Suikoden Tierkreis!

[Joshkdmw]

So, I grabed me this game earlier today, with about an hour put in - just beat the first quest.

I'm loving it so far - Sticking with the standard "108 people with special powers" formula, from what I can see, and the abundance of voice acting is surprising for a DS game.

But Here's some questions for other people with the game:

What do the various Logos mean in the character stats screen? The sword is obviously attack, and the sword-and-shield defense. The wand and wand-and-shield Magic and Magic defense, respectively. But after that it gets Hazy.

The hand. What the hell is the hand? Is that good? Equipping mittens increases your hand score. Dexterity, maybe? The running man. I have to guess speed? Maybe? And the star. My best guess is luck.

See, I don't know for sure, because it doesn't include that information in either the game, or the instruction manual. In fact, the instruction manual contains little more than the name of the game.

So what the hell is the hand!?


Anyone else playing the game, and want to share impressions? I know SOME of you are playing this.

[Chris_D]

Yup, despite some BS reviews (I get tired of reviews sometime) this is a REAL Suikoden game. If you ever liked the series you owe it to yourself to check it out. In fact, JRPG fans who are sick of just getting remakes on their handhelds should support this game. It is a completely original game with relatively minimal ties to the earlier games (at least in the 7 hours I've played so far), basically more than enough to please existing fans, but nothing that will scare off new comers.

Technically, this game reminds me that the DS can have good looking games. The game uses gorgeous 2D backgrounds like Suikoden 2 but 3D sprites (design is a bit reminiscent of Suikoden 3 but more super-deformed). Music is very much Suikoden 2, some good tunes there. I haven't got too far in the story but it seems quite original and interesting so far. The second screen is used quite well to display background scenery, character portraits, and even character comments during battle.

For anyone who's scared off by the 7-8 review scores, well, seems like the only JRPGs that score highly these days are remakes, Final Fantasies, or Dragon Quests (Persona 3/4 kind of an exception). So, if you're looking for a JRPG for your DS, and don't want to pay $40 for something you already beat 5x on your SNES, then check it out.

[menage]

For anyone who's scared off by the 7-8 review scores, well, seems like the only JRPGs that score highly these days are remakes, Final Fantasies, or Dragon Quests (Persona 3/4 kind of an exception). So, if you're looking for a JRPG for your DS, and don't want to pay $40 for something you already beat 5x on your SNES, then check it out.

I never played much Suikoden in the past (only 1 on PS1 as a rental). But I kinda liked the look of this when it was shown in previews so I thought I would go with it, since it was supposed to be kinda a reboot and all.

I'm loving it. It easily my favorite DS game so far. I really don't get the review scores at all. I'm 10 hours in and the game keeps on throwing new shit my way. It looks incredibly good for a DS title and the music warps me right back to the snes days of JRPG-ing. No it doesn't break radical new ground, and it can go overboard on the storytelling (which is pretty good btw), but it's undeniably charming and fun.

I agree with the point that if it isn't a FF or DQ it can almost never get a higher score than 7 or 8 nowadays. Funny thing is, I like some 7-8 games more these days than the 10/10 games out there. Every JRPG is flawed at some level, especially FF.

I have no idea what the symbols mean btw. I just look at if it's an upgrade in attack, magic, speed or defense or not with these games, the rest I don't care much about. It's a pretty simple game so it's not like I have to dive in Disgaea style to really get anywhere. Blue is good, red is bad is my motto:P

[jpublic]

I'm probably picking this up once I finish My World My Way.

[Joshkdmw]

I agree that the game reminds me of Suikoden II in a few ways. Seems the Suikoden series has a distinct feel to it, and this game delivers on that feeling.

One thing that's bound to come up: The main character's speech. Talks kinda fast, huh? After a few minutes, I realized that I liked it! Basically, I think of it as the main character having a neat quirk about him. He's surrounded by friends, so they know he just talks that way, and they're used to it. Makes me feel like I'm not playing a stock main character.

