Suikoden Tierkreis

Suikoden Tierkreis

Nintendo DS Japanese cover art

Product Information

Japanese Name

幻想水滸伝 ティアクライス Gensōsuikoden Teiakuraisu

Developer

Konami

Platform(s)

Nintendo DS

Release Information

Released

Nintendo DS
December 18, 2008
March 13, 2009
March 17, 2009
March 26, 2009
July 16, 2009
February 18, 2010 (KONAMI the Best)
July 15, 2010 (Best Selection)

Sales

Nintendo DS
155,777

Series Information

Predecessor

Genso Suikoden Tierkreis Hoshikuzu no Shiro

Successor

Pachislot Genso Suikoden

Suikoden Tierkreis (幻想水滸伝 ティアクライス, Gensōsuikoden Teiakuraisu) is the twelfth game of the Suikoden series and the first main game to explicitly take place outside of the continuity of the previous games. It was designed and released for the Nintendo DS.

It tells the story of the struggles of the region's peoples against the Order of the One True Way, a quasi-religious organization orchestrating the return of the One King, who wishes to merge all worlds into one unchanging world, devoid of time and meaning.

In Japan, the game also saw the release of a spin-off title that was only released for mobile devices, Genso Suikoden Tierkreis Hoshikuzu no Shiro.

Name

Tierkreis is German, meaning zodiac. This is a reference to the twelve False Chronicles which play a crucial role in the plot of the game. Also, lots of names of characters and places are of German origin (e.g. Tsaubern, Buchse, United Kingdom of Ritterschild).

Cover artwork

The Japanese, Korean and European (with the exception of Germany) versions of the game use the same artwork. In contrast to the Suikoden main titles which depict a huge selection of the cast on the front cover, only the main group consisting of the hero, Liu, Marica, Jale and Dirk is shown. The group is standing in front of what seems to be Flesaria Forest. The same artwork is used for the cover of the Genso Suikoden Tierkreis Official Standard Guide.

The US cover is slightly different, using different poses for the characters and lacking Dirk, and is also set on a different background (presumably the Gateway in the Fortress Ruins). The German version features a different cover, with only the hero set against the background of the Citro Plains.

Reception and legacy

Suikoden Tierkreis would earn a 34/40 score from Weekly Famitsu on its release, giving the game a Gold Hall of Fame status as a result. This is the highest score given by the magazine to any game in the Suikoden series.

Nintendo Power would preview the game in February 2009. Nintendo Power was encouraged by the game's announced Wi-Fi features and hoped the game would show why the series had "been going strong for more than a decade".

The review by the magazine in May 2009 was more muted. While the game's story was praised, it was also accused of "pulling its punches" by keeping its story light in tone. The game was also criticized for having so many characters when there was little to do with them in a game with no tactical battle elements unlike its predecessors.

The game's backgrounds and soundtrack were highly praised and overall, the game's narrative was stated to overcome its flaws, despite not being a 'real' Suikoden VI. The magazine would score the game at 7.0 out of 10.

