Earlier this week, Konami thrilled classic RPG enthusiasts with a live stream dedicated exclusively to the beloved Suikoden series. With no new mainline entry since a Japan-only PSP side story over a decade ago, fans' anticipation for the announcements was high and varied. The stream revealed a mix of exciting and somewhat controversial news, including the announcement of a Suikoden anime and a new mobile game with gacha mechanics.
The anime, titled "Suikoden: The Anime," will be based on the events of Suikoden 2 and marks the first production from Konami Animation. While details about its visual style and international availability remain scarce, a brief scenery clip was shared, sparking excitement among fans. This anime could serve as an excellent introduction for newcomers to the Suikoden universe, provided it becomes widely accessible.
The announcement of the new game, "Suikoden Star Leap," has elicited mixed reactions. Set to feature stunning visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler's 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds, the game is positioned a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, maintaining the series' tradition of including 108 characters. However, the decision to release it exclusively on mobile platforms and incorporate gacha mechanics and ongoing monetization has left some fans wary. Historically, Suikoden has been a premium series on consoles and PCs, and the shift to mobile with monetization elements raises concerns about the game's accessibility and completeness.
In the interim, fans can look forward to the re-releases of Suikoden 1 and 2 in the "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 is set to launch tomorrow, March 6.