But I also noticed that some other characters will speak fast, as well. This leads me to beliive that during production, the voice actors were told to say their lines faster. "Speed it up", they'd say. Probably because there's so much voice work in this game (I have played major console titles with less (Lost Odyssey comes to mind)), and saying the lines faster would require less space on the cartridge to store them.

[menage]

I agree that the game reminds me of Suikoden II in a few ways. Seems the Suikoden series has a distinct feel to it, and this game delivers on that feeling.

One thing that's bound to come up: The main character's speech. Talks kinda fast, huh? After a few minutes, I realized that I liked it! Basically, I think of it as the main character having a neat quirk about him. He's surrounded by friends, so they know he just talks that way, and they're used to it. Makes me feel like I'm not playing a stock main character.

But I also noticed that some other characters will speak fast, as well. This leads me to beliive that during production, the voice actors were told to say their lines faster. "Speed it up", they'd say. Probably because there's so much voice work in this game (I have played major console titles with less (Lost Odyssey comes to mind)), and saying the lines faster would require less space on the cartridge to store them.

I actually like that about the voices. It at least sounds more natural and personal than the "Hey .... how .... are ..... you feeling today ......" speech almost every JRPG suffers from. Kinda makes me feel like I'm watching a Saturday morning cartoon which blazes past when I was 10.

[Joshkdmw]

I actually like that about the voices. It at least sounds more natural and personal than the "Hey .... how .... are ..... you feeling today ......" speech almost every JRPG suffers from. Kinda makes me feel like I'm watching a Saturday morning cartoon which blazes past when I was 10.

Yes! That's very true. The speed is more of a normal speaking one. It takes some getting used to.

[Joshkdmw]

So, anybody know where the title comes from? The "Tierkreis" part? It sounds German, but it translates roughly to "Animal set" if that's the case.

I'm stumped. And what does "Suikoden" mean anyways, while we're at it.

[menage]

I googled a bit. seems to mean something like Zodiac system (or whatever that's precisely called in English, I'm Dutch:P). Which actually makes a lot of sense with the 108 stars stuff.

No clue what Suikoden means, Japanese for sure.

How far into the game are you guys?

[Joshkdmw]

I googled a bit. seems to mean something like Zodiac system (or whatever that's precisely called in English, I'm Dutch:P). Which actually makes a lot of sense with the 108 stars stuff.

No clue what Suikoden means, Japanese for sure.

How far into the game are you guys?

About three hours - just got past Grayridge with the whole SNAFU with the Secretary, heading to Cynas.

[menage]

About three hours - just got past Grayridge with the whole SNAFU with the Secretary, heading to Cynas.

Ah ok, loved the music in Grayridge, really stuck in my head. Catchy:D

I'm 10 hours in now. Still love it. Played some this morning on the train, more new places, more new characters.

[Chris_D]

10 hours in too. It's just slightly disappointing that the strategy component has been very simple so far, even compared to Suikoden 3, but it's still a fine little jrpg. Go buy it :).

[Spigot]

Yes! That's very true. The speed is more of a normal speaking one. It takes some getting used to.It's a normal speaking speed if you hang out with the Micro Machines guy. Some of the VO is decent, but the main character and a couple of the other characters sound like they cranked the playback speed up a few RPMs.

I spent about an hour with the game last night and I do like it. I'll get back to it in the near future, but the voices... the VOICES!

At least they inherently sound good. It's just the strange speed that some of them playback at that irks me.

I have played through Suikoden 3 and a large chunk of Suikoden 2 and while I can agree with the fact that this is lacking a lot of the core Suikoden elements, it's still a good JRPG and there are enough things from Suikoden to make me happy.

[Joshkdmw]

It's a normal speaking speed if you hang out with the Micro Machines guy. Some of the VO is decent, but the main character and a couple of the other characters sound like they cranked the playback speed up a few RPMs.

I DO hang out wth the Micro Machines guy. Good guy - name's Dave. And that speed-talking thing is a great ice-breaker at parties. You would not believe the pussy he pulls with it.

[Chris_D]

I'm still waiting for my hero (I called him Max) to pull some pussy :(.

[Joshkdmw]

I'm still waiting for my hero (I called him Max) to pull some pussy :(.

