Suikoden Tierkreis
Our Rating
8.4
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RPGs can be a tricky genre. They have many similar conventions, and you don't want to create one that is too much like another. Especially when you consider that the Nintendo DS is one of the most suitable platforms for RPGs, there are bound to be many repeats and rehashes. One of the latest entries to the DS RPG library is spawned from a successful franchise seen on bigger consoles - Suikoden. The newest entry into the Suikoden storyline, Suikoden Tierkreis, bucks series conventions by immersing you in a world completely new and unknown to fans of the franchise. Though not perfect, it's a great DS RPG that provides some fun and interesting situations.
Tierkreis completely disregards the previous stories woven within the last games, and begins anew. While its story is straight out of the plot of any random anime series, it still manages to entertain. The One King is a tyrant who is dead set on uniting all kingdoms and creeds under his rule. With the help of his underlings, this is a goal that he will fight for until the bitter end. Under the One King, new lands are simply appearing from out of nowhere, forcing what was previously in the same position into occlusion. You also have a partly politically-charged story here that explores the reasoning behind certain groups' plight for or against th King. Occasional insight into each group's ideals provides an interesting look into the hearts of the characters involved. This is all fine and dandy, until you meet who you will be spending the rest of the game with.
Enter the main protagonist, who is a cookie-cutter representation of the Naruto archetype. He even has his very own obnoxious catchphrase like Naruto's "Believe it!" - "We'll never know unless we try!" - and this alone makes the story just a bit worse for wear due to the fact that you have to put up with his nonsense throughout the entire adventure. This deterred from the experience as a whole for me, because it's disappointing that a game with such high aspirations should resort to such a tired anime cliche for its story.
As far as gameplay goes, Tierkreis plays out in a fairly simple manner. After exploring each new location, typically outfitted with an inn, stores, and villagers who are all-too-eager to divulge information about the next plot point, you'll take to the overworld to find the next location, only to do it all again. This is standard RPG fare that we've all seen in one form or another before. It's the way that this process is completed that is so different. Rather than traveling on foot to the next spot on the map, a menu is presented that allows you to travel between different area. Some players may not take kindly to this linear mode of exploration, but I can understand its merits in the long-term goal of streamlining tedious travel. I found it to be excellent in getting me from point A to point B in record time.
Any RPG fan can tell you the glut of any of these types of games is the battle system. What we have here is a familiar setup akin to what we see in Final Fantasy and copycats year after year. The old standby options are available - attack, item, special, magic, etc. Magic is performed via the new "Mark of the Stars" system that relies on traditional MP from characters rather than runes from the previous games. From these changes it's clear that this Suikoden is a return to traditional RPG form.
Tierkreis\'s battles are always simple and elegant.
Less emphasis is placed on those pesky side effects that many of us have come to loathe over the years, and more on bosses pummeling the stuffing out of you, and vice versa. While this eases up the amount of work you'll have to put into building your characters up to withstand status effects, it also makes the game much easier. You'll also be forced to level all of your characters adequately thanks to forced substitutions that happen at some of the most inopportune times. This is due to Suikoden Tierkreis' most notable aspect - you'll be able to recruit up to 108 characters throughout the entire game. Because of this, it's necessary to pick and choose the proper characters for each task. It can be difficult keeping up with all of the warriors available, but keeping focused on a certain few that you can train to your heart's content will be sufficient for you to complete the game. The enormous staff provides some awesome group attacks in battle, calling for some explosive damage in certain boss fights - you'll get used to it quickly!
There is an extremely intuitive trading system in place. You can pick up certain items in one town, then sell them in another region for a higher or lower price depending upon availability. This is an excellent parallel to the game's downgraded items department. There are no upgrades or augments for items or equipment you may receive, so it's all about buying new armor, weapons, and similar tools. Perhaps the greatest aspect of battle is the option to set random encounters to auto-pilot. This makes leveling up quick and easy, as well as painless for those of you who can't be bothered to level excessively. The engrossing story and simple, streamlined yet intriguing gameplay combine to make Tierkreis a fantastic option in the DS RPG selection.
The visuals are just as gorgeous as the gameplay. Epic, detailed environments, as well as lovingly crafted anime portraits only serve to enhance an already fantastic experience. The attention to detail paid to each area is astounding. You begin to feel less like you are playing a game designed for a "big brother" system rather than the ds. Luckily, the graphics are good enough not to warrant any complaints. The score is astounding as well - it's the voice acting that bogs down the whole experience. The characters speak as though they have Speed Racer syndrome - quick, jumbled, and awkwardly. Aside from some truly bland scripting, the voice actors are utterly horrible. There is simply no excuse for voices of this caliber. It seemed to me as if the actors were asked to read their lines as quickly as they could, like the words were on fire and they were all too ready to eject them from their mouths. It's a shame, as the game could be one of the best DS RPGs currently available for purchase.
There are many breathtaking, detailed environments.
Suikoden Tierkreis may not be the "proper" Suikoden series fans may be used to, but it's a great entry into the DS library that you'd be missing out on if you overlooked it. While it has its low points, the voice acting being one of them, it's a right enjoyable time to be had with your favorite portable platform. A little change never hurt anyone, and Suikoden is going in a smashing new direction.
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8.5