Suikoden Tierkreis

12th game in the Suikoden series
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Suikoden Tierkreis
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Nintendo DS Japanese cover art
Developer Konami
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)
Platforms Nintendo DS
Sales Nintendo DS
155,777
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

Suikoden Tierkreis
Characters
108 Stars (Battle) HeroAmaralichtAsadAutarBelemuelBoscheBuchseCheinChihayaChrodechildDarrowDiadoraDiiwicaDiulfDoghaDromonEnumclawEusmilFeleccaFredegundGeschutzGilliamGuntramHafinHao-ShiHinaHotupaIcasIndrikJaleKashgarKeflenKhemiaKow-LowLathildaLen-LienLiuLoganLubberkinLuo-TaoLuvaisLyciaManarilMaricaMaybelleMegionMeruvisMinenMisrachMorrinMourgentMubalMun-TsangMuroNahzuNakilNamnaNeiraNemneNictisNimniNofretNomnoNovaNumnuOrdovicOuraganQuillardRajimResnoRobertoSavinaSelenServillahShamsSisucaSophiaSphielTajTigreTsaubernTuhululuVaslofWustumXebecYadimaYodYomiYovelYulaZahraZayinZenoa
Starbearers (Support) AnyaBalsamErinEuniceGadburgGornoMoanaNuzhatRaminRekarekaRufaSemiasSotahTongatihiWahie
Other playable characters AtrieCougarDirkMarica?
Non-playable characters AyanoBeardsleyCononDaigohDanash VIIIFergusFuratGorno?Kane HekiliKane MilohaiKureyahLamadeLao-KwanMacouteMasrurMayulaNinulnedaThe One KingRamin?RizwanShairahValfred
Locations
Empire of the North StarKingdom of AstrasiaLonomakua ChiefdomMagedom of JanamOrder of the One True WayUnited Kingdom of Ritterschild
Astrasia region PharamondRarohengaWilds of Veile
Cynas region Cynas (Statue of the One KingTower of the Way) • Fort ArcGrayridge (Grayridge Mines) • LugenikOther CynasSvatgol Mountain
Janam region Citro VillageCitro PlainsEastern HillEl-QaralFlesaria ForestJanam DesertLadzaa FortressMislato RiverSalsabil
Western region Ch'olui MountainsCoastal CaveCragbarkGineh ValleyKealohilani IslandMarsinah PlainsNaineneisNoslaw Woods (Woodland Village) • Tehah Village
Lore
Chronicles Chronicle of the Ancient CovenantChronicle of Boundless AmberChronicle of the Cerulean FluxChronicle of Endless TravelsChronicle of Fierce RegaliaChronicle of the Furious RoarChronicle of Noble SteelChronicle of the Peaceful EndChronicle of Resonant HorrorChronicle of the Sacred Twin BladesChronicle of the Shining LegacyChronicle of the Tatau CouncilTrue Chronicle
Races Auster FolkFurious RoarHumanPorpos-kinScribeWanderer
Terms Arcane AcademyAstrasia Royal KnightsBelfar AgencyBlades of Night's VeilChronicleCorridorFalse ChronicleFirst AncestorGatewayInfinityMage ForcesNameless HeroPillar of SpiritsReaderRenegadeSalsabil Liberation ArmySalsabil Self-Defense VolunteersSharpshooterStarbearerUnits
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