Rediscovering the magic of Suikoden
By Paul Hunter
It’s been a long time coming, but Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars finally gives these legendary RPGs the modern spotlight they deserve. Originally released on the PlayStation in the ‘90s, Suikoden and Suikoden II earned a devoted following with their gripping political narratives, massive character rosters, and unique battle systems. Now, with enhanced visuals, refined translations, and a handful of quality-of-life improvements, this remaster revives two classics while staying true to what made them special. But does it recapture the magic, or does time expose the cracks?
At the heart of Suikoden and Suikoden II are tales of war, betrayal, and the weight of leadership. The first game follows Tir McDohl, the son of a high-ranking general in the Scarlet Moon Empire. When a powerful rune is thrust upon him, he’s forced into exile, eventually leading a rebellion against the empire he once served. Along the way, he gathers allies, builds a stronghold, and faces painful sacrifices in a struggle for liberation.
Suikoden II shifts focus to Riou and Jowy, childhood friends caught in the brutal conflict between the Highland Kingdom and the City-States of Jowston. Their paths diverge when fate binds them to a legendary rune, forcing them into opposing roles in a war where ideals clash, alliances shift, and personal bonds are tested. While magic and fantasy elements are present, both stories thrive on political intrigue, emotional character arcs, and the ever-present cost of war.
Despite featuring over 100 recruitable characters, the core cast stands out, especially in Suikoden II, where the bond between Riou, Jowy, and Nanami serves as the emotional anchor. With a newly polished translation, the writing retains its heart-wrenching moments and moral dilemmas, ensuring these timeless stories still resonate today.
Both Suikoden and Suikoden II feature a blend of traditional turn-based combat, large-scale battles, and one-on-one duels. The main battle system uses a six-character party, with commands issued before actions play out in sequence. Unique to the series, characters can team up for flashy Unite Attacks, rewarding well-crafted party compositions. Magic is rune-based, with spells limited by a charge system rather than MP, adding a layer of strategy to resource management.
A standout feature is the evolving headquarters, which expands as more allies are recruited. With 108 characters to find, tracking them down becomes an adventure in itself. Some offer minigames, others provide useful services, and a few are simply memorable personalities who make the world feel alive. In Suikoden II, recruiting characters from the first game adds continuity, rewarding those who saw the original journey through.
Beyond standard battles, large-scale army conflicts introduce strategic elements. The first game keeps it simple with a rock-paper-scissors approach, while Suikoden II shifts to a grid-based system, offering more tactical depth. Duels, on the other hand, are dramatic, requiring quick thinking based on an opponent’s dialogue cues. These varied combat styles ensure key story moments carry weight, especially when defeat has lasting consequences.
Grinding is minimal thanks to a smart level-scaling system. Dropping a low-level recruit into battle and watching them shoot up 15 levels in one fight never gets old. It encourages experimentation with different party setups without the usual RPG grind. The only frustration? Limited inventory space. Managing equipment across multiple characters can be clunky, but it’s a small trade-off for the depth the system provides.
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster introduces quality-of-life additions like adjustable difficulty settings and the ability to speed up battles. However, the fast-forward feature also speeds up the music, which can be jarring. Some expected conveniences—like an auto-run option or the ability to disable random encounters—are missing, keeping the experience closer to the originals.
The remaster stays true to Suikoden's original pixel-art charm while refining character sprites and enemy designs with sharper details. The visual upgrades mostly shine, but some background textures look slighty dated. Character portraits have been redrawn by Junko Kawano, bringing a fresh look to familiar faces—though some may prefer the originals.
Spell effects pack more punch, with elemental magic and the Soul Eater Rune’s abilities standing out as especially striking. Battle animations retain the snappy pacing of the PS1 versions, keeping combat fluid and visually satisfying. The game’s UI remains simple, staying faithful to its era rather than adopting a modernized interface.
The soundtrack remains one of the series' greatest strengths. Miki Higashino’s compositions—whether the haunting melodies of war or the rousing battle themes—still hold up beautifully. The remaster enhances these tracks while preserving their emotional weight. Even iconic sound effects, like the series' unmistakable dragon-elephant roar, have been left untouched, ensuring that longtime fans get the full nostalgic experience.
Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Role-Playing
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
It’s been a long time coming, but Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars finally gives these legendary RPGs the modern spotlight they deserve. Originally released on the PlayStation in the ‘90s, Suikoden and Suikoden II earned a devoted following with their gripping political narratives, massive character rosters, and unique battle systems. Now, with enhanced visuals, refined translations, and a handful of quality-of-life improvements, this remaster revives two classics while staying true to what made them special. But does it recapture the magic, or does time expose the cracks?
