Few RPG series hold the same legendary status as Suikoden. With Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars, these classics return in a way that feels both fresh and nostalgic. Konami has done justice to two of the greatest RPGs of all time, enhancing their visuals, refining the gameplay, and making them more accessible to a modern audience. All of that without sacrificing the heart and soul that made them unforgettable. Longtime fans will appreciate the refined presentation, and newcomers now have the best possible way to experience these masterpieces.
Developer & Publisher // Konami
Platforms // Xbox Series X|S, Playstation 5, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
MSRP & Release Date // $49.99, March 6th, 2025
Reviewed On // Playstation 5
Story Telling That Stands The Test Of Time
One of the defining features of Suikoden 1 and Suikoden 2 is their exceptionally written, politically charged narratives. Unlike many JRPGs of the time, which often focused on high fantasy and saving the world from an ancient evil, Suikoden’s stories revolve around rebellion, war, betrayal, and the complexities of leadership.
Both games excel in world-building, character depth, and unparalleled recruitment mechanics. Gathering 108 unique characters isn’t just a gimmick, it’s a key part of shaping the game’s world, battles, and even the ending. Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars ensures that both stories retain their emotional impact with improved localization, fixing many, but not all of the awkward translations from the original versions. This makes character motivations clearer and enhances the depth of already fantastic writing.
Suikoden I: A Classic Tale of Rebellion
The first game follows a young noble, the son of a prestigious general, who becomes entangled in the growing corruption of the Scarlet Moon Empire. As he uncovers the horrors committed by the ruling elite, he finds himself leading a resistance army, building a fortress, and uniting warriors under his banner to overthrow tyranny.
Though the story starts in a fairly traditional manner, what sets it apart is the deep political drama, character betrayals, and moral dilemmas that unfold as you recruit 108 Stars of Destiny. Each Star of Destiny has their own backstories and motivations. The game explores themes of loyalty, the burdens of leadership, and the impact of war on individuals, making it one of the most emotionally resonant RPG stories of its time.
Suikoden II: A Masterpiece of War & Friendship
While Suikoden 1 laid the foundation, Suikoden 2 is widely regarded as one of the greatest RPG narratives ever written. Taking place years after the first game, it follows two childhood friends, Riou and Jowy, as they are thrust into the chaos of the war between the Highland Kingdom and the City-States of Jowston. The beauty of Suikoden 2’s narrative lies in its character-driven storytelling. The relationship between Riou and Jowy is one of the most heartbreaking and well-developed friendships in gaming, as the two take opposing sides in a devastating conflict. Unlike many RPGs, there is no clear villain—only the consequences of power, war, and ambition.
A Stunning Visual Upgrade
One of the first things returning fans will notice is just how gorgeous these remasters look. The world of Suikoden has never been more vibrant. Completely redrawn backgrounds help breathe new life into iconic locations like Gregminster, Greenhill, and Rockaxe Castle. Lighting effects add depth and atmosphere, making each area feel more immersive than ever. Character sprites retain their classic 2D charm but are now sharper and more detailed. Big thanks to Junko Kawano for perfectly redrawing the character portraits.
This is especially impactful in Suikoden 1, where the original portraits have been modernized while staying true to their essence. The attention to detail in these upgrades makes the remaster feel respectful of the past while fully embracing the present. Modern UI updates make navigation, menus, and party management far more user-friendly. A lot of the Rune spells have some enhanced visuals, which is by far one of my favorite parts.
Refined Gameplay & Mechanics
Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars feature a blend of traditional turn-based battles, large-scale strategy combat, and one-on-one duels, setting them apart from other RPGs of their time.
Turn-Based Combat
The primary battle system is a six-party, turn-based combat system with strategic depth. The Unite Attacks, where specific characters perform combo moves together, remain a highlight, encouraging players to experiment with different team compositions. Each character can equip Runes, which function as the game’s magic system. Unlike many RPGs where magic is learned through leveling up, Suikoden’s Rune system allows flexibility, letting players customize their characters’ abilities.
The fast-forward feature introduced in the remaster is a godsend, allowing battles to flow smoothly without losing their strategic engagement. Being able to speed battles x2 then x3 after you recruit someone specific is a quality-of-life blessing. It will also allow for people that think turn-based battles are too slow, a potential chance to enjoy the remasters.
Army Battles
One of Suikoden’s most unique features is the inclusion of large-scale, tactical war battles. These encounters simulate massive conflicts between armies, using a rock-paper-scissors-style mechanic where different unit types counter each other.
