Score:
7.5 / 10

As someone who grew up with a deep love for classic JRPGs, revisiting Suikoden I and II through this HD remaster felt like catching up with old friends—familiar, comforting, and just a bit bittersweet. Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars brings two of the most beloved entries in the genre into the modern era, with a healthy dose of visual polish and some much-needed quality-of-life improvements that make them more approachable than ever for both new players and longtime fans.

Visually, the upgrades strike a respectful balance between preservation and modernization. The redrawn character portraits, done by original artist Junko Kawano, are expressive and vibrant without losing the charm of their pixelated roots. The environments have been carefully touched up in HD, enhancing clarity and color while still feeling true to the atmosphere and tone of the original games. It doesn’t feel like a complete visual overhaul, but more like a lovingly detailed restoration—less flashy, more faithful. Subtle environmental sound effects have also been added, such as the trickle of running water or the ambient chirping of insects, which helps flesh out the world in a quiet but immersive way.

From a gameplay perspective, the remaster makes some smart decisions. Features like auto-save, fast-forwarding in battles, and a conversation log are small but significant changes that go a long way in improving the overall experience—especially for anyone used to more modern pacing. They make backtracking less painful, grinding more tolerable, and dialogue easier to follow. These additions help streamline the experience without stripping away its original depth or challenge.

That said, not all of the rough edges have been smoothed out. The UI remains fairly basic, and navigating menus still feels a bit clunky compared to today’s standards. Some character animations also appear stiff or dated, which can be a jarring contrast to the otherwise refreshed visuals. There’s an underlying sense that while the developers made careful enhancements, they stopped short of truly reimagining these games for a new era.

Another welcome upgrade is the overhauled localization. The original translations—especially for the first game—were known for being inconsistent and, at times, confusing. The remastered script is cleaner, more coherent, and better captures the tone of the narrative and personalities of the characters. It’s not just a cosmetic polish—it genuinely makes the story easier to engage with and adds emotional weight in places where the original text might have fallen short.

Still, players hoping for more modern conveniences—like expanded tutorials, fully redone cutscenes, or deeper reworking of some of the gameplay systems—may find the remaster a bit underwhelming. It doesn’t quite offer the level of overhaul seen in other modern remakes or remasters, and there’s a lingering sense that Konami could have done more with these beloved titles. As a result, this collection lands somewhere in between a preservation effort and a modernization—a kind of hybrid that succeeds in honoring the originals but doesn’t fully elevate them.

In the end, this remaster feels like it was made with care, but also with restraint. It’s a respectful tribute to two JRPG greats that deserve to be remembered, even if it plays it a bit too safe. For longtime fans, it’s a nostalgic and mostly satisfying return. For newcomers, it’s a solid entry point—just one that still shows its age in more ways than one.

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