Suikoden 2 Anime Announced Alongside New Mobile Gacha Game

This week, Konami delighted fans of classic RPGs with a special live stream focused entirely on the beloved Suikoden series. The franchise, which hasn't seen a new mainline entry since a side story released exclusively on the PSP in Japan over a decade ago, left fans eagerly anticipating what might be unveiled. The stream brought a mix of excitement and apprehension with the announcement of a Suikoden anime and a new mobile game.

Starting with the anime, titled "Suikoden: The Anime," fans were thrilled to learn it will be based on the events of Suikoden 2. As the inaugural production from Konami Animation, details about its visual style and international availability remain scarce, with only a brief scenery clip revealed:

This is undoubtedly exciting news for Suikoden enthusiasts and could serve as an excellent entry point for newcomers, provided the anime gains widespread availability.

The second major announcement, however, stirred mixed feelings among fans. The new game, "Suikoden Star Leap," promises to be visually stunning, adopting the Octopath Traveler-style of 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds. Set a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, it retains the series' hallmark of featuring 108 characters.

However, the game's mobile-only release and the inclusion of gacha mechanics and ongoing monetization have raised concerns. This marks a significant departure from the series' tradition of premium releases on console and PC, leaving fans worried about how these monetization strategies might impact gameplay and the ability to collect all 108 characters. Only time will tell if these concerns are justified.

In the meantime, Suikoden fans have something to look forward to with the imminent release of the Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars. A new trailer for this collection was showcased during the live event, and it's set to launch tomorrow, March 6.