See, Hero naming always poses a problem for me. When they don't even SUGGEST a name, I can never come up with one that's neat and original.

My Go-to for most games that don't suggest a name is Laguna. Because He's the only RPG character I can think of who just used a gun.

For Tierkreis, I decided to go with a name from the same universe - I went with Jowy. Yes, from Suikoden II. Because Jowy was Awesome, and because the main character in this game uses a Staff as well.

As far as pulling pussy - I'm just hoping I get to see some romantic subplot happening. Maybe with Marica?

[Disgustipated]

See, Hero naming always poses a problem for me. When they don't even SUGGEST a name, I can never come up with one that's neat and original.

My Go-to for most games that don't suggest a name is Laguna. Because He's the only RPG character I can think of who just used a gun.

For Tierkreis, I decided to go with a name from the same universe - I went with Jowy. Yes, from Suikoden II. Because Jowy was Awesome, and because the main character in this game uses a Staff as well.

As far as pulling pussy - I'm just hoping I get to see some romantic subplot happening. Maybe with Marica?

If you guys want your dude to pull pussy in an RPG, the only reasonable name is "Bangbus."

[Joshkdmw]

If you guys want your dude to pull pussy in an RPG, the only reasonable name is "Bangbus."

I don't think that "Bangbus" is, at any point, a reasonable name, in any sense.


Funny story, though: First time I played Chrono Trigger (I was about 14), I named the cave-woman "Sexy!!", because I knew she would introduce herself thusly: "Me SEXY!!"

And she did not disappoint me.

[TheSilentDeath]

I'm stumped. And what does "Suikoden" mean anyways, while we're at it.

No clue what Suikoden means, Japanese for sure

I actually know this since it is the Japanese name of one of the Chinese classics, specifically 水滸傳, which is Shui Hu Zhuan in pinyin without the tones, and it literally means something close to The Water Margin but is commonly translated as The Outlaws of the Marsh

As for the game itself I think I got about 14 or so hours in and put it down. It's not a bad game at all, and in fact it is quite a great rpg for the ds, it's just that it got me into wanting to play a Suikoden game on the console, and there is also the fact that I wanted to use runes and they are no where to be found. In fact it did just that since I fired V up for my third playthrough of it.

As for the voice acting there were really only two people that got on my nerves. Those two being the main character and Dirk, oh how I wish I could physically hurt Dirk so that he could never speak again.

[Joshkdmw]

Holy Crap! After my session tonight, this game just kicked into High gear!

I have named my force The "Lycidian" company, after John Milton's Poem, Lycidas. So named because of the heavy allusions to mortality within the work, and water (which apparently the name Suikoden refers to in some way, as TheSilentDeath thinks), but in Lycidas, there is a thorough denouncement of the Clergy. And the main aggressors in the game appear to be the Order of the One True Way, which I view to be a primarily theocratic nation - Much like the England of Milton's time. So, it follows that my company will be a thorn in their side, as the poem Lycidas was to the English Clergy.

My next choice would have been "Citroen". You know. Because they're from Citro village.



Hey, they can't all be detailed literary references.

[menage]

Hey, they can't all be detailed literary references.

Haha

I named mine MACH 7 XZ! company. Just because I'm always dead serious about my names and wanted to break it up. Castle is named MACHBURG!.

[Joshkdmw]

Haha

I named mine MACH 7 XZ! company. Just because I'm always dead serious about my names and wanted to break it up. Castle is named MACHBURG!.

Ooh... I'm gonna have to think hard to come up with a good castle name.

Maybe "Pianosa". Nice little tip of the hat to Catch-22.

[Chris_D]

I named my company "Friendly Company" and my castle "Castle Cheerful". And my hero of course is Max. I felt that the main hero is pretty goofy so I wanted to have some goofy names. Sorry to anyone named Max :).

[Spigot]

Oh, so there IS a castle in this Suikoden. Sweet. I was worried that there wasn't.

[TheSilentDeath]

and water (which apparently the name Suikoden refers to in some way, as TheSilentDeath thinks)

I was stating a fact not a thought :p. In the original Chinese Shui means water so, yes it has some to do with water.

