90
Improved in more ways than is physically possible to list.
60
The story is like a bag of bricks I had to heave along as I slogged my way forward...What a disappointment. [Dec 2002, p.172]
60
Although Suikoden 3 is better than the average Japenese RPG, it's clear that with the move to 3D Konami has tried to freshen the formula. But by watering down the series' bastion gameplay elements it may have alienated all but the fanatics. [Sept 2003]
8
[ENG]
Suikoden III is an ambitious and emotionally rich JRPG that stands out for its narrative structure and scope. By telling the story through multiple protagonists and factions, the game delivers a layered and mature portrayal of war, politics, and moral ambiguity. This approach gives weight to the conflict and allows the player to see events from opposing perspectives, which is one of the game’s greatest strengths. The large cast of recruitable characters, combined with traditional rune magic and strategic battles, reinforces the sense of a living world shaped by its people. While the combat systems are not always perfectly balanced and the technical side shows its age, the depth of the narrative and the ambition behind the design more than compensate. Despite some pacing issues and dated visuals, Suikoden III remains one of the most thematically complex entries in the series, rewarding patience and attention with a memorable story and a strong emotional payoff. Final Score: 8.3 / 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ITA]
Suikoden III è un JRPG ambizioso e ricco di contenuti, che si distingue soprattutto per la sua struttura narrativa multiprospettiva. Raccontare la guerra attraverso diversi protagonisti e fazioni permette di esplorare il conflitto da angolazioni opposte, rendendo la storia matura, sfaccettata e spesso moralmente ambigua. Il grande numero di **** reclutabili, il sistema delle rune e le battaglie strategiche contribuiscono a creare un mondo credibile e coerente. Anche se il comparto tecnico risente del tempo e il ritmo non è sempre equilibrato, la forza della scrittura e l’ampiezza dell’esperienza compensano ampiamente questi limiti. Suikoden III non è un gioco immediato, ma premia il giocatore che investe tempo e attenzione con una delle narrazioni più profonde e ambiziose della serie. Voto finale: 8.3 / 10
4
A bit of an incoherent mishmash of different ideas that takes forever to pay off (if they do).
2
Takes forever to "actually" get your castle for one. The disjointed story from three perspectives **** for two. Hugo being a dumb kid was even worse... The only cool thing about this game was seeing True Rune unite magic.
Suikoden III
PlayStation 2
Released On:
Oct 24, 2002
Metascore
Generally Favorable
86
User score
Generally Favorable
8.5
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
86
83% Positive
19 Reviews
19 Reviews
17% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
Sadly, true quality storytelling is extremely rare in this age of overblown and pretentious stories so commonly found in the "Final Fantasy" series and its imitators. Suikoden 3 is a welcome and finely-crafted exception.
96
Tells a great story with great characters, offers a lot of variety and, despite its graphical and audio deficiencies, is still the best RPG of 2002.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.5
80% Positive
107 Ratings
107 Ratings
14% Mixed
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
6% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
May 7, 2017
10
My favorite game for the PS2. Granted, I'm a little biased in that I've always had a soft spot for the Suikoden series, but it has the earmarks of things I appreciate in a game. The plot is phenomenal, it has a ton of characters, it has recruitment, the graphics are great, the battle system is innovative. It's the best of the Suikoden family, slightly even surpassing II. It's an overall ambitious title, and a must for any rpg fans. High replay value.
91
All things considered, Suikoden III is one of the best RPG titles there is. The deep story, character development, and combat system come together perfectly to bring you at minimum forty hours of entertainment.
90
The story campaign will take you around 50 hours to complete with all the characters, which is a very solid amount of time for a game of this stature.
84
Suikoden fans will immediately "hate" the new battle system, while they will probably just "dislike" the world map and the move to 3D graphics with no camera control.
76
It may not live up to Hard core fans’ expectations, but by no means is it a weak RPG.
60
The story is like a bag of bricks I had to heave along as I slogged my way forward...What a disappointment. [Dec 2002, p.172]
Jan 11, 2016
10
Oh boy this is a great game with one the earliest yet most lively open worlds in gaming. The combat system is clean and simple to learn. Overall this game has it all for being released in 2002 and it still stands the test of time as I see myself playing it today.
Feb 7, 2017
7
I can only recommend S3 to gamers who like their games story-driven. The writing is really good, but things move forward at a snail's pace. Add to that events (and whole optional chapters) that are superfluous, long battle animations and the need to search towns and castles over and over for NPCs who'll generate the next cutscene and the experience may get to be very exhausting. Visually the game still holds up well, and the battle system is just okay but all the more fun for being a break from the many cutscenes. There are 108 characters to recruit, but they only offer four distinct styles: you have melee units, ranged units, spell casters and support units that can, for instance, speed up spell casting.
Feb 1, 2020
6
I absolutely adore the Suikoden series. However, I kind of hate this game. I think it is the worst of the entire suikoden franchise. They show 6 people army but its more like a 3 person army since the attacks are combined. The storyline isn't really that strong. And they butchered Yuber in this game. Which is so very disappointing because the first 2 games, all you wanted to do is find out who this Yuber guy was. And in this game, he becomes a goth boy in a fedora. Not the big, scary armor wearing (maybe) demon that he was in the other games. Idk, Its not terrible. Theres nothing that breaks the game like glitches. But I do think its on the weaker side of the franchise. Plus, I wasn't really interested in the true runes in this game. The first game was about an evil, soul stealing rune. Then the second game was about a sword and shield rune that represents the emotions of that game. In this game, its just the earth elements. Which, I understand fire and water can be dangerous. But there wasn't anything actually cool. They just, existed. The last final straw was how the game kept switching up the main characters. I wanted to love this game, I really did. But the way the made this game was more disappointing than any other Suikoden game out there.
May 15, 2025
4
A bit of an incoherent mishmash of different ideas that takes forever to pay off (if they do).
Jun 28, 2024
4
Nothing is really explained as far as character abilities or how to strategize in this game. I wish it were just a little more simple.
SummaryFifteen years after the events of "Suikoden II," follow the intertwining stories of Hugo, the son of a village chief, Chris, the virtuous Knight of Zexen, and Geddoe, the rebellious unit commander, as their fates bring them together in order to gather the 108 Stars of Destiny. Suikoden III breaks new ground in the RPG genre with 3 differ... Read More
Rated Tfor Teen
