Suikoden Tactics Review! (PS2) The Game Collection!

In this Suikoden Tactics Review, SuperDerek takes a look at Suikoden Tactics for PlayStation 2 and examines the series first, and only Tactical RPG entry.
Welcome back to The Game Collection!
Last week, I talked about Suikoden IV. As I continue to make my way through this year’s Summer of Suikoden, we're going to take a look at the game's direct follow-up and sequel: Suikoden Tactics!
A little over one year after the release of Suikoden IV, Konami released a direct follow-up, Suikoden Tactics for the PlayStation 2. However in Japan, the game is known simply as Rhapsodia. Much like Suikoden IV, Tactics was written and designed by series veteran Junko Kawano, but this time, directing the game was long-time programmer and first-time director Osamu Komuta. Komuta would go on to direct Suikoden Tierkries for Nintendo DS and Genso Suikoden: Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki on PSP, the final Suikoden game, that we never got. For an in-depth look into that game, definitely check out the amazing video by Jimmy Hapa, which I'll link at the end of this video.
As the name would imply, Suikoden Tactics breaks the mold set by each of the Suikoden games that preceded it by borrowing from the likes of Shining Force and Fire Emblem, and implementing a strategic battle system. The game is often called a prequel to Suikoden IV, but while the game does feature events that take place before the events of Suikoden IV, the majority of the game actually takes place after the events of Suikoden IV. And in case you're wondering, based on my experience playing the games, I highly recommend playing through Suikoden IV before Tactics and not the other way around. Especially because importing save data from Suikoden IV unlocks certain powerful characters that can join your party later on.
Suikoden Tactics picks up about 7 years before the events of Suikoden IV, as it follows the story of Kyril, a young boy who is traveling with his father and his father’s companions. The group is apparently searching for something, which takes them across the paths of strange fish-like monsters that seem to be somehow connected. Just as soon as we start to uncover some answers, tragedy strikes as our hero bears witness to the pirate Brandeaux as he acquires the Cursed Rune of Punishment. This event go on to set the events of Suikoden IV into motion. After that, the story jumps to 10 years later, to find Kyril resume the quest that he had once embarked upon all those years ago.
And if that story hook sounded a little vague, unfortunately I had to keep it that way because of the way the story interconnects with Suikoden IV. The story of Suikoden Tactics overall feels a lot simpler than the Suikoden games that preceded it, and is far more objective oriented from start to finish. This feels pretty refreshing right on the heels of the slow start found in Suikoden IV. In fact, much of the story of Tactics feels like it was put together to address some of the criticisms levied against the game's older brother. For instance, far more time was devoted to the development of many favorite characters found within Suikoden IV.
#suikodentactics
However, the way certain objects from Suikoden IV were retconned into having previously un-described characteristics and capabilities didn't really sit well with me. These objects were effectively turned into this game's evil McGuffins that needed to be destroyed. I understand that it was done in an attempt to further link the two games together, but it really feels like an idea was just tacked on to justify the sequel, rather than something planned from the beginning. Due to the way the plot centers around these evil McGuffins, I just wish that it felt like it fit better with the established lore of Suikoden IV.
The story of Tactics, while simple, still managed to be an emotionally engaging one. The game has random moments of brutal tragedy that feel right at home in a Suikoden game. However, I found that the bright and cartoony visuals juxtaposed against these dark events felt rather jarring. And maybe that was an intended effect? And I'm going to try not to spoil anything, but I need to tell you that the ending of the game glosses over one of the biggest bombshells in video game history that left me feeling a little uncomfortable with its implications. I didn't know whether to laugh or cringe at the revelation. Neither of which were the intended reactions to the heartwarming conclusion the designers were aiming for, I am sure.
#SuikodenTactics
#SummerOfSuikoden

[@Grind24hours]

I am looking forwards to the Suikoden 1+2 on the switch. You have such a calm, soothing voice! Grind on, man

[@TylerEdlin84]

Next summer Derek let’s see some summer of arc the lad. When I was 17 I played through the whole collection one summer it was fantastic

[@zempmasterz]

I'm playing through the arc the lad games right now and plan on playing suikoden for the first time after I'm done. Crazy thing, arc the lad 1 is like 6 hours long

[@gerlonggaul]

I didn't play Arc the Lad arc but I second this. I want to know the whole franchise story

[@notyoursavior78]

I beat Arc the Lad in under 10 hours, which I couldn't believe because I really take my time with games, talk to everyone, explore everywhere. I mean the game was good but couldn't believe how short it was.

