Suikoden 1 > Suikoden 2

[fluffie the sock]

Anyone else? Just me? S2 is amazing, but I've always appreciated the tone and atmosphere of the first game even more.

[Vex]

Originally posted by vinnyknight0123:

The first game story is more tragic because of all the sacrifice and losses Tri goes through and then for him to do what he does at the end pretty much means for him lease it was all for nothing. Not to say that Riou doesn't have great tragedy as well but at the end of the game he gets a much happier ending then Tri does

To be fair, the Soul Eater is a cursed True Rune. The cursed runes seem to put their bearers through unspeakable suffering as a rule of thumb. Just look at Lazlo from Suikoden IV. Even after he's able to transition the Rune of Punishment from it's retribution state to it's forgiveness state, he knows that if he ever dies, it'll revert back and resume the cycle of suffering all over again. To prevent that, he goes into seclusion, an eternity of solitude.

That isn't to say Riou's story isn't tragic in and of itself. He and Jowy end up pawns of the Bright Shield and Black Sword runes, forced to battle one another despite very much wanting the same outcome: peace. Each learns there is a cost to wielding the power of their rune without the other, Jowy nearly succumbing to that cost at the very end of the game, while as the game progresses Riou continuously collapses. While the game attempts to play off Riou's collapses as physical and emotional exhaustion, it's subtly inferred its as much a response to him relying on the Bright Shield Rune's power. Case in point, after the rune protects him and Nanami from Neclord's curse, he collapses almost immediately thereafter.

While Riou and Jowy's story can have a happy ending, the events they're forced to go through are no less tragic.

I might add that, in the end, Tir does get his happy ending of sorts. In Suikoden II, he returns home with Gremio, reuniting with Pahn and Cleo.

[Zeo]

Originally posted by Vex:

Originally posted by vinnyknight0123:

The first game story is more tragic because of all the sacrifice and losses Tri goes through and then for him to do what he does at the end pretty much means for him lease it was all for nothing. Not to say that Riou doesn't have great tragedy as well but at the end of the game he gets a much happier ending then Tri does

While Riou and Jowy's story can have a happy ending, the events they're forced to go through are no less tragic.

I might add that, in the end, Tir does get his happy ending of sorts. In Suikoden II, he returns home with Gremio, reuniting with Pahn and Cleo.

Yeah and that's cannon, he return home.
Don't forget that true rune bearers have eternal youth, Tyr rune may be the worse of all because there's no purifying, the rune is what it is and will bring tragedy for the ones around him, but at least he is trying to fight against that fate now, but he will outlive everybody around him and probably will seclude himself again.

[Zeo]

Also thinking about it, if you flee from Neclord in Tinto (never, NEVER DO THAT in your game) you will go through a painful experience and Shu will say some harsh truths to our protagonist.

Also Ryou experience war in the first seat, the game is an animated violence, but he join wars and see people dying all the time, not to mention the events on the mercenary fortress and Muse.

[Vex]

Originally posted by Zeo:

Originally posted by Vex:

While Riou and Jowy's story can have a happy ending, the events they're forced to go through are no less tragic.

I might add that, in the end, Tir does get his happy ending of sorts. In Suikoden II, he returns home with Gremio, reuniting with Pahn and Cleo.

Yeah and that's cannon, he return home.
Don't forget that true rune bearers have eternal youth, Tyr rune may be the worse of all because there's no purifying, the rune is what it is and will bring tragedy for the ones around him, but at least he is trying to fight against that fate now, but he will outlive everybody around him and probably will seclude himself again.

While its true that the Soul Eater will continue to try to devour the souls of those closest to its master, it seems to have calmed down after the first game. There's no hint it's been feasting since.

Where the Soul Eater is concerned, I think Tir may have mastered the Rune.

Consider for a moment, Ted. Despite bearing the Soul Eater for so long, it doesn't seem to have done much devouring of souls outside of his home village. We didn't see anyone devoured in Suikoden IV, and Tir was never consumed by the Soul Eater, either.

Meanwhile, as of Suikoden II, Gremio has been with Tir for 2-3 years without being devoured again. Granted, Gremio might be an exception of sort. Even alive, his soul does still appear when the Soul Eater refuses Windy at Gregminster in the final battle.

[vinnyknight0123]

The reason the Soul Eater never did much much devouring is because Ted was always on the run from Wendy (and possible Yuber) and he never had any real friends the closest person to him in Suikoden 4 was Aldo and we know that something bad happened to him after the game and it was most likely the Soul Eater even his backstory states he lived in a separate house from Tir because so no would see the Rune on his hand and he was most likely afraid that The Soul Eater would kill everyone in the McDohl household.

[Tarrant220]

I liked the army battles more in 1, but that's about it. 2 was overall better imo.

[DirtyMick]

I've always said suikoden 2 is my favorite rpg, but I haven't even played either of them since I was like 11 years old, over 25 years ago. So, I'll have to see which one I like more. I barely remember either of them.

[ingueferroque]

1 is fantastic, but 2 is a much better game and Konami at their very best.

[Blank]

Agreed, I actually liked S1 a bit more than 2

[vinnyknight0123]

I love Suikoden 1 I've beaten it well over 100 times since i was 10 it is one of my favorite games of all time and i like it more then the sequel but it goes with out saying. Suikoden 2 is superior to the first game in every way shape and form

[tezpovey]

I like the second better, but the first is a gem. It had some great story moments and showed that you don't need long playtimes to make an impactful RPG.