Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster Review: Gameplay Impressions, Videos and Top Features

Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars from Konami is a revival of a beloved JRPG for modern times. 

Technically a remaster of a port that first released in 2006 on the PlayStation Portable handheld game system, the effort brings two giant, deep RPG experiences to the forefront of gaming again. 

Like other remasters before it, Suikoden must strike a balance that adds meaningful updates while also keeping the spirit of the original intact—no easy task when the source material originally releases as far back as 1995 and 1998.

If done well, though, this remaster effort will shine a light on just how well the series has aged and how much of today’s RPG landscape found inspiration in those originals. 

Graphics and Gameplay

As it should be given the time gap and hardware involved, comparing the original port to this new release is downright staggering.

Suikoden was already one of those gorgeous RPG efforts with big colorful characters and engrossing background environments. Big graphical improvements, including beefed-up backdrop scenes, only enhance the experience. 

Care and attention clearly went into little things that aren’t just increased horsepower, too, like redrawn character portraits. A completely new world map is a nice touch, too. And little quality-of-life updates such as town minimaps make things much smoother. The main character’s sprite even has a running animation now. 

Not that there aren’t big upgrades thanks to the new tech of the era. Particle effects and the like in battle have clearly been upgraded. New sound effects retain a retro-type vibe but sound great, too. 

It’s important to stress that none of the updates feel out of place—while upgrades, they still look and sound as if they could have been organic parts of the original releases. 

Suikoden’s tried-and-true gameplay returns, meaning classical JRPG random encounters, a party of six swappable characters and a home base to customize. 

In battle, short, medium and long-range characters that impact how players navigate the rows of enemies confronted make party composition a huge emphasis of pre-fight strategy. That, on top of normal turn-based goodness like weaknesses, buffs and individual skill types of characters. 

Duels and war battles return and still keep things simplistic. It’s still refreshing to see a turn-based JRPG include these narrower and much broader battle types when the narrative calls for it. Keep in mind that perma-death for the giant battles remains on, too. 

Speaking of the usual goodness, various types of runes found throughout the world impact abilities and magical spells, too. Like before, being able to stumble upon these types of goodies makes exploration and secret hunting outside of battle engaging. 

One of the best outright improvements as the game modernizes to match the times? A fast-forward toggle in battle speeds things up. 

Other gameplay improvements make it a close race, though. Again, it sounds almost silly in modern times, but the new ability to move characters diagonally is a nice expansion of actions available to players. 

Truthfully, this remaster didn’t need to do much in these areas. The gameplay has stood the test of time for 30ish years for a reason. But the smart tweaks around it make for a fantastic blend. 

Story and More

The rich storytelling and characters that helped Suikoden stand out even in the 90s amid the likes of Final Fantasy and other JRPG juggernauts returns.

There’s a classical tale here involving an empire with a corrupt ruler. Players take on a main character who inevitably seeks to right certain wrongs. The sequel directly follows up on the narrative, as can player choices in terms of companions and the like.

While games with 100-plus characters might sound intimidating or lead one to think that there is filler content, that’s simply not the case. Many, many of the characters found throughout the game register as memorable, even to this day. 

Beyond the main narratives and exploration, players can tackle side quests that are worth their time. 

Overall progression is pretty standard JRPG fare, but Suikoden nails character recruitment better than most. It’s a blast to expand an army with such a diverse, broad cast and as longtime players know, the games do a good job of letting new party members catch up quickly to the player’s level.

Headquarters, or base building, is another huge element that the series nailed a long time ago. Fleshing out the base as games continue is deep and gives players an immense feeling of control over the proceedings. 

On the technical side, this effort includes a strong list of options and little inclusions that are taken for granted in 2025, such as auto-saving and conversation logs. A new difficulty mode throws out a challenge for players who have brushed paths with the series in the past, too. 

Overall, the game runs well, which isn’t shocking for games that are roughly three decades old. It’s the perfect at-home or portable experience in this regard.  

Conclusion

Konami’s return to form, alongside recent outings like Silent Hill, continues here with Suikoden 1 & 2. 

This is a landmark moment for many JRPG fans and those who are unfamiliar with the series won’t find a better jumping-on point for a classic. The engrossing combat, beautiful world and deep systems like character recruiting and base building have stood the test of time and will continue to do so.

This effort does an incredible job of retaining the spirit of the original games, too, adding just enough in the way of modern features to bring the experience forward in a sensible manner. 

The result is a portal to the past in the best way possible, one that proves Suikoden 1 & 2 remains a top dog in its lane that, even three decades later, continues to raise the bar.