#2

Suikoden 2 (Originally released in 1999 on the PS1.)

I do enjoy me some good storytelling, and this game tells a great one. The Suikoden series is one that follows the same storyline with each new game. The first game introduces you to the world and the basic plot. There are 27 true runes, and those runes are given or taken by people which then provides the owners immortality and tremendous powers. Much is caused by who owns the runes, and because of this there is constant war throughout the land.

You actually start out the game as a member of the enemy forces, but a sabotaged massacre of your unit begins a grudge war between Highland and the Jowston alliance. You and your friend Jowy are the sole survivors of the slaughter and are rescued by the resistance. After you earn the trust of some of the members, you work your way to becoming the leader of the rebel army.

These games are great. You also have to build your army which means you go around the world and recruit people that either help you in battles or are able to become vendors at your castle. Oh yeah, you get a castle too. The more people you recruit, the larger your castle and army becomes. You need to recruit people because you end up having army battles and if you don't keep up with your army, you can easily become overpowered. Recruitment drives are pivotal and challenging. Some people are hard to find and harder to convince to join your cause. There are 108 total members that join you and become stars of destiny.

Riou is a silent main, but his character seems to work in this situation. Suikoden 2 tells the tragic tale of how war can turn best friends into opposing counterparts. Nothing is easy when war is part of the equation and the characters from every faction show how desperate times get when their backs are against the wall.

There are mini games, recruitment drives, side quests, and plenty of characters to micro manage your party at any time, Suikoden 2 is one of the best complete RPGs I have ever played. It's also one of the harder games to find nowadays. Its normally on sale on eBay for around d 80 dollars. So here's hoping they re-release it.

Oh yeah, I am not sure where my copy of Suikoden 2 is. I wanted to play it one day, and when I opened up the jeweled case, it was missing.

=(