From the Manufacturer
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Any game featuring a hero with an extreme cut is going to
have to try a little bit harder to endear itself to the gaming
community. Fortunately, with outstanding gameplay trumping its
predecessor and a plot to rival today's global power struggles,
Suikoden IV covers more than enough ground to compensate for the
fashion follies of its nameless hero ("Buster" in my playthrough.
Try it. It works). From the little touches like dilated pupils
and oddly satisfying death animations to the grand
world-enveloping storyline, Suikoden IV is a unique and
gratifying RPG experience for gamers seeking something a little
different.
As fans of the series have come to expect, the battle system for
Suikoden IV has been entirely reworked. Though characters can
still perform combo attacks with each other, the pairing system
from the previous game has been scrapped in favor of a more
traditional four-person lineup, with each warrior acting
individually. To give the combat a little more variation, you'll
occasionally have fights that depart drastically from the
standard form: Ship battles have you firing your rune cannons
across a grid-based battlefield, and the one-on-one duels (think
"Rock, Paper, Scissors," but with s) make a return. Though
these additional combat styles are simplistic, they are still
great fun, and a welcome deviation from the normal pattern.
With the numerous entertaining battles and engaging story, part
of me wants to wholeheartedly recommend Suikoden IV, but it gets
hamstrung in a couple of important places. First of all, with the
advent of recorded dialogue, the whole "silent hero" concept has
ceased to be endearing, and instead makes every story point
surrounding him awkward. The supporting cast typically won't even
do the "What was that? You want us to attack?" work-around, which
renders your main hero a strangely mute non-presence in the
events determining his e.
Perhaps the biggest detriment to Suikoden IV can best be
characterized by Milhouse Van Houten's immortal utterance: "When
are they going to get to the fireworks factory?" There are always
exciting events just looming on the horizon, but many require
bouts of oceanic exploration before they unfold. Here's the
problem: your ship moves like a landmass with sails, and random
encounters spring up every five seconds or so. This means that
every time you need to go exploring, the game is artificially
extended by about 45 minutes because of the inordinate a of
time it takes to traverse even a small expanse of the ocean.
Fortunately, between these bouts of tedium (which aren't a
constant problem), the story progresses at a respectable clip,
with plenty of revelations and a steady influx of new members to
keep your party interesting. Add to that several moments in the
story that will leave you staring at your screen slack-jawed in
awe, and you have an outstanding adventure that rewards you well
for your perseverance. Wisely borrowing elements from classics
like Final Fantasy X and Chrono Cross, at its best moments
Suikoden IV sits right up there with the most outstanding RPGs
ever created.
Concept:
Another 108 Stars of Destiny are in desperate need of rallying.
Get crackin'!
Graphics:
Crisp, colorful visuals (especially running in 480p) and a
stunning oceanic setting puts this entry leagues ahead of its
predecessors
Sound:
The score is beautiful, and the addition of voice acting (except
for the silent hero) breathes life into the world
Playability:
The new battle system is fast and fun, but controlling your ship
is like driving a soggy sweater
Entertainment:
When it's good, it's amazing. When it's bad, it utterly stifles
the urge to continue playing
Moderate
Rated: 8.5 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba
Issue: February 2005
2nd Opinion:
While not as emotionally charged as the triptych tale of its
predecessor, Suikoden IV's story lures you in with uncertainty
and the sinking feeling that a terrible e will befall your
character and the world. The inclusion of excellent spoken
dialogue helps out the characters, but for some reason,
Konami opted to keep the lead character silent. This absolutely
drove me nuts. People are conversing with him, why is he just
standing there? Your main character may seem like a ghost at
times, but Konami did a tremendous job with the supporting cast.
Combat has also improved dramatically, and thankfully, Konami has
ditched the horrendous teammate system from the previous
iteration. I love how the Rune of Punishment has a backlash, and
combo attacks are always fun to watch. Ship battles are a bit
simple, yet are a nice addition, and nothing beats questing for
all 108 of the Stars of Destiny. Once again, Konami has crafted
one of the finest RPGs to date. Don't miss it.
Rated: 8.75 out of 10
Editor: Andrew Reiner
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- Explore a vast ocean environment by ship, in a beautifully detailed 3D game world.
- Multiple battles with different tactics - Dynamic sea-based strategy battles, one-on-one combat and four-person team fights.
- Discover the 108 Stars of Destiny on your adventure.