[Joshkdmw]

I was stating a fact not a thought :p. In the original Chinese Shui means water so, yes it has some to do with water.

I meant to type "Says", rather than "Thinks". Don't worry, I trust your word.

Now would be the time to turn to your friend and say "He's going for it! *snicker*"

[menage]

Anyone else think the child-parent relationships in this game are a bit weird. I mean in a single hour I saw a fight between a parent and sibling, a parent abusing her kid for research and a weird girl calling herself mommy to her peers.

[Spigot]

Anyone else think the child-parent relationships in this game are a bit weird. I mean in a single hour I saw a fight between a parent and sibling, a parent abusing her kid for research and a weird girl calling herself mommy to her peers.Sounds like a friday night around here :)

[Joshkdmw]

Anyone else think the child-parent relationships in this game are a bit weird. I mean in a single hour I saw a fight between a parent and sibling, a parent abusing her kid for research and a weird girl calling herself mommy to her peers.

It's a law of JRPGs. The only people with no parental issues whatsoever are the people who had no parents. Everyone else will be CA-RAZY.

[menage]

It's a law of JRPGs. The only people with no parental issues whatsoever are the people who had no parents. Everyone else will be CA-RAZY.

Yeah, but it seems the parents are the wackos this time:D

[Joshkdmw]

Yeah, but it seems the parents are the wackos this time:D

Also a trope. The children in these settings are typically not only the strongest, but the smartest, and most well-educated. It follows that they would also better understand the concept of familial cordiality that so eludes the older population.

[menage]

Also a trope. The children in these settings are typically not only the strongest, but the smartest, and most well-educated. It follows that they would also better understand the concept of familial cordiality that so eludes the older population.

That's why they're always orphans from another world. No good could come out of those hicks they grew up with most of the time. Although this game isn't so bad in that regard. Only hick there is Dirk.

[menage]

Don't know if anyone is still playing this. But I just crossed the 17 hour mark and the story really kicked into a interesting high gear

The fortress collapsing, the knight getting blamed and the whole bunch escaping the magedom

Quite fun and well done, I was getting bored a bit but now I'm there again.

[Spigot]

It's nice to hear that it kicks up again later in the game. I haven't really played more than a bit at the beginning but I look forward to sinking some time into it once I finish up a few of these other games.

[Chris_D]

I'm a bit past where you are menage, and yeah the story continues at a nice pace. But somehow, since I started playing Star Ocean 4 it's caused me to take a break (about about the 20 or so hour mark). Maybe two JRPGs on the go at the same time is a bit much? Anyway, I will be sure to get back to it but in the meantime I've just been playing some stuff on the ipod.

[menage]

I'm a bit past where you are menage, and yeah the story continues at a nice pace. But somehow, since I started playing Star Ocean 4 it's caused me to take a break (about about the 20 or so hour mark). Maybe two JRPGs on the go at the same time is a bit much? Anyway, I will be sure to get back to it but in the meantime I've just been playing some stuff on the ipod.

Yeah, playing 2 JRPG's at once isn't really doable in my book. So I'm sticking with it cause it really is the most fun I've had in a JRPG since Lost Odyseey.

And my castle is even bigger now, woohoo:d, I love how stuff keeps changing in the world

[Spigot]

Psh. You guys are wimps. You have to juggle at least 3-4 different JRPGs across as many different platforms to be truly confused!

I've been trying to only play one JRPG on the DS at a time lately. I tend to flip back and forth as my interest waxes and wanes on various titles but that's a sure way to send something to the backlog pile for longer than it should be there. Now that I've essentially taken Chrono Trigger out behind the woodshed and shot it in the head, I can move on to other things. I'm just torn between starting up Suikoden or Avalon Code...

[menage]

Psh. You guys are wimps. You have to juggle at least 3-4 different JRPGs across as many different platforms to be truly confused!


Oooh, mister JRPG Hardcore tough guy:P.

But you are right about playing one DS RPG at a the time though. I tried to juggle, and all I got was unfinished stuff on the shelf.