00:00RPGs have always used silent protagonists. It's not the only choice but it often
00:06serves as a tool for player connection and in this case we zoom in on the
00:10protagonists of the Suikoden series. Particularly in its first two games the
00:16silent protagonist is an example of this storytelling technique to connect
00:20players to the game. Let's take a look at the character depth of all Suikoden's
00:25mainline protagonist. The power of silence in Suikoden 1 and 2. The protagonists in
00:33Suikoden 1 and Suikoden 2 remain silent throughout the game never having any form
00:38of dialogue of their own. Only choice prompts allow you to make a decision on
00:43what your character can say or do based on storyline branches. While many see
00:49silence as a limitation its intentional design makes players step into the
00:54shoes of the protagonist. It allows the player to project own emotions personality
00:59and decisions onto the main character. In the end it enhances emotional investment
01:05and playtime into the game. It brings you back to certain games that you grew up
01:10with or have a deep emotional or personal connection to. It makes you invest more
01:15into the game and notice new details in each new playthrough. The protagonist in
01:21Suikoden 1 is right in the center of a massive war and all kinds of political
01:25unrest internally. Terry McDowell has a quiet nature of his own. This means that
01:31you connect with him through actions and decisions that you make, not because of the
01:35occasional dialogue or storytelling itself. The decision making lies in forming
01:41alliances, recruiting new characters or battling new enemies. The game makes sure that
01:46you are able to shape whatever the response will be. Tears silence forces you to engage
01:52with the story. You are the one that defines what happens to the protagonist of the story
01:57and its interaction with other characters throughout the game.
02:01More emotional investment in Suikoden 2. The concept of the silent protagonist is taken much
02:08further in Suikoden 2. While you remain silent the complexity of whatever goes on around you adds a lot more
02:15depth into the role compared to Suikoden 1. The friendship with Joey at trades is
02:20significant in shaping the emotional rollercoaster of the life that your main
02:23character, Ryu, has. The silence does not make him less of a character. It offers more of a
02:31blank canvas to paint on and offers a deeper sense of relationship as the
02:36narrative unfolds before your eyes. Protagonists who are silent are not empty. They have
02:42personality and they evolve personally and in the relationships they engage with. In Suikoden
02:49with 107 other characters you cultivate the relationships with your family members, new allies
02:55and friends you come across on the road to victory. This method of character development is not the most
03:02used but in Suikoden it highlights the quality of a unique form of emotional investment. Your personal
03:09connection to the protagonist is not just built through words but again through actions and decisions.
03:16From silence to speech the shift in Suikoden 3. Gaming always evolves and the Suikoden series has no less.
03:25With the evolution of platforms, game engines, graphics and sound the series embraces a shift from
03:31silent protagonist to more complex heroes with personalities and voices. For Suikoden that starts
03:38with Suikoden 3. This change introduces new narrative depth with each protagonist given the voice
03:45and background tied to the perspective of the other main characters. It marks an evolutionary shift in
03:52RPG storytelling reflecting the genre's trend towards more complex and multi-dimensional protagonists.
03:59You experience not one protagonist in Suikoden 3 but 3 at the same time. They all have their own
04:05perspective on the story. You meet Yugo first. He is a young Hawaiian clan member. Then there is Chris
04:13Lightfellow, the formidable knight from Zexan. And lastly Ghetto is a charismatic mercenary captain.
04:20Out of the three Ghetto is the least vocal resembling past protagonist best. The Trinity site system allows
04:27players to adventure through events from different perspectives, witnessing misunderstanding,
04:34alliances being forged and rivalries that shape the world. This would not work without unique voices
04:40and deeper motivations. Silent protagonists would bomb any hopes of Suikoden 3 being a good game.
04:47You don't witness anything through decisions or actions in Suikoden 3 but you witness it through spoken
04:53dialogue. You get to learn more about the protagonists and learn that they are not superheroes but flawed
04:59individuals. Making difficult decisions resonate on a personal level, inside and outside the game for the player.
