505 Video games have launched a chunky overview trailer for the closely Suikoden-inspired RPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes – which suggests it’s time as soon as once more for me to share that one Suikoden story I’ve about how I purchased Suikoden 2 for PS1 however bought bored and traded it in, and now PS1 copies of Suikoden 2 commonly promote for tons of of kilos, and why, why, didn’t you retain that in your sock drawer, Edwin, as an alternative of your prized classic copy of V-Rally, present common eBay value £3.99???
Plus which, Suikoden 2 is clearly one of many greatest RPGs ever made, Edwin, you blundering oaf, you absolute weapon. Arrrrgh. Hopefully Eiyuden Chronicle will ease the agony somewhat when it goes on sale on twenty third April 2024.
When you’ve got no concept what Suikoden is – or why I’m yelling at myself – it’s an acclaimed if barely forgotten RPG sequence from Konami and Hudson Tender, whose core gimmick is which you could recruit scores of named characters, and pit them in opposition to one another in each party-based battle and full-on military fight. It’s additionally recognized for having luxurious writing, even by RPG requirements. Suikoden 2 particularly is one in all Last Fantasy 7’s biggest rivals. Or so I’m informed.
Hundred Heroes – which follows iffy action-RPG prequel Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising – is just about a Suikoden sequel with the labels torn off. It’s directed by Suikoden’s authentic author and designer Yoshitaka Murayama, and is the story of three children elevating a posse to avoid wasting a world’s price of warring empires and unspecified mystical calamities.
The hundred heroes in query cowl a number of anime subtypes, from critical to crazy. You’ve bought brooding swordswomen on the one hand, and prancing magic women on the opposite. There’s a shark in a pirate costume in there, and a few type of gritty mercenary kangaroo. The graphics are a stability of lush 2D pixelart characters and a few good, if not breathtaking 3D environments.
The turn-based get together fight seems fairly commonplace for an RPG, except for a terrain mechanic that allows you to cower behind rocks to keep away from huge boss assaults. The military battles, in the meantime, are type of lo-fi Complete Battle meets Advance Wars, with battalions of 3D troops unfold throughout a grid.
Between quests and skirmishes, you’ll return to a house citadel that expands for each character you add to your retinue. Apart from customisation choices, it homes minigames reminiscent of card-battling, fishing, cooking and all people’s favorite, Puffy Anime Critter Derby. I approve of all this nearly as a lot as I disapprove of myself for letting the unique Suikoden 2 slip via my adolescent clutches. Curse my wayward youth! Wait, what do you imply ‘there’s an HD remaster on Steam’?
