Suikoden III

6th game in the Suikoden series

Suikoden III (幻想水滸伝III, Gensōsuikoden III) is the third main installment of the Suikoden series and the sixth game released overall. It was designed and released for the Sony PlayStation 2.

Suikoden III
幻想水滸伝III, Gensōsuikoden III

PlayStation 2 Japanese cover art
Developer KCE Tokyo
Released Sony PlayStation 2
July 11, 2002
October 22, 2002
June 5, 2004 (KONAMI the Best)
September 2, 2005 (KONAMI Hall of Fame Selection)
PlayStation Network
April 15, 2015
June 23, 2015
June 23, 2015
December 7, 2015
Platforms Sony PlayStation 2
Sales Sony PlayStation 2
397,442
Predecessor Genso Suikoden Card Stories
Successor Suikoden IV

It tells the story of the knight Chris Lightfellow, steppe native Hugo, and mercenary Geddoe as their loyalties and worlds are torn asunder by war, first between regional powers and later following an invasion by the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia.

Gameplay

Suikoden III built on the foundations laid by the first two Suikoden titles but did not maintain the same level of fidelity that Suikoden II did with its predecessor. The battle system underwent a great number of changes, with battle teams now organized in three teams of two.

Commands are entered for the group as a whole, with the AI providing support. The skill system made its first appearance here, allowing players to level up their characters abilities to counterattack and so on, as well as their elemental affinities.

The war system went under significant revision, with Suikoden II's grid battle being replaced with units being placed on a set of connected vertices. Army units engage in combat by one unit moving into a space occupied by a hostile unit and then the standard Suikoden III battle system is used, albeit an extremely sped-up variety in which battles are played through the AI.

The story was told through what Konami dubbed the "Trinity Sight System" where each perspective is chosen and played through a series of chapter, replaying certain events multiple times from different perspectives.

The data transfer option seen in Suikoden II also returns, allowing a small number of characters to return with higher levels and improved weapons and adding references to the previous games provided the player has a late game save from Suikoden II on their memory card.

Plot Overview

Suikoden III told the story of three distinct groups, the Zexen Knights, led by Chris Lightfellow, the Karaya Clan, represented by Hugo and the mercenary group led by Geddoe, in the employ of the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia. Tensions run high between Zexen and the clans of the Grassland, eventually leading to war after a disastrous truce meeting. Eventually, these events are revealed to be orchestrated by Harmonia in preparation for their own invasion.

Events are also tinted by rumors of the reappearance of the Flame Champion, Grassland's hero in a similar conflict 50 years prior to the events of the game. The three main characters each follow their own paths, eventually crossing paths and forging an alliance against the Harmonian onslaught.

Even this war is eventually revealed to be the machinations of the mysterious Masked Man, who attempts to rail against destiny by destroying one of the 27 True Runes, an event that would bring unprecedented destruction. The various parties now unite to fight this new threat, but even in victory, the future remains uncertain for the region.

Development

Suikoden III was initially revealed on April 1, 2001 at the Tokyo Game Show. A short promotional video and the game's logo was shown at the end of a special Genso Suikoden panel, attended by Murayama Yoshitaka, Ishikawa Fumi, and Ota Akiyoshi.

Murayama Yoshitaka conceived of the Trinity Sight System in order to address what he perceived as a flaw in previous iterations of RPGs. As the protagonist's story is usually the focus, the antagonist's point of view is rarely expressed fully or their motivations elaborated upon. Allowing players to experience the same events from multiple perspectives and draw their own conclusions was a key goal.

Murayama also noted that Genso Suikogaiden Vol.1 in particular could be seen as something of a predeccessor, viewing the events of Suikoden II through the lens of a different character, Nash Latkje. The movie Rashomon was also cited as a motif.

Hugo was deliberately designed to evoke the traditional young male lead role of previous games in the Suikoden series but in a lower position socially and in terms of authority. This served to contrast with Chris Lightfellow's perspective as someone in a position of some power in the Zexen Federation. Geddoe, meanwhile, was positioned as an outsider.