Gallery

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  NTSC-J box art

Characters 108 Stars (Battle) Hero • Amaralicht • Asad • Autar • Belemuel • Bosche • Buchse • Chein • Chihaya • Chrodechild • Darrow • Diadora • Diiwica • Diulf • Dogha • Dromon • Enumclaw • Eusmil • Felecca • Fredegund • Geschutz • Gilliam • Guntram • Hafin • Hao-Shi • Hina • Hotupa • Icas • Indrik • Jale • Kashgar • Keflen • Khemia • Kow-Low • Lathilda • Len-Lien • Liu • Logan • Lubberkin • Luo-Tao • Luvais • Lycia • Manaril • Marica • Maybelle • Megion • Meruvis • Minen • Misrach • Morrin • Mourgent • Mubal • Mun-Tsang • Muro • Nahzu • Nakil • Namna • Neira • Nemne • Nictis • Nimni • Nofret • Nomno • Nova • Numnu • Ordovic • Ouragan • Quillard • Rajim • Resno • Roberto • Savina • Selen • Servillah • Shams • Sisuca • Sophia • Sphiel • Taj • Tigre • Tsaubern • Tuhululu • Vaslof • Wustum • Xebec • Yadima • Yod • Yomi • Yovel • Yula • Zahra • Zayin • Zenoa Starbearers (Support) Anya • Balsam • Erin • Eunice • Gadburg • Gorno • Moana • Nuzhat • Ramin • Rekareka • Rufa • Semias • Sotah • Tongatihi • Wahie Other playable characters Atrie • Cougar • Dirk • Marica? Non-playable characters Ayano • Beardsley • Conon • Daigoh • Danash VIII • Fergus • Furat • Gorno? • Kane Hekili • Kane Milohai • Kureyah • Lamade • Lao-Kwan • Macoute • Masrur • Mayula • Ninulneda • The One King • Ramin? • Rizwan • Shairah • Valfred Locations Empire of the North Star • Kingdom of Astrasia • Lonomakua Chiefdom • Magedom of Janam • Order of the One True Way • United Kingdom of Ritterschild Astrasia region Pharamond • Rarohenga • Wilds of Veile Cynas region Cynas (Statue of the One King • Tower of the Way) • Fort Arc • Grayridge (Grayridge Mines) • Lugenik • Other Cynas • Svatgol Mountain Janam region Citro Village • Citro Plains • Eastern Hill • El-Qaral • Flesaria Forest • Janam Desert • Ladzaa Fortress • Mislato River • Salsabil Western region Ch'olui Mountains • Coastal Cave • Cragbark • Gineh Valley • Kealohilani Island • Marsinah Plains • Naineneis • Noslaw Woods (Woodland Village) • Tehah Village Lore Chronicles Chronicle of the Ancient Covenant • Chronicle of Boundless Amber • Chronicle of the Cerulean Flux • Chronicle of Endless Travels • Chronicle of Fierce Regalia • Chronicle of the Furious Roar • Chronicle of Noble Steel • Chronicle of the Peaceful End • Chronicle of Resonant Horror • Chronicle of the Sacred Twin Blades • Chronicle of the Shining Legacy • Chronicle of the Tatau Council • True Chronicle Races Auster Folk • Furious Roar • Human • Porpos-kin • Scribe • Wanderer Terms Arcane Academy • Astrasia Royal Knights • Belfar Agency • Blades of Night's Veil • Chronicle • Corridor • False Chronicle • First Ancestor • Gateway • Infinity • Mage Forces • Nameless Hero • Pillar of Spirits • Reader • Renegade • Salsabil Liberation Army • Salsabil Self-Defense Volunteers • Sharpshooter • Starbearer • Units

Games Main series Suikoden • Suikoden II • Suikoden III • Suikoden IV • Suikoden V Side stories Genso Suikogaiden Vol.1 • Genso Suikogaiden Vol.2 • Suikoden Tactics The Infinity Genso Suikoden Tierkreis Hoshikuzu no Shiro • Suikoden Tierkreis • Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki Spin-offs and compilations Genso Suikoden Card Stories • Genso Suikoden I&II • Pachislot Genso Suikoden • Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Setting Suikoden series timeline Locations City-State of Jowston • Grassland • Highland Kingdom • Holy Kingdom of Harmonia • Island Nations Federation • Kooluk Empire • Queendom of Falena • Scarlet Moon Empire • Zexen Federation Races Cave dwarf • Dragon • Duck • Dwarf • Elf • Griffin • Human • Kobold • Nay-Kobold • Lizard • Mermaid • Vampire • Winged Horde Lore Events Dunan Unification War • Gate Rune War • Island Liberation War • Sun Rune War • War of the Champions True Runes Beast Rune • Circle Rune • Dragon Rune • Eight Section Rune • Gate Rune • Moon Rune • Night Rune • Rune of Life and Death • Rune of Beginning • Rune of Change • Rune of Punishment • Sovereign Rune • Sun Rune • True Earth Rune • True Fire Rune • True Lightning Rune • True Water Rune • True Wind Rune Terms 27 True Runes • 108 Stars • Alchemy • Blinking Mirror • Chinchirorin • Creation Myth • Elevator • Howling Voice Guild • Infinity • Potch • Rune • Sindar • Solar calendar • Teleport • World of Wings and Scales