Earlier this week, Konami delighted classic RPG enthusiasts with a special live stream dedicated to the beloved Suikoden series. Fans have been eagerly awaiting a new entry since the last Japanese and PSP-exclusive side story more than a decade ago, leading to a whirlwind of expectations. The announcements were met with a mix of excitement and apprehension: a Suikoden anime (yay!), and a brand new Suikoden game for mobile (okay, sure!)—but with gacha mechanics (oh no!).
Starting with the anime, titled "Suikoden: The Anime," it will adapt the events of Suikoden 2 and marks the first production from Konami Animation. While we didn't get a detailed look or any information on its international availability yet, a brief scenery clip was shared:
This is thrilling news for Suikoden aficionados and could serve as an excellent introduction for newcomers if it becomes widely accessible.
The second major announcement, however, stirred mixed feelings among fans. A new game, "Suikoden Star Leap," was unveiled, boasting beautiful visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler's 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds. Set a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, it maintains the series' tradition of featuring 108 characters.
However, the excitement was tempered by the news that "Star Leap" will be released exclusively on mobile platforms. While this might not deter die-hard fans, the inclusion of gacha mechanics and ongoing monetization has raised concerns. This marks a departure from the series' tradition of premium, console, and PC releases. The impact of these monetization choices on gameplay and the ability to collect all 108 characters remains to be seen.
In the meantime, fans can look forward to the re-release of Suikoden 1 and 2 with "Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars." A new trailer for this collection was showcased during the live event, and it's set to launch tomorrow, on March 6.
