00:00Suicoden II released in 1998 left a lasting impact on the arpegy genre when it got released.
00:06The game was unique with its massive roster of 108 recruitable characters known as the Stars of Destiny.
00:13Each character has their own unique backstory and role in the game's story arc.
00:19The series' storytelling centers around teams of love, betrayal and political conflict.
00:24Because of that, it gave players an invested experience.
00:28Why did Suicoden II leave this lasting legacy?
00:31It's not just a game about war and strategy, it's about the personal journeys of the characters making the world
00:38feel alive and emotionally engaging.
00:41For me personally, it triggered both happiness and sadness at times.
00:45The game combines political storylines within a story of rebellion and loyalty and set a new standard for the way
00:52RPGs tell their stories.
00:53It is still remembered as one of the best RPGs of all time.
00:59An unique feature of Suicoden II is its recruitment system, which allows players to gather 108 unique characters.
01:07This recruitment system makes Suicoden II different from other RPGs.
01:11No other game series offers such a vast and diverse roster of characters.
01:17Each recruit has their own distinct background, personality and role within your army.
01:22With some characters serving as powerful fighters in battle, while others provide support at your headquarters, managing shops, crafting items
01:29or expanding your facilities.
01:31Some characters bring powerful magical runes, or are a part of combo attacks, adding depth to the combat system.
01:39Other major characters, like your chief strategist, are pivotal to advancing the story.
01:44What makes the system even more rewarding is how it ties into the game's multiple ending opportunities.
01:51Successfully recruiting all 108 characters unlocks the best possible outcome,
01:55with a special twist waiting for those who make the right choices throughout the game.
02:01Suicoden II can be divided into three styles of combat.
02:05First of all, you have the classic turn-based battles.
02:08In the Suicoden series, you always use a six-person party, except in Suicoden IV and Tear Cries.
02:14With the use of rune magic and unique combo attacks, your strategy to defeat enemies and bosses opens up.
02:20Characters can be tiered based on how they perform as a level throughout the game.
02:26It's best to train multiple parties in this game, as you need it later to defeat one of the main
02:31antagonists.
02:32There are also large-scale war battles on the map, in which you fight off and or defeat enemies.
02:39Using attacks and skills from the unique stars of destiny you have recruited.
02:44Sometimes, you cannot win these battles, as you are not meant to, though it never hurts to try.
02:51Lastly, you have one-on-one duels.
02:54These duels are mostly critical for progression in the game, and providing crucial backstories or help towards the best ending.
03:01Choose the option to counter your opponent and inflict damage until the battle is won.
03:06Suicoden II is the best example for me in emotional investment by players into a game.
03:11With this game, I have personally bonded it, and because of the personal connection, it has made me finish the
03:18game 17 times at the writing time of the original article on amethystadv.com, and 20 times at the recording
03:27of this video.
03:28You will be triggered into happiness, sadness, anger, and many more emotions based on what happens in the game.
03:37Anger towards the main antagonist, Luca Blight, which is one of the most hated and cruel villains of all time
03:43in RPG history.
03:44His rage is noticeable in the fibers of your being, enhanced by the English-translated dialogue.
03:51It displays the most vile things I have ever seen in a video game.
03:56Sadness, that your best friend Joey-at-trades has betrayed you after fighting him again.
04:02Grief, for the possible deaths in your army.
04:05The joy of recruiting all 108 characters.
04:09Feeling the burden of the heaviness of war.
04:12It's all a part of what makes this Suicoden series, and Suicoden II in particular, so successful.
04:18The music used in Suicoden II is top-notch.
04:22Every area in the game has its own unique song, and the song always relates to the style of buildings,
04:28surroundings, or background.
04:30The themes even change when engaging in new storyline dialogues, or when you enter into battle.
04:37Sometimes it changes multiple times within a matter of minutes, enhancing the emotional investment into the game.
04:43And even the sound of the map when you travel changes by the part of the story that you're in.
04:50The 2D graphics of the game might feel outdated in present times, but still stand strong.
04:56The details into the character sprites, personal avatars, cities, and animations makes it highly appreciated in the gaming community.
05:06While Suicoden is more known in a niche than bigger series like Final Fantasy,
05:10it is regarded as one of the best RPG series of all time.
05:15Suicoden II has paved the way for more entries of the series to be released across various platforms,
05:21with the addition of enhanced storytelling.
05:24Suicogadin displays events during Suicoden II, and lead up events in Suicoden III.
05:29In this, you will meet Nash, who is one of the main characters, and also a star of destiny in
05:34Suicoden III.
05:35And you'll learn more about what exactly happened with Joey at the Mews Highland Border Camp.
05:42With my 20 playthroughs at the time of recording this video, I highly recommend to play these Suicoden games.
05:50While the first in the series can feel a bit bland and dragging,
05:55do play it, because it will give you an additional 109th secret character in Suicoden II,
06:01many additional cutscenes and dialogues, and more insight on the returning characters.
06:07The creator brought this as a reward to tired players into the series,
06:12because when you emotionally invest into Suicoden I or II,
06:16you will be a lifelong player of the series, and always come back to any main entry.
06:21While its last main entry stems from 2006 with Suicoden V,
06:26Konami has decided in 2023 to remaster the original two games into HD.
06:32The original games only upgraded into HD for backgrounds and artworks getting a touch-up.
06:38This makes sure that the originality of the games remain intact.
06:42And pictures in this video are from the remastered games released in 2025.
06:48What is next? That is Suicoden Starleap, first announced for mobile, later on for Steam,
06:55which will be an entirely new story, with new 108 Stars of Destiny, and returning legacy characters.
07:04Let me know your emotions when playing Suicoden II in the comments.
07:08Subscribe for more Suicoden content, with all the mainline series already uploaded,
07:12and with tear cries, tactics, and the whip of over the centuries to follow.
07:18And later, of course, when it releases, we will play Suicoden Starleap.
07:23For now, may your pictures be planned at full, your adventures prosperous,
07:27and enjoy your times in the Suicoden universe.
07:30Suicoden Starleap
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