The Stars of Destiny are ready to be re-recruited in Suikoden I & II HD Remaster.

Gamers of a certain age probably remember the store FuncoLand. During one of my many visits there as a youth, I saw a copy of Suikoden II. I played it for all of five minutes before writing it off. I know, I know. Not wise. But, what can you do? I eventually played it, as well as its predecessor on the PlayStation. I played the other games in the series, too. It’s still a fun series with a lot of heart, lore, and neat ideas. It’s also expensive. Suikoden II is still one of the more expensive, retro games. I’m excited to review the Suikoden I & II HD Remaster because not only are both games still a lot of fun, but this collection is the most economical way to enjoy them. Modern touches top the collection up for easier accessibility.

The story of Suikoden I surrounds the Scarlet Moon Empire. Once a prolific and well-respected dynasty lead by Barbarossa, the Scarlet Moon Empire has sent one of its five Imperial Generals to perform reconnaissance in the north. The general is none other than Teo McDohl. His son is played by you. As you and some of your friends begin training under the empire, odd things begin to happen. Talks of corruption have arisen and people are not sure who to trust. In an epic tale of good versus evil, father versus son, and friend versus friend, war is on the rise and only you will be the one to see if the Scarlet Moon Empire is as noble as they seem on the outside. Suikoden II takes place years after the events of the Scarlet Moon Empire. New and old heroes answer the call of adventure. The hero, that you name yourself, and his best friend, Jowy Atreides, are members of the Highland Army’s youth brigade. During an invasion, only the hero and Jowy end up making it out of the ordeal alive. It turns out that the prince of Highland planned this event in order to invade the town of Jowston. The new hero and Jowy realize that they are nothing but pawns in a much bigger plot.

The source material for both stories is unchanged, but the writing and scripts were modernized. Characters aren’t (thankfully) voiced but they sound more believable and more lifelike. A unique thing about the series is that each hero has to recruit over 100 characters known as The Stars of Destiny. With such a massive cast, you’d think you wouldn’t get to know all of the characters when compared to other RPGs with smaller rosters. That’s half true. There are characters that get more airtime, as they well should since they’re the focal points, but most of the characters you recruit have a role to play and a fair amount of dialogue to contribute.

For those that are new to Suikoden, you’ll be treated to classic, RPG gameplay. Some of it will be familiar to anyone that’s played an RPG. All characters that can participate in battle have a weapon that can be strengthened at a blacksmith. They can equip armor, hold items, and some characters can equip Runes which allow them to use special skills or magic. Battles are turn-based with standard options. Characters can attack, defend, use magic, use items and even perform team attacks if the right characters are together. A nifty fast-forward feature makes regular encounters over in a flash. There are two other types of battles. The first is a one-on-one duel that plays like an intense version of rock-paper-scissors. The second is the major battle in which your army goes against an enemy army. All forms of combat are enjoyable and keep the game play varied.

One of the cornerstones of Suikoden is building a headquarters. As more teammates join your cause, your headquarters will turn into a thriving community filled with every facility and amenity you can find in a town. You’ll have armor shops, storage, blacksmiths, and much more. Your HQ is where you’ll head to learn about new missions to forward the story, too. It’s a rewarding feature that makes it worth the time to seek out new recruits. While some of the recruits have strict conditions, which ultimately means resorting to a guide for help, most of them are easy to get. This means your HQ will always be your one-stop shop for upgrading your team. Note that there’s a special reward for those that do recruit all 108 characters. So, there’s no shame in busting out a guide to make sure you get them all.

The upgraded backgrounds for this HD collection are stunning. The 2D sprites are stunning. The new character portraits are stunning. I think you get the point. Along with the stunning presentation, there’s a conversation log, multiple difficulty levels, the ability to move the hero in the first Suikoden in eight directions instead of four (trust me – it’s a big deal), the ability to have the hero in the first Suikoden run without an equipped rune (also a big deal) and a beautiful art gallery to admire.

In total, the collection will last about 60 hours. The first game is a short, brisk 20 hour campaign. The second game has more stuff, which can be a pro or con depending on your point of view. The Suikoden HD Remaster breathes new life into a beloved classic, delivering a masterful blend of nostalgia and polish for both longtime fans and newcomers alike. The enhanced visuals and refined gameplay honor the original’s charm while modernizing its appeal. Whether you’re here for the rich storytelling, unforgettable characters, or strategic battles, this remaster proves that Suikoden’s legacy is timeless. For anyone looking to relive a classic or experience it for the first time, Suikoden HD is a journey well worth taking.

Overall, 8.5/10: The stars (of destiny) aligned for the Suikoden HD Remaster. Finally, two games in a classic series are easily accessible available.