Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Review – A triumphant return of an all-time classic

It has been over a decade since Konami released a new entry in the Suikoden series. During this time, fans eagerly awaited news of a revival, with some fearing the series would be long abandoned. However, hope persisted that Konami might at least revisit the beloved franchise with a remastered edition. To the delight of many, Konami has surprised fans by announcing the release of Suikoden I & II HD Remastered for modern consoles.

More than two decades after the release of Suikoden I & II, a new generation of gamers can experience two of the most beloved JRPGs of all time. With Konami reigniting the Suikoden franchise—bolstered by the recent announcement of Suikoden Star Leap for mobile—newcomers have no better time to dive into the series’ origins. This remastered collection not only modernizes the games with improvements that make them more accessible to first-time players but also delivers a wave of nostalgia for longtime fans.

Improved lighting and textures

For newcomers unfamiliar with the series, the Suikoden games are connected. Still, each entry stands on its own, meaning you don’t necessarily have to play the previous titles to understand the story. However, playing them in chronological order will provide a richer experience and help with certain references. In Suikoden I, players follow the story of a nameless protagonist—known as Tir McDohl officially—who becomes a key figure in the rebellion against the corrupt Scarlet Moon Empire, gathering 108 unique allies, known as the Stars of Destiny, to overthrow the empire’s tyrannical ruler. In Suikoden II, players continue the story with a new nameless protagonist – known as Riou officially, who is drawn into a war between rival factions and must unite the Stars of Destiny once again to defeat a power-hungry leader and bring peace to the land. One of the series’ most unique features is the Stars of Destiny, where players can recruit up to 108 characters, each with their own backstory. The games are renowned for their deep character development, political intrigue, and strategic turn-based combat, with an emphasis on building relationships and recruiting a vast and diverse cast.

In terms of content, Suikoden I & II HD Remastered does not introduce any new story elements. The narrative remains faithful to the original games, but one noticeable change is the improved translation and script, making the dialogue more engaging and cohesive. The most significant additions to this remaster are the quality-of-life improvements, which will be a welcome enhancement for veteran fans and a relief for newcomers. These updates address concerns about the games feeling dated, given their original release on the PlayStation decades ago.

Revisit both games in glorious HD

The revamped visuals are one of the most notable improvements in the HD remaster. As expected from an HD upgrade, the game’s textures have been enhanced, bringing the world to life in glorious high definition. The improved lighting is particularly striking and will stand out to players familiar with the original versions. Another significant upgrade is the redrawn character illustrations, a welcome addition that modernizes the artwork, which felt dated when the games were first released. However, one aspect of the visuals that remains unchanged is the character sprites, which retain their original design and style.

In terms of combat, both games feature turn-based battles, where up to six characters can be in a party, each with unique abilities, spells, and attacks. When the original games were released, combat could feel tediously slow. Still, fortunately, the remastered version introduces an option to speed up battles by up to three times, which is a much-appreciated improvement. Additionally, while random encounters can be frustrating and facing the same enemies repeatedly can become tiresome, the remastered version includes an auto-battle feature. This lets players quickly breeze through fights, especially in grind-heavy sections, making the experience smoother and less repetitive.

One of the staple features in every Suikoden game is the Full Scale War battles, which newcomers will enjoy alongside recruiting 108 characters and experiencing their unique stories. Full Scale War battles are turn-based tactical fights where players control groups of soldiers instead of individual characters. Players choose from various units, like infantry, archers, and cavalry, and position them in formations to maximize their effectiveness. Each unit has its own strengths and weaknesses, and players must decide when to attack, defend, or use special abilities. In Suikoden I, the battles are simple, whereas in Suikoden II, the battles are more complex, with multiple engagements as the protagonist leads the Liberation Army against the Highland Kingdom. Success in these battles relies on strategic decisions, resource management, and using special attacks from key characters.

Over 50 trophies/achievements to unlock

In a text-heavy JRPG like Suikoden, where players are tasked with finding and recruiting 108 characters, it’s easy to get distracted or lose track of important dialogue. Fortunately, the HD remaster introduces a dialogue log feature, allowing players to view the previous 100 lines of text, with the added option to pin important dialogue for later reference. This is especially helpful for players trying to stay organized during character recruitment. Another welcome addition is the ability to adjust the text speed through the settings menu, making it easier to keep up with the flow of conversation and reducing any frustration with long stretches of dialogue.

As someone who enjoys trophies and achievements, I was pleased to see that the remastered versions of both games include them—though this feature is not available on the Switch version. There are a total of 56 trophies/achievements to unlock, with some quite challenging ones for completionists. For example, players can earn a trophy or achievement for finishing the game on hard mode, which is a new addition designed to challenge those who found the original games too easy. Another specific trophy or achievement in Suikoden II is tied to recruiting Clive, which requires completing a certain task within a set timeframe. However, the remaster also includes a helpful quality-of-life feature that allows players to turn off specific time-sensitive events. This gives players the freedom to recruit characters at their own pace without feeling rushed or pressured.

Speed up the combat up to three times

In terms of performance, I played the game on PC. For those opting to play on Steam, especially on the go with a Steam Deck or any handheld PC, the game is not demanding in terms of graphics or power, allowing for longer battery life. On a full charge, the game will run for about 6-7 hours on a Steam Deck before needing a recharge. The game runs smoothly across all handheld PCs, and even at the lowest TDP of 8, players can still enjoy a stable 60 frames per second while maintaining good battery life.

[Editor’s Note: Suikoden I & II HD Remaster was reviewed on PC, and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.]