Suikoden II

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Suikoden II
Developer(s)	Konami
Publisher(s)	Konami
Release date(s)	December 17, 1998 September 29, 1999 July 28, 2000
Genre(s)	Role-playing game
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: T (Teen) USK: 6+ OFLC: G8+ ELSPA: 11+
Platform(s)	Sony PlayStation
Media	1x CD-ROM

Suikoden II is the sequel to Konami's console role-playing game Suikoden on the Sony PlayStation.

Contents 1 Gameplay 1.1 Combat 2 Plot 2.1 Setting 2.2 Characters 2.3 Story 3 Rarity

[edit] Gameplay

Updates from the original include a grid and unit based tactical battle system, the addition of a three rune slot system, a party inventory system, overall cleanup of menus in general, a "dash" button that allowed the player to run without a Holy Rune, and vast graphical improvement. Also notable is the inclusion of a variety of mini-games including one quite reminiscent of Iron Chef. A transfer of data from the prior game in the series enables returning characters to enter the fray with higher levels (of course recalculated to prevent level 99ers from appearing too early in the game) and improved weapons. References to the first game in books and such like are also adapted accordingly for a greater feel in continuity.

[edit] Combat

Following the original Suikoden, Suikoden II contains three different types of combat.

• Regular battles. In this fighting style, the six person party the player has selected faces off with 1-6 enemies. This battle type is considered typical in RPGs, containing options for attack, magic(Runes), items, etc. This is the only battle style where the player can gain experience, items, or Potch(money).

• 1 on 1. In this battle, the main character pits off against another character 1 on 1. This style of fighting only has three moves. Attack, Wild Attack, and Defend. This duel is played in a Rock, Paper, Scissors style where Attack beats Defend, Wild Attack beats Attack and Defend beats Wild Attack. The player can usually tell what kind of attack the enemy is going to perform by the taunts displayed.

• Massive battles. In this installation, the massive battles take a more interactive turn. While some of the shades of the old "Rock, Paper, Scissors" style battle of the original (where calvary beats archers, archers beat magic and magic beats calvary), Suikoden II introduces a grid style battle system remniscent to that of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms games. As the main character recruits characters for his castle, this opens up more options for more units. Certain characters are 'unit leaders' while others are 'supports'. Every character adds a certain amount of defence or attack to a unit. In addition, certain characters also add special abilities to the unit they are attached to. The numbers affect the chances of win or loss as much as the type of units being pitted against each other. Every unit may take up to a total of two 'losses'. Losses are counted when a unit suffers a severe amount of casualties. Each skirmish they take part in might result in no loss, loss on one side or even loss on both sides. As mentioned before, certain characters add special abilities to the units. Examples of these abilities include being able to take more losses than usual, magic or archery to allow attacks from a distance, healing of itself or others, etc. When a unit suffers its maximum losses it will retreat from battle, when this happens there is a possibility of the characters in the unit being wounded or even killed. Should a character be killed in a massive battle, they are considered dead for good.

[edit] Plot

[edit] Setting

Suikoden II follows three years after Suikoden in the City States of Jowston, the northern neighbour of the Toran Republic where the orginal took place.

[edit] Characters

The main protaganist is Riou, who goes from being a member of a youth brigade in the Highland Kingdom to being the leader of its opposition, the New Alliance Army. In acquiring one half of the Rune of Beginning, he is destined to become leader of the newly rebuilt Jowston army, and also to oppose the holder of the other half of the Rune of Beginning, Jowy Atreides.

[edit] Story

The story of Suikoden II begins with two childhood friends, Jowy Atreides and Riou. Both were part of the Highland Army Unicorn Brigade until the Unicorn Brigade is attacked and massacred. However, the two escape, only to learn that the massacre was ordered by their own commanders.

As the war continues between the City-States and Jowston, Jowy and Riou become entagled with the two conflicting sides. As the story progresses, Jowy and Riou travel deeper into the conflict until both rise as the leaders of their respective countries.

[edit] Rarity

Suikoden II remains one of the rarest games for the PlayStation console, commonly carrying an asking price of more than $100 USD asking price from potential sellers, or up to as much as $250 USD for an unopened version of the game. The limited print run and the lackluster initial response led to the obvious low supply presently. Of course, as the series continues to reach a wider audience with its newer installments, the willingness of many to pay such high prices is a testament to the series' increasing popularity. Though the limited availability has made it the least played game in the Suikoden series, Suikoden II is nonetheless widely regarded by fans as the best of the five games released to date. Suikoden II was recently released on the PSP as a compilation of both Suikoden and Suikoden II in the Japanese market. There is no word yet on whether this compilation will spread to the American or European markets.

Suikoden series by Konami
Suikoden | Suikoden II | Suikoden III | Suikoden IV | Suikoden V
Spinoffs and related games
Genso Suikogaiden Vol. 1 | Genso Suikogaiden Vol. 2 | Card Stories | Suikoden Tactics
Compilations
Genso Suikoden I&II
Characters
108 Stars of Destiny | Notable Suikoden characters (non-SoD) | Other characters
Misc
27 True Runes | Geography