[@TylerEdlin84]

notyoursavior78 it’s just a pre chapter to 2 nothing more

[@OutOfTheShadows1]

I still have to say, suikoden tactics ending was the G.O.A.T

[@SuperDerek]

You're really going to ram that pun into the ground at this rate. ;)

[@niespeludo]

I love how you're opening up with tactical/strategy RPGs. Getting into new games or genres at our age is really hard but seeing you opening up to these games is like being a kid again. Keep up the good work Derek. Loving how focused you are on the KZbin thing, nothing but respect man.

[@henryb3066]

drubio are you insinuating that tactical RPGs are a NEW thing? Ha

[@niespeludo]

No Henry, I'm implying that getting into things at our age (late 20s/early 30s) that you haven't tried before is a bit hard. Derek had not played many tactical rpgs before, hence the comment.

[@henryb3066]

drubio ahhhhhh, Thanks for the clarification.

[@PastoKage]

SummerOfSuikoden FTW!

[@ericqdavies]

This game was an interesting step to the side for a fun series. I always enjoyed the small tactical battles in the early entries. Great review!

[@SuperDerek]

Yeah, I feel like the series was flirting with tactics for a while, and this time they decided to go full ham!

[@Pix3l_Pr1ncess]

Awesome review! I'm going to check this out.

[@SuperDerek]

Thanks SupaPixelGirl! :D

[@jcoop8]

If you need more Tactics, there are plenty of quality ones. Not sure if you have played FFT War of the Lions, or the FFT sequels, but those are always a good way to go. Tactics Ogre series as well, and if you want a more wonky weeby experience, Disgaea series and many of the early NIS Tactics games like La Pucelle Phantom Brave and Makai Kingdom, there are many avenues to venture for tactical JRPGs.

[@DuoBeard]

Jeff Cooper - I’m very happy to say ps1 FFTactics is my favorite tactical RPG, that’s just my opinion.

[@wschippr1]

Jeff Cooper Front mission is also good if one wants a non-fantasy tactical RPG

[@Beetlejuice2959]

Good mention to vandal hearts 1+2 too. Also on PC is Fell Seal Arbiters Mark

[@milliethesillie]

Great stuff as always! Recently got this on the cheap and can't wait to play it!

[@ElBribri]

YES more Suikoden!! and the SOS!

[@robertbarker5802]

Can't wait to play this one. Slowly reacquiring the Suikoden games I was dumb enough to let go over the years. And Tactics is one of the very few I never had. CAN. NOT. WAIT.

[@toolman4745]

OMG THAT OPENING MUSIC! Always loved Rising Tide. But all Suikoden music is amazing. I have this game but have never played it. I got it on super sale and was going to play it after I beat 4 but then I couldn't get over the 4 person battles and the shorts.... It's really too bad, it looks super cool and I love tactical RPGs. I'll have to play it at some pont.

[@blastedmcgraw152]

Very nice review! I’ve always heard negative things about this title, so it’s nice to see a different opinion.

[@DaddyGamerReviews]

Well done as usual!

[@SeventhheavenDK]

I never understood why konami decided to make a direct sequel of the least interesting suikoden. Especially when having Suikoden 2 among their lines. Next suikoden 5? That game was just so epic. After suikoden 2 is definitely my favorite.

[@stephanier3343]

Great review Derek 😁

[@SuperDerek]

Thank you Stephanie! :)

[@rossrobertson674]

I wish I didn't sell this game, good game but I've yet to play a tactics game that can hold a candle to final fantasy tactics

[@Chelaxim]

Ross Robertson Tactics Ogre

[@SuperDerek]

Luckily the game is still relatively inexpensive these days, I think you can usually pick up a complete or brand-new copy for $10-20 :)

[@niespeludo]

You're looking for tactics ogre, preferably on PSP

[@Chelaxim]

drubio I have always perferd the PS1 version. Have you played Tactics Ogre The Knight of Lodis?

[@NickEnlowe]

And Jeanne D'Arc!

[@Mscape7]

It is actually based on Vandal Hearts 1 and 2, Konamixs SRPGs, and the best ones in the genre.

[@erizindo]

the tactics spin-off is actually quite an interesting idea, it's just a pity they chose the wrong suikoden.

[@balmungkai]

Could imagine suidoken 1 and 2 as tactics would b so good!

