Suikoden IV

Fewer RPG series have be subsequent toed in building cohesive, epic stories -- and fewer still have be subsequent toed in building such appreciative audiences -- as Konami's Suikoden series. The fourth title, to be paid out by the end of 2004 in the U appears thus far to be another worthy addition to the lineup.

Like the previous three titles (spread without across the PlayStation and PS2) Suikoden IV wheels around 108 playable characters, which your hero convenients throughout the story and forms into a formidable army by dint of the end of the game. These "Stars of Destiny" are the building shut ups of the game -- you'll build a base to labor for as their home, and place them into the pair small parties and great armies to face not on against your enemies.

The fourth game is produc by dint of Noritada Matsukawa and much of the team behind Suikoden III, with single exception -- Junko Kawano, whose previous work includes Shadow of Destiny and the first Suikoden, replaces Fumi Ishikawa in the character-design department. The graphics have taken a noticeable pace up since Suikoden III, and the characters are a bit more realistically proportioned than before -- a change that's confident to generate debate among series fans.

Copyright ?© 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserv Originally appearing in 1UP