As someone who grew up with Suikoden, I am extremely happy with how this game came to be. Sure, it's not perfect--there are bugs and glitches from time to time--but it checks all of the things I love about JRPGs and Suikoden. It also works really well with the Steam Deck, which is a bonus.

The dialogue, although light at times, does not take away from the heart and soul of the story. The characters are all very diverse, each with their own personalities that the voice acting breathes life into. The artwork is nice as well and there are a bunch of characters that reminded me of the others I've encountered at having played all the Suikoden games. There are moments I actually burst out laughing and moments when I was somber and angered on behalf of the characters I am journeying with. I particularly like Francesca, Ymir, and Perry--from the new roster. But my faves will always be the OG trio: Garoo, CJ, and Isha because they introduced me to the lore and the adventures to be had in this world.

The battles can drag a bit, though. And the teleportation can get a bit annoying with the added dialogue every time you warp someplace. The minigames are all so fun, albeit a bunch of them requires farming for things that can help you through--like the money needed to purchase cards, finding the recipes, and farming enemy drops for beigoma. There's something about the overworld music that makes me remember Wild Arms, though, but I don't really know why that is.

I really do love everything there is in the game, and I feel like I would be replaying Suikoden again (for the umpteenth time) right after I beat this game, and the NG+.