New Review Posted: Suikoden IV

Daniel Weissenberger · 03-01-2005, 09:35 PM

Mike Bracken reviews Suikoden IV, and laments the trials of the video game critic:

"I'm not sure which is the more unpleasant part of being a game reviewer: having to play games that you know will be awful (e.g. Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis) or finding yourself playing a game that you were really looking forward to and finding out it isn't very good. If I had to choose, the latter scenario is probably more bothersome. When I know a game is gonna be terrible, I just put my nose to the grindstone and soldier through, content in the knowledge that I can write a scathing review of it wherein I get to spout off a few funny lines about how bad everything is. In the second case, I'm more like a punch-drunk boxer—dazed at each new way the game lets me down. Even worse is the dread I feel knowing that I'll have to be the guy giving something I expected to be good a less-than-great score. Factor the sheer disappointment into the equation, and it's easy to see how a potentially good game being bad lingers with the critic a whole lot longer than the standard awful game."

If you'd like to know how he really feels, you can find out here.

k8to · 03-02-2005, 06:11 AM

I can only say this game was an intense disappointment for me. I wish i'd read reviews ahead of time.

Hypatia93 · 03-02-2005, 10:46 AM

Oh, poor Mike. Do you need a hug?

Is the Suikoden series tied together in anyway? I mean, should you play 1 before 2, etc. or is it more like the Final Fantasy series? Just curious.

And no worries here, I'll be sure and stay far, far away from this title.

Mike Bracken · 03-02-2005, 12:23 PM

They're not really tied together, although if you play them in order and get all 108 Stars of Destiny, you can use that save file on the next game for some extra stuff.

Of course, you can't do this with Suikoden IV for some reason--yet one more way this one fails to live up to the series.

Mike B.

Reharl · 03-02-2005, 12:28 PM

Well, look at the bright side of things: this is the first Suikoden that ever made it to Europe.

Sajon · 03-02-2005, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_Bracken

They're not really tied together, although if you play them in order and get all 108 Stars of Destiny, you can use that save file on the next game for some extra stuff.

They *do* tie together. It's not like FF at all. They are linear sequels with tons of reoccuring characters. 1 should definitely be played before 2. 3 and 4 are a little more disconnected, though.

Quote:

Of course, you can't do this with Suikoden IV for some reason--yet one more way this one fails to live up to the series.

The reason is because IV is a prequel. Not that this makes the game any better, but it does make sense that you can't import characters and stats from 3 because it takes place several hundred years in the future.

-Matt

Mike Bracken · 03-02-2005, 04:58 PM

The characters may recur, but most of them are just the stars of destiny, who're barely developed anyway.

I've never seen a point to playing them in order.

Mike B.

Sajon · 03-02-2005, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_Bracken

The characters may recur, but most of them are just the stars of destiny, who're barely developed anyway.

Lots of them are developed, and there are plotlines that are connected in complicated ways across 1 and 2. 1 and 2 are pretty tighly knit. I can see your point with 3 and 4, but 2 has an entirely different dimension of meaning if you've played 1.

-Matt

k8to · 03-02-2005, 11:10 PM

Hypatia:

The Suikoden games take place in the same world, but often significantly removed in time (on the order of 30 to 100 years apart), and so far always in different regions. They focus on times of strife and/or war in the world and the runes which are pivotal in these events.

The background and world of the various games do interrelate, but mostly more in the background than foreground: generally in terms of character backstories, motives, and origins. If you're the kind of person to take note of details and relish little references, the tie-ins are fun, but often they are not all that overt. As I have played the games many years apart, I've often missed a number of these details.

Hypatia93 · 03-03-2005, 08:26 AM

Thanks fellas, as always!

You know what I just LOVE about this site? (Well, just one of the things, really.) It's that no one here makes me feel dumb. I could ask what may seem to be the /stupidest/ question (okay, there are no stupid questions), I mean a question that points me as being "newbie-fied" to the max, and you all treat me with such respect. And you're all so sweet. And truly helpful.

I just think that's so wonderful. Thank you. Honestly. I KNOW! Let's form a band! *lol*

I love you guys.

Thanks for being my friends. And not just the folks here that have answered, but all the swell people on this site.

(Hmm.. maybe a moderator should move this bit. Who knows?)

k8to · 03-06-2005, 04:21 PM

As some may be aware, I like to shed myself of games when I complete them, and pass or trade them on to others.

Is anyone interested in my copy of Suikoden 4? Despite not measuring up to prior releases, it has some good elements to balance the bad. I found it enjoyable overall. privmsg or email me. Given that it will likely cost to mail, I'd prefer to trade than give away, but am willing to just send along.

mdc0101 · 01-20-2006, 06:26 AM

i need some help on suikoden...
i stuck at illuya island..i dont know where to go..
and dont know where to find the flower seed...
and another thing...izzit i'm alone during this time.. where all my partner ? help me...

Jason Karney · 01-20-2006, 11:06 AM

Poor Mike... still bringing up Aquaman after all that time. That game must have scarred you for life!

--Jason