Suikoden III for Playstation 2

Konami’s third role-playing game in the popular series is its first outing on the Playstation 2, and it has transitioned well to 3D from its original 2D roots. Suikoden III faithfully captures the feel of its predecessors while moving in new directions. The storyline of every Suikoden game is captivating and intriguing, and Suikoden III overdelivers in this aspect.

Upon starting Suikoden III you are presented with a gorgeous anime introduction video with enthralling music, drawing you into the game immediately. After watching the video (and wiping the drool off your chin) you are presented with the option to load your PSOne Suikoden II data to inject various bits of storyline from your previous adventure into the game. From there you select one of three characters on a rotating grid: the ”Trinity Sight” system. The system allows you to witness the storyline from the perspective of three characters on opposing sides. The most interesting thing about the system is that you sympathize with each character, even though in the beginning the characters may hate each other with a vengeance. A character whom you thought to be a cold-blooded killer from another character’s perspective may turn out to be heartfelt and remorseful when you move along to that character upon the next Trinity Sight selection. The Trinity Sight’s influence on the drama of the game’s plot is immense and it presents a harmonious balance of the chemistry between characters and how their relationships develop as the game progresses. To discuss the plot of Suikoden III would immediately bring about unwanted spoilers, but be assured that when you play a Suikoden game, you are getting not only great gameplay but also an engaging, suspenseful story with memorable characters and epic scenery.

Suikoden III has moved from its 2D roots into full 3D, similar to Final Fantasy X and especially similar to Skies of Arcadia on Dreamcast. The game features a mini-map to help the player navigate around the 3D world; buildings which can be entered and the exits of each area are clearly marked as well. The overworld is now a map with lines and spot locations, although vast fields, forests and mountains may need to be negotiated before reaching cities and villages. Up to six characters form a party in the turn-based battles; the characters in the rear act as combat support to the characters in the front via the “buddy system”. The actions of the rear characters are tied to the characters in front, but the rear guard acts independently at times, usually when attacking the enemy. Magic is cast by Runes, which increase in power as the character defeats more enemies. Additionally, characters earn skill points after winning battles, which are used to learn and improve combat and magic abilities in training centers. Later you will construct a castle and find the 108 “Stars of Destiny” recruits, adding facilities and structure to your fortress. Army battles are back, but they are now on a line/point grid and the units engage in small group battles rather than in squads. This thankfully eliminates a lot of the randomness that the first two Suikoden games’ army battles suffered.

The graphics in Suikoden III are of Dreamcast quality, but they have their moments of greatness. The characters have a halfway cel-shaded appearance; they are almost anime-like. Emotional expressions are conveyed through body language as characters interact with each other via gestures, physical contact, and limb movements. The facial expressions are simplistic textures which shift depending on the situation. Although the movement and interaction between the characters is better than Final Fantasy X’s, FFX’s subtle use of fully modeled facial expressions is sorely missing. Still, the characters in Suikoden III are just as memorable and interesting as any of Squaresoft’s best efforts. The backgrounds sport good texturing and well designed locales, although the detail level has suffered from the Suikoden series’ move to full 3D. The framerate fluctuates at times from 20-30 frames per second in busy areas to a fluid 60 frames in small rooms and tunnels. While the slowdown does not detract from the gameplay at all, some more engine optimization would have been nice and it would have made the game engine seem more polished. The game’s graphics are most impressive in battle, however, when a character unleashes the power of a Rune. Spell effects are beautiful to watch as a blaze of color and light spirals around the battlefield destroying enemies and/or healing allies.

The Suikoden games have always had excellent music, and Suikoden III’s score, while it does not quite approach the greatness of the first two, does not disappoint. The soundtrack has perfectly fitting melodies for every location and situation, each orchestrated with details not found in other games.

Suikoden III is a top-notch role-playing game. It is filled with style, substance, great gameplay, wonderful music, fleshed-out characters and a deep, fascinating story. Even if you have not played the first two Suikoden games (and you should), Suikoden III is a worthy addition to any RPG fan’s library.

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