The time gap of 15 years between Suikoden III and Suikoden II was chosen to expand the timeline vertically and grow the setting in that manner, compared to the lateral expansion of Suikoden II and the various side games of the time. The time skip was also designed to allow for more interactions between generations.

Releases

Suikoden III was released for PlayStation 2 on July 11, 2002 in Japan. It had two TV commercials in Japan, each 15 seconds in length. The game would be released in North America on October 22, 2002. Curiously, the game would not receive a PAL localization, ostensibly due to language requirements.

The game would be re-released in Japan on June 5, 2004 as part of the KONAMI the Best series and once more on September 2, 2005 as part of the KONAMI Hall of Fame Selection series.

 
Premier Set sleeve

A Konamistyle Premier Set version of the game was also released in Japan for its initial launch in 2002. This limited edition would include a small Flame Champion plush charm, a metallic bookmark, two mousepads featuring artwork by Ishikawa Fumi, the Genso Suikoden III Music Collection ~Itsuka no Michi~ CD, and a copy of the game. This would all come inside a book-themed case which slid into a stylish black sleeve.

In 2015, the game would be re-released on the PlayStation Network for PlayStation 3, with not only Japanese and North American releases, but a first-ever European and Oceanic release for the title as well. Due to limitations in the PS3's formatting of PS2 Classics, it is ordinarily not possible to transfer Suikoden and Suikoden II data, although a solution of sorts is available here.

Reception and legacy

Suikoden III would earn a 31/40 score from Weekly Famitsu on its release, giving the game a Silver Hall of Fame status as a result and marking it as the highest rated title in the series to that point.

Overseas, coverage of the game would begin in early 2002. The November 2002 issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly would note that past Suikoden titles held high gameplay and story standards for this new game to live up to and, while noting that Suikoden III could not compete in production values with the likes of Final Fantasy X, would hopefully hold its own through warmth and charm.

By late 2002, GamePro was praising both the potential of the title's Trinity Sight System as well as the "welcome departure" from the 2D sprites seen in Suikoden and Suikoden II.

Reviews would begin to hit in December 2002 and began poorly, with Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine branding the game "a disappointment" and scoring it at 3 out of 5, calling the story "a bag of bricks [the player would] have to heave along" and "simply not as good as the past titles".

Most reviews were more positive. The game would receive a single 7.0 from Electronic Gaming Monthly and GamePro was especially effusive, praising the game's graphics, story, gameplay, and dialogue. The game would score 4.5 out of 5 from the magazine. Some reviewers debated the merits of the jump to 3D and the proportions of the character models.

Suikoden III garnered mainly positive reviews, yet the changes in gameplay and the Trinity Sight System divided fans. Suikoden III remains the highest selling Suikoden game to date with 377,729 sold copies by the end of 2002 in Japan [1] and about 190,000 sold copies in total in North America [2] and was the final game for original series producer Murayama Yoshitaka.

In later years, the game would come to be seen by video game publications as a misstep, too removed from the popular PS1 duology. Its reputation would then rebound once more following the release of Suikoden IV.

