Suikoden

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Template:Nihongo is a Japanese RPG series created by Konami.

Contents

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Introduction

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About Suikoden

The Suikoden games are based loosely on a classical Chinese novel, Shui Hu Zhuan (Outlaws of the Marsh), by Shi Nai'an. They take the idea of the "108 Stars of Destiny" from this novel, and the first game's story and characters are also very loosely based on the novel. The storylines of the first three games are based around revolution, politics, intrigue, and the capacity of an extraordinary, good-hearted hero to overcome any struggle with the right amount of allies and willpower.

The games are unique within the RPG genre, as they allow dozens of playable characters — most of the 108 Stars of Destiny in each game can be in the playable party. It does use features standard to most RPGs, such as random overworld & dungeon battles, saving the game at inns, a turn-based combat system in which you input the commands via command menu, but also introduces several unusual features such as turn-based strategic pitched battles as well as one-on-one battles, a headquarters that grows as the story progresses (and only develops fully if obscure characters are recruited) and several mini-games and side quests. Another unique aspect of Suikoden is that the entire series takes place within the same world and the histories are connected; so much so that some characters appear in more than one installation. Also, saved game data can be transferred from Suikoden 1 to Suikoden 2 and Suikoden 2 to Suikoden 3 (Suikogaiden Vol.1 can also receive data from Suikoden 2, and is transferrable to Suikogaiden Vol.2, but only in Japan).

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Suikoden Development

The Suikoden series was created, written, produced, and overseen by Yoshitaka Murayama, who left Konami near the end of Suikoden III's development. Noritada Matsukawa took over as Senior Director of Suikoden III following Murayama's departure. Suikoden IV was directed by Matsukawa as well but was produced by Junko Kawano, who was the chief designer in Suikoden 1.

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Suikoden Games

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Current Installations

Note: Suikoden Tactics is the English title for the Japanese Rhapsodia.

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Coming Installations

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The World of Suikoden

Suikoden's world is distinctive amongst RPGs, both in a geographical and supernatural sense.

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The 27 True Runes

Being the backbone of the Suikoden World that allows the existence of the universe, True Runes are the gods of the Suikoden world. Wholly sentient with its own will, each True Rune holds immeasurable power and has been the cause of many wars in the past. True Runes are often sought by those in power due to its power of granting agelessness to its bearer. All bearers of True Runes stop aging and become immune to disease and all other natural causes of death, although they could still die from physical causes, such as accidents or murder. All True Runes are equal in overall power, but some have abilities that are more suited to combat than others.

Several True Runes have featured in the Suikoden games or loreso far; the entry on the 27 True Runes contains a list of their holders as well as a brief detailing of their histories and powers.

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Geography

The Suikoden world has a complete map, TheirStar.com World Map, which is up-to-date and accurate based on information given by Konami as of the limited edition DVD released with Suikoden V.

There are many countries in the world of Suikoden. The geography has changed slightly, however the above map shows the Suikoden world after the events of Suikoden III, which is the last game in the time line, currently, and includes information from all games in the series.

In the far North are the Knightdom of Camaro and the Nameless Lands in the West, and Harmonia in the East. Below The Nameless Lands lay the Grasslands (Made up of 6 clans: Lizard, Duck, Karaya, Chisha, Safir, Alma Kinan). Directly west of the Grasslands is the Zexen Confederation, which is on the Western Coast of the Continent. East of the Grasslands is lower Harmonia. The west coast curves into the mainland, going southeast. The farthest south village in the Grasslands is Milit. Directly south is the Ocean.

Southeast of the Grasslands, and below Harmonia, is the Dunan Region. This is made up of the Higheast Region (the Highland Kingdom annexed into Dunan as of 460 of the Solar Calendar), Muse, South Window, and Tinto. Highland is in the North, then Muse directly below it. East of Muse is filled with small villages. To the west lay Greenhill, Northwest the Knightdom of Matilda, South across Lake Dunan is South Window, west of that is the Two River Principality with Tinto in the Southwest (Tinto is also Southeast of the Grasslands, and they are boxed in by mountains. Tinto later left the Dunan Republic powers after the events in Suikoden 2 and formed its own independent nation.

South of the Dunan region lays the Toran Republic. South of South Window lay the Senan region and Dana region (Senan is on the left, Dana on the right, divided by a river), with the Kunan region below the Senan region. Further south is the Lorimar region, which harbours Warriors' Village. East of the Lorimar Region is the Great Forest region, which boarders the Kooluk Empire in the South. North of this region is the Goran region. North of this is the Land of Arlus, where Gregminister, the Capital of the Toran Republic, is located. In the centre of all these regions is Lake Toran (starting from Senan, and going to Arlus, in a counter clockwise motion, as seen on the map. Far south, at the southern tip of the continent, is Kanakan, and to the west of that, the former Kooluk Empire, now a part of the Toran Republic.

In the Ocean to the South lay the Island Nations, with the Capital on Obel Island. Further south, on a different landmass, is the mysterious Queendom of Falena, which is explored in Suikoden V, along with their neighbours, the New Armes Kingdom, the Zalant Kingdom and the Nagarea Theocracy.

There also exists a western continent about which little to no details are known, as well with a landmass to the north east of the Queendom of Falena which appears to be of consierable size.

For the use of the Suikoden world in the games, see Geography in the Suikoden series.

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History

Just as the world is consistent, so too is the history of events in the world. In common with many other RPGs, the games do not follow a linear progression of time. Rather, the sequence is as follows:

Suikoden IV (150 years before Suikoden I) → Suikoden V (Ends 6 years before Suikoden I) → Suikoden I (Beginning of the game, 5 years before Suikoden II. End of the game, 3 years before Suikoden II.) → Suikoden II (15 years before Suikoden III) → Suikoden III (Present).

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Publications, Adaptation and Non-Gaming Material

Countless publications, such as the Suikoden World Guide and Suikoden Encyclopedia exist for Suikoden, but these mostly only exist in Japanese. Suikoden and Suikoden II have novel adaptations (both written by Shinjiro Hori), which were only released in Japan, while Suikoden III was adapted into a manga (by Aki Shimizu) which was released on a small scale in English markets by Tokyopop.

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External links

Template:Suikoden seriesde:Suikoden fr:Suikoden id:Suikoden it:Suikoden ja:幻想水滸伝 sv:Suikoden th:เก็นโซซุยโคเด็น

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