At the heart of Suikoden and Suikoden II are tales of war, betrayal, and the weight of leadership. The first game follows Tir McDohl, the son of a high-ranking general in the Scarlet Moon Empire. When a powerful rune is thrust upon him, he’s forced into exile, eventually leading a rebellion against the empire he once served. Along the way, he gathers allies, builds a stronghold, and faces painful sacrifices in a struggle for liberation.
Suikoden II shifts focus to Riou and Jowy, childhood friends caught in the brutal conflict between the Highland Kingdom and the City-States of Jowston. Their paths diverge when fate binds them to a legendary rune, forcing them into opposing roles in a war where ideals clash, alliances shift, and personal bonds are tested. While magic and fantasy elements are present, both stories thrive on political intrigue, emotional character arcs, and the ever-present cost of war.
Despite featuring over 100 recruitable characters, the core cast stands out, especially in Suikoden II, where the bond between Riou, Jowy, and Nanami serves as the emotional anchor. With a newly polished translation, the writing retains its heart-wrenching moments and moral dilemmas, ensuring these timeless stories still resonate today.
Both Suikoden and Suikoden II feature a blend of traditional turn-based combat, large-scale battles, and one-on-one duels. The main battle system uses a six-character party, with commands issued before actions play out in sequence. Unique to the series, characters can team up for flashy Unite Attacks, rewarding well-crafted party compositions. Magic is rune-based, with spells limited by a charge system rather than MP, adding a layer of strategy to resource management.
A standout feature is the evolving headquarters, which expands as more allies are recruited. With 108 characters to find, tracking them down becomes an adventure in itself. Some offer minigames, others provide useful services, and a few are simply memorable personalities who make the world feel alive. In Suikoden II, recruiting characters from the first game adds continuity, rewarding those who saw the original journey through.
Beyond standard battles, large-scale army conflicts introduce strategic elements. The first game keeps it simple with a rock-paper-scissors approach, while Suikoden II shifts to a grid-based system, offering more tactical depth. Duels, on the other hand, are dramatic, requiring quick thinking based on an opponent’s dialogue cues. These varied combat styles ensure key story moments carry weight, especially when defeat has lasting consequences.
Grinding is minimal thanks to a smart level-scaling system. Dropping a low-level recruit into battle and watching them shoot up 15 levels in one fight never gets old. It encourages experimentation with different party setups without the usual RPG grind. The only frustration? Limited inventory space. Managing equipment across multiple characters can be clunky, but it’s a small trade-off for the depth the system provides.
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster introduces quality-of-life additions like adjustable difficulty settings and the ability to speed up battles. However, the fast-forward feature also speeds up the music, which can be jarring. Some expected conveniences—like an auto-run option or the ability to disable random encounters—are missing, keeping the experience closer to the originals.
The remaster stays true to Suikoden's original pixel-art charm while refining character sprites and enemy designs with sharper details. The visual upgrades mostly shine, but some background textures look slighty dated. Character portraits have been redrawn by Junko Kawano, bringing a fresh look to familiar faces—though some may prefer the originals.
Spell effects pack more punch, with elemental magic and the Soul Eater Rune’s abilities standing out as especially striking. Battle animations retain the snappy pacing of the PS1 versions, keeping combat fluid and visually satisfying. The game’s UI remains simple, staying faithful to its era rather than adopting a modernized interface.
The soundtrack remains one of the series' greatest strengths. Miki Higashino’s compositions—whether the haunting melodies of war or the rousing battle themes—still hold up beautifully. The remaster enhances these tracks while preserving their emotional weight. Even iconic sound effects, like the series' unmistakable dragon-elephant roar, have been left untouched, ensuring that longtime fans get the full nostalgic experience.
The Verdict
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster strikes the perfect balance between nostalgia and modern improvements, preserving the core gameplay while introducing subtle quality-of-life upgrades. The enhanced visuals and memorable soundtrack breathe new life into these classic RPGs, with strong narratives and strategic combat still at the forefront. Though some graphical elements feel dated, the remaster offers a rewarding experience for both long-time fans and newcomers, proving itself a worthy tribute to a beloved series.Final Score: 8.5/10 - Great
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars details
Platform: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PCDeveloper: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Role-Playing
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.