Gallery

References

  1. The-Magicbox.com 2002 Japan Sales chart
  2. "US Platinum Chart Games" The Magic Box. Archived from the original on June 17, 2006. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
  1. Genso Suikoden Genso Shinsho Vol.5 (ISBN 4-88317-884-6), page 5
  2. Genso Suikoden Genso Shinsho Vol.7 (ISBN 4-7753-0044-X), pages 30-5
Suikoden III
Characters
108 Stars (Battle) AceAilaAlanisAugustine NaborAyameBazbaBeechamBelleBorus RedrumBrightCecileChris LightfellowDukeDupaEdgeElaineEmilyEstellaFranzFred MaximillianFubarFutchGadget ZGauGeddoeHallecHugoJacquesJimbaJokerJuanKenjiKorokuLandisLeo GalanLilly PendragonLucLuciaMelMelvilleMuaNash ClovisNeiNicolasPercival FrauleinPiccoloQueenReedRhettRicoRodyRoland LesaurusRubySalome HarrasSamusSanae YamamotoSarahSasaraiSgt. JoeShabonSharonShibaThomasToppoTutaTwaikinVikiViki (child)Wan FuWatariWilderYuberYuiriYumi
108 Stars (Support) Albert SilverbergAnneAppleArthurBartsBillyCaesar SilverbergDiosDominicEikeElliotErnieGordonGoroGuillaumeHortez VIIIkuJeaneJeffersonKathyKiddLouis KeefersonLuceMamieMarthaMikeMioMutoNadirPeggiScottSebastianShizuYun
Other playable characters ConnieKogoroKoichiKosanjiLulu
Non-player characters Anna LightfellowBrankyBrownErk de ForeverFlame ChampionGalahadGeorge SilverbergGezel HyattHikusaakJohannaLanchetLeknaatLowmaMasked ManMyriamPelizeRickSanaStar Dragon SwordThomas (youth)WaurenhyteZepon
Locations
GrasslandHoly Kingdom of HarmoniaZexen Federation
Grassland Alma Kinan VillageAmur PlainAncient HighwayCeremonial SiteChisha VillageDuck VillageFlame Champion's HideawayGreat HollowKaraya VillageKuput ForestMt. Hei-TouNorth Amur PlainRuins of CyndarTablet of StarsYaza Plain
Holy Kingdom of Harmonia Altar of the Mantor TrainersCaleria (Caleria Fortress) • Circle PalaceLe BuqueMountain PathMt. Senai
Zexen Federation Brass CastleBudehuc CastleIksay VillageNorth CavernVinay del Zexay (CouncilSeigal Gate) • Zexen Forest
Lore
Events Higheast RebellionWar of the ChampionsZexen Federation Day BallZexen-Grassland Armistice
Races DuckDwarfElfHumanKoboldLizardWinged Horde
True Runes Circle RuneEight Section RuneNight RuneTrue Earth RuneTrue Fire RuneTrue Lightning RuneTrue Water RuneTrue Wind Rune
Terms Alma KinanBlack Rose SocietyChisha ClanDestroyersDuck ClanDuck HalberdDunan RepublicErk's AdventuresFire BringerGray WorldKage (group)Kamaro Alliance of Free KnightsKanaa ClanKaraya ClanKnights of the Dragon's DenLizard ClanLoaNameless LandsSafir ClanSanadySix ClansSouthern Frontier Defense ForceTinto RepublicZexen CouncilZexen KnightsZexen script
The Suikoden series
Games
Main series SuikodenSuikoden IISuikoden IIISuikoden IVSuikoden V
Side stories Genso Suikogaiden Vol.1Genso Suikogaiden Vol.2Suikoden Tactics
The Infinity Genso Suikoden Tierkreis Hoshikuzu no ShiroSuikoden TierkreisGenso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki
Spin-offs and compilations Genso Suikoden Card StoriesGenso Suikoden I&IIPachislot Genso SuikodenSuikoden I&II HD Remaster
Setting
Suikoden series timeline
Locations City-State of JowstonGrasslandHighland KingdomHoly Kingdom of HarmoniaIsland Nations FederationKooluk EmpireQueendom of FalenaScarlet Moon EmpireZexen Federation
Races Cave dwarfDragonDuckDwarfElfGriffinHumanKoboldNay-KoboldLizardMermaidVampireWinged Horde
Lore
Events Dunan Unification WarGate Rune WarIsland Liberation WarSun Rune WarWar of the Champions
True Runes Beast RuneCircle RuneDragon RuneEight Section RuneGate RuneMoon RuneNight RuneRune of Life and DeathRune of BeginningRune of ChangeRune of PunishmentSovereign RuneSun RuneTrue Earth RuneTrue Fire RuneTrue Lightning RuneTrue Water RuneTrue Wind Rune
Terms 27 True Runes108 StarsAlchemyBlinking MirrorChinchirorinCreation MythElevatorHowling Voice GuildInfinityPotchRuneSindarSolar calendarTeleportWorld of Wings and Scales