Suikoden 3 - PlayStation 2

I could type on-and-on about this game all night! I was one of the few fortunate enough to pick this game up when it first came out, and I haven't truly put it down since. I've been playing all of the Suikoden titles faithfully since my brother and I found the first Suikoden hanging on a little video-game rack at our local CVS years and years ago. If you hold any joy for playing Role-Playing Games at all, I highly encourage you to try Suikoden 1-5 and Suikoden Tactics. I understand some of them have gotten very expensive. Take it from me, they're worth it.The only gripes I've ever had about this game is the speed at which the main character runs (a steady trot, at best) and that, when characters walk, their feet movement doesn't match how fast their actually moving, resulting in a shuffle-like appearance. Besides that it's by far one of the most solidly build RPGs I've ever played. It's storyline is downright inspiring, and the music (consistent with every Suikoden) is just wonderful. I turn the BGM volume down in almost every game I play, the Suikodens however, are exceptions to this. The 108+ characters you can recruit to your cause are all unique and well-developed characters. Not one of them feel thrown together to fill slots at all. Out of all 5 main Suikoden titles, I honestly like the most characters from this one. I have so many favorites I struggle to decide who to take with me sometimes! The war fighting system in this title is also my favorite, consisting of several large-scale fights in the games regular battle system, combine with positioning units chessboard-style on the battlefield. This fuses the strategic elements of other games with the turn-based battle system I already enjoy so much from this game, and allows me to play as the "rank-in-file" soldier units that are often regarded at a distance in other franchises.Top marks all around for this game, I can't recommend it enough. Just get a copy already!

Suikoden I and II are such great games. Suikoden II starts off pretty slowly. It picks up about two thirds of the way through the game with some great explanation of some events from the previous games and a great twist. It unfortunately doesn't all add up to a good game, just a decent one.

never thought a game with no voice acting and graphics that look like could be one ps1 could be one of my favorite games. If your looking for a long rpg to spend time on this is it. Interesting main characters and surprisingly good story. Broken into chapters choose one of 3 main character and seeing events from their pov. When finished given option to move on to next ch with same character or choose another and continue. It sounds tedious but all stories while correlated are unique and different. Each ch. ending on cliff hanger wanting more but then move on to next character and almost forget about last story because its so engaging. If graphics snob then this game is to be avoided, and not closer to hardcore rpg or experienced then would avoid. Its one of few games can spend over 80 hours or more and still be engaged until end.

Pros: Good story, memorable characters, decent music, good battle system, multiple protagonists, very satisfyingCons: Graphics aren't spectacular, slow start, random battle systems are outmoded, connector-maps are tediousOther thoughts: Sure, the graphics aren't great, random battles are irritating, and having to go through the same pointless maps over and over again to travel the map sucks. But this game will thoroughly please any Suikoden fan. The protagonists are really very likable characters, and even the antagonists can be sympathized with - there is more to (most of) them than "LOOK AT ME I'M EVIL!" You will again be recruiting hoards of characters for your own castle and army, and may need to use a walkthrough to get them all (there is a very satisfying special ending if you do.) The game starts slowly but stick with it - it quickly picks up and becomes one of the most memorable PS2 experiences.

I don't see how a disk with a massive scratch on it could be considered to be in "very good" condition. I didn't buy this to hang it on my wall...

Great game. It's rare. I have yet to complete this. It's visually stunning and the story is involved. It'll be a journey -- I have not finished it yet.