Earlier this week, Konami delighted fans of classic RPGs with a dedicated live stream focusing on the beloved Suikoden series. It's been over a decade since the last Suikoden entry—a Japanese and PSP-only side story—leaving fans eagerly anticipating what might come next. The announcements stirred a mix of emotions: a Suikoden anime (exciting news!), and a new Suikoden video game for mobile with gacha mechanics (a bit of a letdown).
Starting with the anime, titled "Suikoden: The Anime," it's set to adapt the events of Suikoden 2 and marks Konami's first foray into animation. While we haven't seen much beyond a brief scenery clip yet, and details about its international availability remain unclear, this is still a thrilling development for dedicated Suikoden fans. It could also serve as an excellent introduction for newcomers, provided it becomes widely accessible.
The second major announcement, the new game "Suikoden Star Leap," has elicited mixed reactions. The game looks stunning, featuring 2D sprites set against 3D backgrounds reminiscent of Octopath Traveler. Set a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, it maintains the series' tradition of featuring 108 characters. However, its mobile-only release and inclusion of gacha mechanics have disappointed some fans, given the series' history of premium releases on consoles and PCs. The impact of these monetization strategies on gameplay and character collection remains to be seen.
In the meantime, Suikoden enthusiasts can look forward to the re-releases of Suikoden 1 and 2 in the "Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars." A new trailer for this collection was showcased during the live event, and it's set to launch tomorrow, March 6.
