[DS] Suikoden Tierkreis announced

Originally Posted by Shin

Anyway, Suikoden covers generally survive the trip west pretty well and let's face it, once you've bought the thing how much time to you spend looking at anything other than the spine of the box?

Y'see, the thing is, Suikoden Tactics (West) has one of the blandest covers I've ever seen.



Having said that, I still preferred looking at it than playing the actual game.

Except that the PAL cover, where me and Omagnus live looked like this:



I can't think of any particularly bad Suikoden PAL covers off the top of my head.

*looks at Suikoden Tactics case and cover* Oh yes, I have that one too. When I did a google image search I sort of just assumed we got screwed over with the cover as well.

Speaking of Suikoden covers, how 'bout that Japanese Suikoden I cover.

Originally Posted by Shin

Anyway, Suikoden covers generally survive the trip west pretty well and let's face it, once you've bought the thing how much time to you spend looking at anything other than the spine of the box?

Completely agree, was just making a little bit of a joke is all. Surely you would not begrudge a chap that?

Originally Posted by Muzza

Speaking of Suikoden covers, how 'bout that Japanese Suikoden I cover.

I know the American cover was ghastly but I thought the PAL cover was the same as the Jap one?

Sorry Omagnus, joke away mate.

Originally Posted by Shin

I know the American cover was ghastly but I thought the PAL cover was the same as the Jap one?

Yes that's right. (All these mistakes..and I call myself a Suikoden fanatic! =O) I find it strikingly odd that it's the American cover which contains Japanese text and bizarre art designs. But yeah, I've always been a fan of the alternative Suikoden cover. And SII's, but that's just a given.

luls inside:

Heeeeeeeell yeah

Back on topic, at least Tierkreis looks awesome.

The characters in the battle screen remind me of the first Wild Arms game. The rest looks pretty nice though. Given the chances of this ever getting a European release are basically zero, I might have to import this.

A comment from Edge's TGS Komani stand summary on Tierkreis that sound reasonably positive:

Quote:

The saving grace for Konami’s booth is the presence of DS strategy RPG Suikoden Tierkreis, which seems to have all the visual character and deep tactical gameplay of the early PlayStation games boiled down in a potion that the DS hardware can stomach.

[ source ]

Where does this take place in teh Suikoden timeline? Sorry if it's been said already....

Unknown. No one's even sure if it's the usual Suikoden universe either, and Nintendo Power has stated the game travels through parallel worlds (parallel dimensions have been canon since the original Suikoden, so don't freak out, people). The geography makes me wonder as well. When comparing the "world" map that was in the Suikoden V bonus DVD and the map seen in some videos, it seems to be clear that the game is on some landmass that's not been shown yet. Some potential areas are the "eastern continent," as well as the lands south of Nagarea and New Armes.

One of the main antagonists works for a powerful military force, which could be Harmonia. The One King, who wallops the 104 other stars, has a name that hints at Hikusaak, but has a description that just screams Sindarin or Yuber (desires chaos, etc etc). It is a mystery.

EDIT: The December issue of Nintendo Power has a three-page article up that states that the game isn't set in the same world, and True Runes are absent entirely. Consequently, even usual mainstays like Viki and Jeane are absent. Instead, the game focuses on the limitless number of parallel universes called 'the Infinity' that have suddenly begun to overlap (causing people and powerful monsters to cross over into Tierkreis' universe and run amok). Very informative article.

Turns out the whole "reforming the Stars" plot was dropped early in development, and also mentioned some pretty cool gameplay aspects that were mulled over for that plot (resurrected Stars would sometimes be revived just as they were before death, but others would come back as weapons and various animals).

In short:

Release date: Winter, possibly as soon as December
Timeline: Moot; alternate universe, new timeline
Location: Kingdom of Salsaville, various neighboring countries

main baddies:

Main antagonistic force: The Order of the One True Way
Main antagonist (presumably): The One King

Story progression: Mission based
Online functionality: Yes, characters are sent into the Infinity (the internets), which other players will use for unique missions that net bonus experience and items

Good news. Apparently, Genso Sukoden Tierkreis is targeted for a release in America in "Early 2009".

Originally Posted by Siliconera

Suikoden Tierkreis is scheduled to come out in Japan on December 18 and Star of Destiny seekers won’t have to wait a year to play it in English. I spoke with a representative from Konami Computer Entertainment America who informed me they are already working on localizing the DS game. It’s on target for “early 2009″ which translates into Q1 2009. As long as progress steadily continues we should see Suikoden Tierkreis in North America this winter.

Source

As I mentioned in the Tales of Hearts thread, this was leaked a couple days ago. It's out in Japan proper now.

As was discussed, the game takes place in an entirely new universe, so there are no returning characters. The hero and his friends who make up the Town Guard in the village of Citro, and that is the game's initial setting.

Spoiler:

During a visit to a nearby mountain for the chief of Citro, an immense statue juts forth from the ground. In an investigation of the statue, they find a book that grants them the ability to use magic (this book was mentioned earlier in the thread). Shortly thereafter, there is a report of a forest appearing near Citro that did not exist there originally, and the Guard is sent to investigate. Lots of other things happen, and eventually the party discovers what is causing the disturbances.

The graphics are weird. The character models are hideously deformed, with the characters having bizarrely oversized arms compared to the rest of their bodies. The 2D backgrounds are gorgeous however, and it's been a treat to explore things. The music is also great, and Suikoden fans will more than likely appreciate the continued tradition.

Battling works like it always has, just replace the traditional Rune system with your average, run-of-the-mill MP system from other RPGs. A bit disappointing.

That's all I can think of at the moment.