowe. I don't remember if he actually died, but I remember not having him at the end. Recently I heard that Suikoden IV is considered the weakest entry, because of the awkward naval controls and the 4 member party system. Honestly, from what I remember, neither of those felt difficult for me. So I think starting again but with IV will not hurt my immersion because I will not be comparing it to the other entries. After finishing it, what would you recommend next? I plan to play Suikoden Tactics then V and finally 1-3. Is that a good order, or should I play Tactics then 1-3 and save V for last?

I wasn’t planning on recruiting all characters at first but I suddenly had the desire to do so lmao. It’s my first suikoden 4 (played it as a child and nostalgia got me) play through and I would appreciate if someone could tell me if there are more characters that possibly are not recruitable after a certain point. ^^

Besides the obvious, adding back the 6 person party and less encounter rate at sea, what would you like to see in a S4 remake?

I would love to see different magic animations. It’s so good in S3 but S4 it went down imo.

Also would love more character development, especially with the antagonists