The Nintendo Direct brings us a treat, and it's exciting news about one of the most squirrel-filled RPGs in history. Can you really have 108 characters when five of them are flying squirrels with different-colored capes? Never mind all that. Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars has a new release date: March 6, 2025.
I'll get into the details in a moment, but since it's been brought up in the Slack chat before, I'd like to share with you the differences between the 1995 JRPG's EU PS1 One cover art first:
And the announcement in the US:
It's truly an amazing thing.
The remaster was initially scheduled to be released last year after Konami announced it at the 2022 Tokyo Game Show, but it never happened. Today, we finally got a new date via Nintendo Direct. Here’s the latest trailer:
Watch on YouTube
The game's Steam page includes the following details:
・All background artworks have been upgraded to HD
・Updated effects bring new life to pixel art animation
・New environmental sound effects to immerse you in this fantasy world
・Battle SFX are now HD, adding a new level of realism
・Newly added auto save
・Battle Fast Forward
・Conversation Diary
There's a bit more detail about a few of these elements in the Ninty trailer. Battles can now be sped up to 2x or 4x speed, and there's also a one-button auto-battle option – although I could have sworn that was originally in the menu. Another detail that the Steam page doesn't mention: getting both of these in one package should hopefully mean that the games that carry your save will be pretty painless. It's not very effective, but there are a few secrets you can unlock in the second playthrough if you've completed the first one in its entirety.
As Brendy will tell you, these games are incredibly special to me, having tried to squeeze a Suikoden piece into a list of the best JRPGs, despite them not even being out on PC yet. Everything I've seen so far seems positive. I don't actually know what an 'emulator' is, but this seems like a much easier way to play them on much more modern hardware than enlisting the help of an emu.
If you need something to tide you over until next March, there's always a spiritual sequel called Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. “A turn-based JRPG that will appeal to those familiar with Suikoden or those who don't know what Suikoden is,” Edders wrote in his review. “Embrace the old-school quirks and you're in for a great ride here.”
Eiyuden director and Suikoden co-creator Yoshitaka Murayama passed away earlier this year, but I think it's heartening that Eiyuden has reached its Kickstarter goal and he's seen how much Suikoden means to people.