Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster Seeks to Rekindle JRPG Legacy

The Suikoden series, absent for over a decade, is poised for a comeback with the HD remaster of its first two titles, aiming to revitalize the cherished JRPG franchise and lay the groundwork for future chapters.

Suikoden Remaster Targets Revival of Iconic JRPG Series

Developers Aim to Introduce Suikoden to New Players

The forthcoming Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster promises to rejuvenate the classic JRPG series. In a recent Famitsu interview, translated via Google, Director Tatsuya Ogushi and Lead Planner Takahiro Sakiyama shared their vision of introducing the series to a new generation while reigniting the enthusiasm of longtime fans.

Ogushi and Sakiyama expressed optimism that the remaster could spark future Suikoden projects. Ogushi, deeply connected to the series, paid tribute to the late creator Yoshitaka Murayama, who passed away earlier this year. "Murayama would have loved to contribute," Ogushi noted. "He was quite envious when I mentioned working on the updated illustrations."

Sakiyama, who debuted as director on Suikoden V, emphasized his commitment to reviving the franchise. "I’ve longed to bring Suikoden back to prominence, and now we’re making it happen," he said. "I hope the Suikoden IP continues to grow moving forward."

Overview of Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster

The Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster builds on the Japan-exclusive Genso Suikoden 1 & 2 collection for the PlayStation Portable, released in 2006. That collection brought enhanced versions of the classic JRPGs to Japanese players, leaving global fans waiting. Now, Konami is reworking it for modern platforms with notable enhancements.

Visually, the remaster elevates the originals with high-definition background textures, creating more immersive environments, from Gregminster’s grand castles to Suikoden 2’s battle-scarred landscapes. The iconic pixel art sprites are refined while preserving their original charm.

A new Gallery feature offers access to the game’s music and cutscenes, and an event viewer lets players revisit key moments, all available from the title selection screen.

While rooted in the PSP collection, the remaster corrects past flaws. Notably, Suikoden 2’s Luca Blight cutscene, previously shortened in the PSP version for being too intense, is fully restored.

To align with modern sensibilities, some character dialogues have been updated. For instance, Richmond, the private investigator in Suikoden 2, no longer smokes, reflecting Japan’s indoor and outdoor smoking regulations.

Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster launches March 6, 2025, on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. For more on the game’s story and gameplay, check out our detailed article below!