喜歡收集同伴的設計

I'm writing this as someone with over 120h on this game and as a JRPG fan (though I haven't played Suikoden, so I can't compare). First of all, tips for beginners:
- This game is one of those weirdly designed for keyboard, so 100% use a controller like the studio recommends
- Definitely play on hard. This game is too easy on normal difficulty, haven't been close to dying even once and from what I've read, hard is quite similar
- Keep fishing for that Wheel-Eye Bream from the second they ask you for, you'll NEED it for development
- If you wanna do a completionist route, keep playing the minigames while you play so you don't have to grind them all later
- Aleior is missable
- ONLY play the boss rush mode as post-game content (you'll unlock it way before you finish the game). Just playing the first fight, not even the first complete floor (3 fights) will make you like 20lvl over any other enemy you'll ever face. It is not fun, just avoid it

Now, this is a good game: it is fun, it has so much content you can get kinda lost on, and so many GOOD characters. None of them is over A tier in my opinion, but in a game wich has like 121 characters it is impressive that almost all of them are charismatic, likeable, and kinda have a background story. Though it is not fun that whenever you see a non NPC looking character, you know it's recruitable.
They got different personalities, but yes, most of them are quite stereotypical. Also, all of them are interesting but most are just way worse than the rest. I recommend you to try them all and use those who you like more, keep in mind this game is not a challenge in any way so you don't need to use "the meta".

Music is very good, though there aren't A LOT of themes. Story is alright, there's nothing too absurd or dumb, it is not deep or adult, there's no decision making. The japanese dub is not that great, some few characters have amazing seiyus but those are just a handful and not protagonists, you can really feel that mixture while playing. That said, it really is a game rich in architecture, cultures and races. You never know what you'll see next.
Personally, the game is so easy it stops your inmersion, but at the same time I would've had probably quit if it was too hard.

You can tell they didn't have all the money, people and time they wanted; yet, they did pretty good. There are quite a few minor bugs, and a few pretty big ones but they won't kill your run or anything similar. I'd give it around a 6.5, it's growing on me now. It is subjective, but definitely not much higher than that. The main reason it does not grade higher it's because there are quite a few questionable game design decisions going on and quality of life missing features that you'll only notice when you play.
100% recommended for JRPG HD-2D fans, but if you're not one, or you're thinking about playing for the first time a game of this genre I would strongly recommend Octopath Traveller instead. It gives you a bigger and better picture of the genre. If it ain't your case though, it is not missable.

If you've played or you're considering Rising: Hundred Heroes has some references and a few characters from Rising. You'll enjoy/understand those little winks more if you've played the first game, but it is not necessary AT ALL. You won't notice anything off if you haven't played it.

What to buy? Well, the DLCs as standalones are not worth it, but, getting the Deluxe with a new interesting "background" quest each DLC of them 3, around 1h long each, it's 100% worth it. Even more when the Deluxe is cheaper than the game alone, and the Rising bundle is even cheaper than that. If you get it, Rising is a higher quality and shorter (took me like 40h on a relaxed play I think) game with a different style that you'll 100% enjoy, so definitely try it.

It is a good game, and the studio has definitely proved that they deserve all they need to make a glorious sequel (wich they're already developing). Congratulations to Rabbit & Bear and hope you like it!

Excellent game!