Suikoden

1995 · RPG · PlayStation

Overview

Suikoden (1995) is Konami's PlayStation RPG, loosely based on the novel Water Margin, in which a general's son gathers the 108 Stars of Destiny to rebel against the Scarlet Moon Empire.

Deep Dive

The hero, son of a general of the Scarlet Moon Empire, joins a revolt against the corrupt state and sets out to gather the 108 Stars of Destiny. Up to 107 characters can be recruited, and more than 90 of them can fight. An abandoned castle becomes the Liberation Army's headquarters, and the player names it. Ordinary battles are turn-based with six-character parties, while one-on-one duels and large army battles use rock-paper-scissors systems.

Developer Story

Yoshitaka Murayama directed the game and wrote the scenario, with Junko Kawano as designer and artist. Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo developed it over roughly two years, and it was released in Japan on 15 December 1995 and North America a year later. Suikoden II followed in 1998.