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Suikodenis a fantastic series of RPGs with a core premise unlike any other. But all good things must end, and Suikoden exited the limelight nearly 20 years ago. Yet its creator bounced back with a spiritual successor,Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, which, as of this writing, has only just been released.
In what ways are Suikoden and Eiyuden Chronicle connected? Just how deep does this rabbit (and bear) hole go? Is Eiyuden Chronicle, in all but copyright restriction, something of a Suikoden sequel? Read on for our full coverage of the ties that bind these two IPs.
A Good Time, Not A Long Time
Inlate 1995,the late Yoshitaka Murayama createdSuikoden, the first title in Konami’s excellent JRPG series.Suikoden stood out in an increasingly crowded pack of role-playing games from Japanese developers for itshigh number of recruitable characters(108 characters counting the protagonist!), though several entries sport great stories that have stood the test of time.
Alas, like so many other terrific franchises,Suikoden eventually went dark.The last mainline entry, Suikoden 5, released in 2006. By that time, Yoshitaka Murayama had long ended his tenure as series overseer, havingdirected the first three chaptersbefore departing.
Murayama and much of his staff departed Konami just before Suikoden 3 arrived on store shelves, so you won’t find his name in the credits. Even so, he did a lot of heavy lifting.
But hope springs eternal, and Murayama and his cohorts knew how much Suikoden meant to so many fans.A Kickstarter campaign emerged,with the team’s newly-minted studio,Rabbit & Bear Studio,seeking crowdfundeding for a projectwith arather familiaridea.
Suikoden Chronicle Rising
It was immediately apparent that Murayama wanted to resurrect Suikoden under a new banner. The clarity of that mission sparked fan interest - and checkbooks.Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes met its initial $500,000 campaign goal in under four hours, and swiftly cleared every stretch goal that Rabbit & Bear Studio would muster.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes stands asthe third-highest video game Kickstarter fundraiser, trailing only ArtPlay’s Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Ys Net’s Shenmue 3.
The campaign was even successful enough to includethe development of a spin-off title, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, which launched nearly two years prior in 2022. Although Rising’saction-RPG gameplayis nothing like Suikoden’s - ergo, nothing like the flagship Eiyuden Chronicle’s -it serves up a decent bit of worldbuilding.
108 Stars Reborn
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes' stretch goal accomplishments have enabled it tobring added depth to classic Suikoden staples. Suikoden’scastle town constructionmechanic had always been a fan favorite.
Eiyuden Chronicle takes it to the next level, adding all sorts of new facilities, such asa stable for bird-racing and a shop to purchase cards for a full-featured original card game.Our pick for the standout fresh feature is thetheater, where your characters will perform in plays- they’re even fully-voiced.
Certain role-playing games, such asDragon Age: Inquisition, have employed similar systems. But they’re never quite the same, and seldom do they feel so rewarding.
Further parallels are unmistakable.Duels, one-on-one conflicts during pivotal moments in Suikoden’s storylines, make a return in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. They’re as narratively effective as ever.
Army battles, far different and much larger-scaletactical clashes between forces,are also back and packed with thoughtful tweaks.Hero Combosreplace the formerly-titledCombination Attacksfor powerful actions shared between specific allies in battle.
Six-person partieswere the Suikoden norm outside its divisive fourth installment; indeed, they’re present in Eiyuden Chronicle. And remember that 108-character marvel that Suikoden consistently pulled off? Don’t let its subtitle fool you:Eiyuden Chronicle ups it to 120.
The Stars Look Bright, Though We Mourn One’s Passing
As you can see, Suikoden and Eiyuden bear more than a passing resemblance to one-another. Rabbit & Bear Studio set out to revive its core staff’s past projects,and not unlike the phoenix of theChinese mythology through which Suikoden drew so much of its inspiration,it rose from the ashes of its former self.
Tragically,Yoshitaka Murayama passed away just weeks before the launch of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroesat the devastatingly young age of 55. We can only hope he knew how much his contributions to the gaming industry are cherished, and will be cherished for generations to come.
Conveniently Lacking Conveniences
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroesis so thoroughly enmeshed in its role as Suikoden’s successor that some have criticized the game forlacking in the things which tend to be taken for granted in modern game design.
Fast travelisn’t unlocked until a while into the story.Traversing maps at a rapid pacerequires obtaining special shoes (and later on, a support character). The list goes on.
We can’t blame people for wanting these things, but how dowefeel about it all? It’s not simply a matter ofthe strengths of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes outweighing its weaknesses.
In fact, we appreciate its old-school labyrinthine dungeons, its plethora of sub-systems, and all the rest.Eiyuden Chronicle is Suikoden in all but name, and we think it does just enough to bring the series forward meaningfully without sacrificing the “soul.”
Rabbit & Bear Studio hopes tocreate a sequeldespite Murayama’s passing. It’s a big responsibility, but these are folks who worked side-by-side with the visionary creator for years, oftendecades. If anyone can keep Suikoden’s flame alive, it’s them.
Will Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes prove financially fruitful enough for that sequel to one day come to light? Right now,we can only hope the answer is yes.But Suikoden bounced back once; even if there’s never an Eiyuden Chronicle 2, the phoenix will surely rise again.
