Suikoden IV (2004)
Suikoden IV is a 2004 rpg video game made by Konami Digital Entertainment.
Set in a sprawling island archipelago generations before the main Suikoden timeline, Suikoden IV follows a young naval officer who inherits the Rune of Punishment, a powerful crest with a cost attached to every use. Travel between islands is done entirely by ship, and the cast of recruitable characters eventually tops sixty, each with a role aboard your vessel or in the growing fleet. The Tactical Formation System adds a layer of pre-battle positioning that rewards investment in the full roster.
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Suikoden IV in our writing
A few thoughts on Suikoden IV
The naval setting and large ensemble cast sit closer to a political epic than a dungeon crawl, a sensibility that connects to the political depth of Mass Effect 2, where building a crew and managing loyalty is as central as the combat. Both reward players who take time with every character before the final confrontation.