Suikoden IV

Suikoden IV from 2004 is a JRPG by Konami, chronologically the earliest entry in the series' story timeline, set a generation before the original Suikoden on a chain of islands far from the great mainland kingdoms. Playing as a young guardian of an island kingdom, the player gradually builds a resistance against the rule of the Kooluk Empire and strives to uphold the series' tradition — gathering the 108 Stars of Destiny, the iconic recruitable characters scattered across the game world.

New to the series is an emphasis on naval battles and traveling between islands using the player's own ship, which is gradually upgraded and also used in standalone tactical sea battles against enemy fleets and pirates. Land combat remains faithful to the series' turn-based system, with a party of up to six characters and the ability to equip runes with magical abilities suited to the player's preferred style and each character's role. Visually, the game continued the style of the third installment, but because of the sprawling island setting, individual areas to explore were smaller, and party members were recruited noticeably more slowly than in earlier entries.

Suikoden IV is often labeled among fans of the series as a weaker entry due to its slower pace, smaller dungeons, and a less elaborate story compared to the highly regarded third game. Even so, it remains an important entry for understanding the series' overall mythology and chronology, and for loyal Suikoden fans it's a mandatory item, albeit one to approach knowing it's more of a transitional entry than the peak of the long-running series. The series' music retains its characteristic, melancholic tone here as well, accompanying the building of the resistance and the personal stories of the individually recruited characters among the 108 Stars of Destiny. Gathering allies and building your own fortress, into which recruited companions gradually move, remains one of the game's most enjoyable long-term goals. Although the game didn't receive as warm a reception as previous entries, the atmosphere of lonely island harbors and the feeling of building a resistance from nothing remain among its strong points.

Why play it: For loyal series fans, an almost mandatory entry due to its connection to Suikoden's overall mythology, even though its slower pace and smaller dungeons make it more of a transitional entry than a peak of the series.