Suikoden 2: Does it live up to the hype!

[NeoCracker]

Well, lets find out! I'll be playing through this game, finally, so lets try to talk about it without spoiling it! Something I've managed to avoid all this time, and I'll update my thoughts on it!

So far I opted to stay awake and walk around the camp with Jowy.

I'm liking how you see the division amongst the troups on this apparent peace treaty, how some are happy and others want to keep fighting.

So at the very least, the beginning is intriguing!

Edit: And apperently you are suppose to Sharpen Tonfa's. Who would have thought!

[Jowy]

yay! everyone should play this. it starts a little slow so please keep an open mind. once you get to Muse, it picks up a LOT. and yeah, I do agree...you don't sharpen a tonfa, or nunchaku, or staves but whatever! make sure to check rare finds in every single shop and don't be afraid to blow all your money on a rare piece of armour if you get the chance; you'll make it all back later.

sagelike advice: for your first playthrough, don't use the gate exploit. it is cool watching Jowy blow everything up in one hit, but it'll mess up the flow of the story. also, at the very least, be sure to rotate your character use. you're gonna want at least eighteen characters you feel confident about bringing into battle.

Oh, and did you import a save file from the first game?

[Shauna]

also, at the very least, be sure to rotate your character use. you're gonna want at least eighteen characters you feel confident about bringing into battle.

So much this. First time I tried to play I got to a point when I needed two (or three, maybe?) separate parties and I only had maybe 8 decent characters. Ass = whooped. The first game lets you away with not having more than a handful of characters being decent but this one is way less forgiving (I found, at least).

[NeoCracker]

...I have no Idea what the smurf this exploit is. o_O

And I intended to rotate characters. My current line up, forgive me for not remembering all these names off the top of my head, starting from the left of the front row...

Dude you feed to get to join you, Wolf, Jowy, Cecil (The name it picked randomly), Hunter, Sister. I have Boomerang chick and Kobold guy back at the hideout.

So far, I got back from the Highlands and was told to go around recruiting people, and did so. I think it's pretty obvious where I've been to recruit so far from that list, but currently I am in greenhill. I went to Muse to pick up the amulet, but kept following the road until I got here. And the Runemaster lady is hot.

And I haven't played Suikoden 1 before, so no to the save file.

Edit: And while there are definately things that make me scratch my head, the only real issue I seem to have is lack of overworld map, mostly because so much of this smurfing terrain looks the same as ever where else. Unless i just haven't found a way to pull up the world map anyway.

[Jowy]

you'll get a map soon enough when you actually need it. did you get the squirrel from behind the tree when you went to get Nanami? If not, you can get him near the Muse/Greenhill border; just have an open slot in your group.

You can push the door from the Muse/Matilda border off the hinges and go somewhere you aren't supposed to early on. You'll grab two dudes there that'll help kill the monsters and you'll gain about thirty levels in ten minutes along with getting 3/4 of the Bright Shield and 4/4 of the Black Sword spells. But don't do it!

[theundeadhero]

Does it live up to the hype? Yep.

[Madame Adequate]

Yes. Yes it does.

[Laddy]

I need to get this game.

[Jowy]

So! Who's your ideal party setup those of us that have played through already? Naming names shouldn't be much of a spoiler:

Flik/Georg/Sierra
Riou/Mazus/Luc

[Wolf Kanno]

Flik, Victor, Georg, Luc, Riou (Hero), and McDohl. Yes, I am cruel.

Also, Boo to NeoCracker for not playing the first game, you're going to miss out on some of the subtle aspects of the plot and callbacks.

[Raistlin]

I played S2 first (when I found it randomly at a game store many, many years ago), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Playing S1 first does allow you to fully appreciate some of the characters and events, but it's still a great game on its own.

I think my last party was Flik/Georg/___/Riou/McDohl/Luc. I don't remember if the third front slot was Humphrey, Viktor, or Pesmerga... or maybe I had McDohl in the front and Mazus in the back.

[NeoCracker]

...Okay, so I just got to the shrine where Jowy and the main have that flashback stuff happening, and you get all o fthe lines like 'We chose Life and Death together' 'Because of all the things we shared' set over touching and almost romantic music.

....This game had better end with Jowy and Cecil (Main) gay adopting that little girl.

[Pumpkin]

This is a great game, I hope you enjoy it . It's my favorite in the whole series and I have played them all.

You should play them all.

[Dignified Pauper]

By far one of the coolest stories ever in a JRPG.

[Jowy]

You get Pesmerga way too late in the game.