- Infantry beats Archers
- Archers beat Mages
- Mages beat Infantry
There are also special commands which help. Special Commands include the Dragon Knights attack or even the Ninjas that can tell you exactly what the enemy’s next choice is. Suikoden 2‘s war battles take place on a grid where you can move units around to try and gain some tactical advantages. Depending on which runes are equipped or who is in what units, you have access to a plethora of different abilities at your disposal. One of my favorites is the Hero’s Bright Shield Rune. This allows you to heal all allies within range.
Duel System
Another unique mechanic is the one-on-one duels, often tied to crucial story moments. These fights again work like a strategic rock-paper-scissors battle where players must predict their opponent’s move based on dialogue cues.
- Attack beats Defend
- Defend beats Special Move
- Special Move beats Attack
The remaster refines these battles, making them feel more fluid and responsive while keeping the original tension intact. Some might think these have to be easy. Well, let me tell you, sometimes the dialogue cues can be pretty similar. For example, there is a duel against someone where they say “We’re getting nowhere. Here I come!” and “If you don’t attack, I will!” Both seem pretty similar, but for the best outcome, require a different choice. So might not be as simple as one thinks.
A Legendary Soundtrack Reimagined
Music has always been a crucial part of Suikoden’s charm. Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars preserve the original compositions while enhancing their clarity. From the rousing war anthems to the melancholic town themes, every track pulls players deeper into the emotional core of the story. This soundtrack is one of the special ones out there that can draw out the emotions of the player. There are times just based on music alone that you understand how dire, cheerful, or upbeat a situation might be.
Remastered battle sound effects add more impact to combat. Environmental sound effects, such as water flowing or footsteps in dungeons, create a greater sense of immersion. One of my favorite examples is hearing the crackling of the flames from a fire in both games. The soundtrack remains one of the best in JRPG history, with orchestral and traditional influences that perfectly capture the epic and emotional tone of the games.
Quality of Life Improvements & Accessibility
While the original Suikoden games were already ahead of their time in many ways, this remaster smooths out some of their rougher edges with modern quality-of-life improvements that make the experience even more enjoyable. We get an Auto-Save Function. A major improvement over the original’s manual save system, but you can still utilize the manual saves. The Fast-Forward Battles that I mentioned reduce the overall grind while keeping combat engaging. Always-on dash is tremendous for these games. No more waiting for special gear or Rune attachments anymore. The characters can sprint from the start, making exploration a breeze.
The new conversation Log allows players to re-read dialogue, preventing missed story details. Even after all the times I’ve played during the review, I found myself re-reading something I missed. They provided a more intuitive menu navigation system. Managing equipment, runes, and recruiting characters is smoother than ever. The pop out-style menu is what helps this. Giving easier access to everything, so it doesn’t feel as clunky. There is also an Easy, Normal, and Hard mode for these remasters, allowing an easier access point for people that might want to focus more on the story and have an easier time doing so. You can also see like a booklet/manual on screen that explains how everything works. These enhancements respect the original design while making the games more accessible to modern players.
Near-Perfect Execution with Only Minor Flaws
It’s hard to find major faults in this remaster, but if there’s anything to nitpick, it’s that some mechanics like Suikoden 1’s inventory system. It could have been streamlined even further. The biggest nitpick for me is in the original game, you could hand over gear to other party members, and in doing so you would see potential stat increases or decreases. They could have been streamlined even further. Also, while I personally enjoyed a lot of the fixed translations and text errors, there were a few that still seemed a little off. Double-Beat rune changing to Double-Jab rune for example might be correct, but sounds weird to me. That being said, these are minor inconveniences in an otherwise outstanding package.
Final Verdict: A Must-Play Masterclass in RPG Design
Konami has absolutely delivered with Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars. These games are a dream come true for fans and an essential experience for RPG enthusiasts. The improvements make it the best way to experience these classics, ensuring that their timeless storytelling, deep strategy, and unforgettable characters reach a new generation of players. The deep storytelling, strategic combat, and unforgettable characters make this collection a must-play. This is more than just a nostalgia trip. It’s a gold-standard remaster that proves why these games are still held in such high regard. If you’re an RPG fan, this is an essential addition to your collection. These remasters are a shining example of how remasters should be done!
Final Score: 9.5/10
Note – A key was provided for the purpose of this review.
Pros:
- Some of the most emotionally engaging and politically rich narratives in RPG history.
- Beautifully enhanced visuals
- Improved quality-of-life features
- Legendary character recruitment system
- Deep and strategic battle systems
- Emotionally Impactful Soundtrack
- Faithful localization improvements
- The game is well-optimized, ensuring a seamless experience on all platforms.
Cons:
- Individual character inventories still feel restrictive, requiring frequent management. Plus handing over gear no longer shows stat changes if equipped.
- Some translations still feel slightly off.
- While an autosave function exists, it only activates at certain points, rather than being fully modernized.