05:07Complex heroes from Modern Storytelling
05:11The shift towards complex heroes with distinct voices allows the series to maintain unique storytelling
05:17while adapting to changing player expectations. Black and white character personalities no longer work.
05:24All aspects of life have to be included. Whether it's happiness, sadness, fear or anger. The feeling
05:33that it's a start to finish game has changed as well. The series always has multiple endings in store
05:39depending on the choices you make and the more investment you put into it. The move towards spoken
05:45main protagonists contributes to the overall enjoyment adding layers of realism and complexity. This
05:51continues to captivate players with a range of emotions just like the protagonist.
05:56The return to silence in Suikoden 4
06:01In Suikoden 4 the series goes back to a silent protagonist. This time the creators use a darker
06:07and a more difficult personal journey. Players control Lazlo, a young man burdened by the rune of
06:14punishment. Lazlo's personal story is one of survival and self-discovery. The silent protagonist
06:21technique allows players to feel the personal weight of the cursed rune of punishment. Projecting Lazlo's
06:27thoughts and emotions onto players makes it more realistic. This darker storyline gives players a
06:33different experience from early instalments. With outspoken words the negative atmosphere is captured
06:39in great essence. Also heavy on the heart lies the unknowingness of being family and related stars of
06:47destiny. As king of Obelina and Coolis and daughter Flair and Coolis never find out that Lazlo is their son
06:56slash brother.
06:58A balanced voice. The prince in Suikoden 5
07:03Suikoden 5 presents a vocal though restrained protagonist. The prince of Felena, Freyadua, has the most intense
07:11story of all protagonists in Suikoden in my humble opinion. His journey is tied to the royal duties
07:18and family ties. In contrast to Lazlo who stems from a royal family without knowing, the prince is aware
07:25of his noble background. He is driven by loyalty and honour towards his parents and sister. This displays a
07:33different type of RPG protagonist. A protagonist bound by loyalty but forced to face personal hardship.
07:41The prince remains a grounded and morally steady figure throughout the hardships. This allows players
07:48to feel connected with the prince and involved in his decisions. His personal growth comes through
07:53political intrigue, grieving the loss of his parents and his responsibility to save his sister. He is
08:00aided by many but also hindered by the various forces weighing on his mind. At the end of the game
08:06you
08:07find that he has grown to be an intelligent and ethical person. An evolving legacy of protagonists.
08:14True to protagonists of Suikoden 3, 4 and 5, the evolution in the Suikoden series is branded.
08:20It has created heroes with varying depths and complexities. This displays that RPG protagonists
08:27can adapt to different storytelling styles. With these different styles it is possible to draw
08:33players into meaningful and emotional journeys. Final thoughts, the heart of a great RPG series.
08:42The Suikoden series sets many benchmarks when it comes to RPGs. One of them is character development
08:49by presenting evolving protagonists in personality and storytelling techniques. Every game presents its own
08:57protagonist or multiple with unique characters. And the protagonists in every game don't guide players
09:03through the narratives and stories. They also inspire emotions like empathy and introspection. With that
09:11they create an intense connection with the game's world and lore. The legacy of the Suikoden
09:17protagonists highlight both the appeal of silent and vocal protagonists. Each story stands as a testament to
09:25the power of character driven storytelling in RPGs. It illustrates quiet heroes with emotional
09:31personalities and vocal heroes with balanced personalities. Any instalment can leave an intense
09:38mark on players hearts just like it does with Suikoden 2 and 4 for me. The series proves that great
09:46protagonists are not defined by the words they speak but by the journeys they lead the players through.
09:52Those journeys continue to resonate across generations. As the remasters of Suikoden 1 and 2 are released,
10:00we remember the original release in 1995. Thirty years later the games still resonate. Any successful RPG
10:08series like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest or Tales of, thrive on the emotional investment into the game's main
10:15character or characters and the overall story. The story of the game and emotional attachment to the main
10:22characters is a success factor of any long standing RPG series. We want to hear from you. Which RPG still
10:31gives you emotional thoughts and feelings? Let us know in the comments which game still sparks emotions in your heart?
10:39Thank you for watching. May your pixels be plentiful and your adventures prosperous.
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