First released: 1996-97 (PSOne)
Now Available On: PSN
After years of begging and pleading, Konami has made European RPG fans very happy by releasing Suikoden and its sequel on the PSN store.
Suikoden made its European debut in March 1997, just a few short months after Final Fantasy VII became a mainstream hit and boosted the profile of the RPG genre in the West.
Of course, it would never achieve the same levels of success as Square's still-celebrated masterpiece and might well have been overshadowed, but Suikoden would gain its own loyal following, as evidenced by the price the original disc sells for on eBay, and the campaign for a European release on PSN.
It would go on to be bettered by Suikoden 2, but it was the first game that introduced many of the elements that would become staples of the series.
For starters, where most role-playing games contain half a dozen playable characters tops, Suikoden lets you recruit 108 characters to your party, the majority of which can be used in battle.
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This gave users a chance to really experiment with the six-character party system by creating wildly differing team combinations, all the while paying close attention to those all-important formations.
It also meant that you really had to explore the map to unlock the game's true potential, remembering where you were every time you had a conversation with somebody that wasn't just a generic villager or soldier.
These unique characters could usually always be recruited, although if you missed them or rejected their request to join your team, you risked losing their allegiance forever.
It's important, because recruiting all characters is the key to unlocking the best ending, and for opening up bonuses in Suikoden 2, including a sizeable side quest.
The first game also featured battles involving entire armies of recruits, which would become more and more complex as the series went on.
While these turn-based battles between the Imperial and Liberation armies were relatively simple in hindsight, they always felt epic, as you scrolled through your different character classes in an attempt to chip away at enemy forces.
There was even a risk of losing characters forever, which gave these grander battles a greater sense of importance.
Building a headquarters for your army was another feature that was introduced in the original Suikoden and would return in each subsequent release.
As more recruits joined the struggle, your headquarters grew in size, making it barely recognisable after long periods away while ploughing through the story.
And what a story it was. Suikoden isn't the biggest or most complicated RPG in the world, so things move pretty quickly.
One second you're off with your friends visiting a stargazer, and the next you're on the run after being falsely accused of rebellion.
There are some touching moments along the way, a great cast of heroes and villains, and a rousing musical score that really brings the action to life.
Unfortunately, the Suikoden series has been a bit quiet as of late, with the last main entry (Suikoden 5) launching on the PS2 in 2006.
There have, however, been multiple handheld spinoffs, including Card Stories, Tactics and Suikoden Tierkreis, which is available in Europe and North America on the Nintendo DS.
The most dedicated followers can also take part in the annual Suikoden Day online event, where fans can dress up and post pictures, share their favourite memories and enter competitions over on the game's Facebook page.
If you missed out first time around and want to see what the fuss is about, it's definitely worth downloading the original Suikoden from the PSN Store.