[@GamingWithSpoons]

Your making me want to play suikoden series never got a chance to because they were so expensive when I got into rpgs

[@sheldondl]

I'm glad to see this.. I absolutely loved this game.

[@jedimaster12100]

Nice. I love the series. I love your RPG reviews.

[@redstratus97]

Thanks! I guess I need to play the 4th game first.

[@gullpayne]

Looks good only one I don’t have

[@dannish8119]

Front Mission 4 and 5 have links. They're absolutely vital to victory there.

[@Soul-mx3lo]

Great video man. I’m really looking forward to playing this game after I finish 5. I would however love it if you made a video that solely focused on the ending. The way you talked about it just has my curiosity perked. I wouldn’t even care if it spoiled the ending for me lol

[@gerlonggaul]

🎼🎵RHAPSODIAAAAAAA....🎶 I do hope Konami re-release this on to Switch in HD......Not on Pachinko machine

[@SeventhheavenDK]

Aphiet Aprianto. Lets be honest, if its coming it will be on Play Station consoles.

[@gerlonggaul]

I think it would be most likely on Pachinko :))

[@SeventhheavenDK]

Aphiet Aprianto. Well, I state it because recently, little by little konami uploaded suikoden 1-4 in the psn. Now waiting for suiko 5 and probably suikotactics.

[@gerlonggaul]

ahhh I see. I am in asian region, so no Suikoden series in the store *sigh

[@rodrigolinq1536]

Greatest review, as usual!

[@youmuqututube4248]

Thank you

[@Grind24hours]

These videos are great! What is your personal favourite jrpg, Super Derek? I am right now playing Breath of Fire 2 on the switch. A lot of grinding to do! Beating the game is what it's all about. Games I will obtain: Persona 3 remastered, Suikoden 1+2 on the switch and Chrono Trigger on play store.

[@SuperDerek]

Thanks dude! My personal favorite tends to change depending on my mood at any given time. Sometimes it's EarthBound, sometimes it's Grandia, sometimes Breath of Fire III, it's kinda like asking what your favorite song is, right? Depends on if I'm in the mood for something ska-punk or classic rock or jazz, right? Today I'm leaning towards Terranigma. :)

[@luciusirving5926]

I remember when I had this on Gamefly, too bad I had to rush into this fun game. I really loved the music and music like this is very hard to come by.

[@Philkalamansijuice]

Kyril voice actress is same as Musashi from Brave Fencer Musashi

[@TheDetectingZone]

I'm not really into tactical RPGs, but, I do like the visuals of this game. The fish people just looked really weird, but were they as weird as the elephraken from suikoden IV?

[@OutOfTheShadows1]

Jonathan Mejia For me, the weirdest thing was the eyeless people.

[@shurue8628]

A Splatoon strategy RPG is the game I never knew I wanted.

[@HybridAngelZero]

Welp, now I'm gonna spend the rest of my day wistfully wishing for a Splatoon SRPG that's never getting made. I've always heard mixed things about this game, but now I really want to give it a try, I think I would really dig it. Also, Kyril's VA is actually one of my favorite out there, she's been doing voices for decades, but... uh... Casting a woman to do a boy voice doesn't work as well for a teen/early 20s guy in English as it does in Japanese. In a way, it feels like the localization team was being TOO 1:1 with the original

[@CloudsOverDD]

Probably wouldn't be able to play this since it's a tactics game. After ff tactics. All other tactics style games just fall so drastically short

[@craiganderson7085]

Great review Derek. Suikoden games ported to PS4 please Sony. Persona 4 Golden port would be nice too :)

[@Chelaxim]

The characters look like they got lost on the way to Jet Grind Radio.

[@dextersbeard3472]

Can I play this game if I haven't played the other PS2 titles? If I can still take in the full storyline without issues then I would like to get it.

[@marksantory4405]

I recently have been getting into a bunch of the old classic rpgs that I missed out on as a kid, mainly bc back then I just didn't have the patience for them and stuck to platformers and different shooters and action adventure stuff. Rpgs like chrono trigger and all the others seemed so confusing and complicated to me at the time. So anyways, I'm trying to get into some tactical rpgs and wondering what a good one is for me to get my feet wet on. I never played anything tactic based before. Any suggestions? Like I said in another video I love your content and I been binging all your stuff lately. So far since I been getting into rpgs I have finished chrono trigger, a few final fantasy titles, trail of Mana ps4, and breath of fire 2 and 3.

