Suikoden 2 Anime Announced, New Mobile Gacha Game Launched

Earlier this week, Konami delighted fans of classic RPGs with a special live stream entirely dedicated to the beloved Suikoden series. Given that the franchise hasn't seen a new entry since a Japanese and PSP-exclusive side story over a decade ago, fans were buzzing with anticipation and mixed emotions about what announcements might come. The stream brought both excitement and a tinge of disappointment with the reveal of a new Suikoden anime and a brand-new mobile game featuring gacha mechanics.

Starting with the anime, titled "Suikoden: The Anime," it's set to adapt the events of Suikoden 2 and marks the first production from Konami Animation. While we didn't get a full glimpse of what it will look like, nor any details on its availability outside Japan, a brief scenery clip was shared:

This news is certainly thrilling for Suikoden enthusiasts and could serve as an exciting entry point for newcomers, provided the anime becomes widely accessible.

The second major announcement, however, has left fans with mixed feelings. A new game titled "Suikoden Star Leap" was unveiled, showcasing stunning visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler's 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds. Set a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, it promises to include the traditional 108 characters that fans have come to love.

However, the excitement is tempered by the fact that Star Leap is slated for release exclusively on mobile platforms. While this might not be a deal-breaker for die-hard fans, the inclusion of gacha mechanics and ongoing monetization has raised concerns. Historically, Suikoden has been a premium series on consoles and PCs, and the introduction of these monetization strategies could potentially impact players' ability to fully enjoy the game and collect all 108 characters. We'll need to wait and see how these elements play out.

In the meantime, Suikoden fans have something to look forward to with the re-releases of Suikoden 1 and 2 in the form of "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.