[@marksantory4405]

It's so crazy looking back as a young kid how I used to think I could never get into this stuff bc I basically was just too impatient and felt too dumb for them. It's kind of cool though bc now I have a chance to experience all these great stories for the first time ever. So far chrono trigger is my fav and is the reason I got hooked now. It's mainly just the story is so freaking beautiful and fun.

[@angrybatvoice]

Finding the sudden urge to dig up and watch "Big Bully"... odd...

[@SuperDerek]

Yeah... me too. Weird. :)

[@thehurricane6767]

I tried to play this game back when it first came out and couldn't do it. I found suikoden 4 to be a slog to play through in the first place. but I guess giving it another go wouldn't be a bad idea

[@DuoBeard]

I think this game calls to me

[@jonathanrussell8998]

*Compares the game to Fire Emblem rather than Final Fantasy Tactics* >_> Joking aside, enjoyable review. XD

[@serialkiller88]

i bought this game months ago but i think the disc is damaged or something, i ordered new from amazon and i haven't been able to play it. i put the disc and some texts are missing and it gets stuck in the first battle, such a shame.

[@Mscape7]

Great game.

[@ganganthefatman1382]

They should’ve released this on psp.

[@suikofan]

I hated that the main guy in this game couldn’t learn the “accuracy” skill he misses so often, sometimes even when attacking from behind.

[@eliasfranca7173]

If you play with his correct element throughout the game, he is extremely overpowered. Kyril at the end of the game kills almost everything with a blow and with almost a 100% chance of success. The secret of this game is to stay in the elements of each character for as long as possible. Playing outside him is a big mistake.

[@ariedge2435]

i still not play this game.. because.. i did not have time to play it... love the suikoden 4 though...

[@matsujonen]

I really enjoyed this game. Too bad it was a pre/ sequel to the suikoden I enjoyed the least.

[@dynastystar5515]

question, what would you say your favorite Atelier game is?

[@SuperDerek]

Atelier is a series I haven't dug into yet, to be honest. The series does interest me though. I'm sure I'll dig into it before long. :)

[@dynastystar5515]

sounds cool :)

[@LaughingSeeJack]

Nvr finish this n tierkis

[@TheSILV1982]

yeah the ending was ..... something ....... i mean ....... the Goat ...... yuck

[@PunkTV]

Can you monetized this video?

[@ronelcabrera5191]

last pose always such a cringe

[@SuperDerek]

No need to cringe, I'm living my best life and love what I'm doing, can't you tell? This is what not giving a duck about what other people think actually looks like. :)

[@farmerfreakeasy9577]

"Your bog-standard turn-based strategy RPG that takes place on a tactical grid". Are you for real? You just insulted some of the best RPG's of all time. I'd much rather have a well developed tactical grid than be trawling through dungeons with "random encounters". A tactical grid defines the essence of "game-play", the reason Front Mission got rid of grids is because it takes more thought to develop, and more intelligence to play through. INSULTING.

[@SuperDerek]

lol, first off, get over yourself. I don't care if you choose to be "insulted" by a review of a video game review. Second, I didn't say "bog-standard" as an insult, I said it as a matter of fact: It plays exactly how you would expect a tactical RPG to play, but with some minor tweaks -- and it's the best part of the game. Here's a pro-tip: If you ever get worked up by someone talking about a piece of corporate-made media you like, it's time to take a step back and find a personality. ;)

[@farmerfreakeasy9577]

If "bog-standard" isn't an obvious insult, then i don't know what is. Here's a pro-tip: If you lack experience of playing tactical games, like you said, then perhaps you shouldn't be reviewing them. I suppose next you'll do a review of Front Mission 3 and say the fighting revolves around a "bog-standard" grid. Or review Breath of Fire 4 and say the fighting revolves around "crappy turn-based spell casting, with your characters being statically positioned". You made a mistake; but you don't care.

[@SuperDerek]

@@farmerfreakeasy9577 The mistake I'll cop to, if any, is not knowing that the phrase apparently carries so much baggage with it. Blame it on me watching too much British TV, but not enough to fully grasp the subtext, I guess, and I'll leave it at that.

[@farmerfreakeasy9577]

OK, fair dues. But yes, to insult the grid in such a manner is like saying Chess is pathetic, or that Monopoly should be played without a board. Other than that it was a pretty good review though. 😉