Suikoden STAR LEAP: Everything We Know

For the decades that gaming has been alive, a good number of franchises have stood the test of time alongside the industry. These are franchises some of you have grown up with and still manage to put out new titles even today. Remember Suikoden? Well, you’ll be happy to know that a new title is on the horizon. 

Unfortunately, the upcoming Suikoden STAR LEAP will only be released on mobile devices. It feels like a missed opportunity to launch it on PC and consoles, even with a reasonable gacha system possibly tagging along. 

In any case, we take what we get. If you’re curious about what the story and gameplay entail exactly, here’s a deep dive into everything we know about Suikoden STAR LEAP so far.

What is Suikoden STAR LEAP?

Suikoden STAR LEAP is an upcoming role-playing adventure game that will take place in Suikoden. The Suikoden franchise has been around since 1995 when it first launched in Japan. Since then, the series has grown to become one of the most renowned RPG series. So far, the franchise has 11 games under its belt, including mainline and spin-off titles. 

Suikoden STAR LEAP will be a new mainline title added to the franchise. Unlike previous titles, however, the new game intends to launch only on mobile devices. While there’ll doubtlessly be a scale-down of gameplay, STAR LEAP intends to use stunning pixel art for its graphics that stays true to the franchise’s traditional art style roots.

Moreover, you can look forward to dynamic sound that enhances the overall gameplay experience. It’ll be nostalgic yet infused with enhanced graphics and sound to usher in a new age in the Suikoden series. By mixing retro 2D-pixel character designs and 3D backgrounds, you’ll dip your toes in both the traditional and modern gaming age.

Story

“A new story of 108 stars about the runes begins,” reads the game’s official website. Among the 27 True Runes you’ll explore is the Rune of Change, which is said to have created the world. According to the website, you’ll begin your journey East of the Scarlet Moon Empire.

You’ll be in a village by the shore of a lake, following the heroic journey of the village’s chief Hou’s son. He’s just returned home from his first successful hunt, sparking celebration and hope for the future. However, an assault on the village leads to destruction and changes the fate of the village for the worse. You’ll control the hero alongside Hisui, Shirin, and Shapur as they embark on a quest to help restore peace to their home. 

Each character has a unique background and personality. The Hero is kind, generous, and charming. Hisui, on the other hand, is a cheerful and kind servant in the Hero’s house, though often suppressing emotion. Meanwhile, Hou, once a fiery fighter, is now the chief of the village and the father of the Hero. While his past is mysterious, he has valuable connections with people in various countries. 

You’ll unearth each character’s unique personality, traversing different biomes and helping the hero realize his new destiny. While your journey starts as a straightforward adventure to restore peace to your home, it soon grows into a more profound quest than you can imagine.

Gameplay

Suikoden STAR LEAP takes place a few years before the events in 1995’s Suikoden I and a few years after 2006’s Suikoden V. As a result, fans of the series are likely to spot familiar characters and environments, inducing nostalgia. However, we presume new characters and environments will be added for a fresh experience. 

Furthermore, you’ll be exploring colorful, bustling towns set in the world of Suikoden. Your gameplay will be quest-driven as you meet and interact with both old and new characters. More specifically, Suikoden STAR LEAP plans to feature 108 new stars you can meet and make friends with.

While we’re still waiting for official confirmation of the gameplay features we can expect in the final game, we can presume your playthrough will be similar to the Suikoden franchise, except curated for mobile. You’ll be returning to the village as your base to expand its reach over time. You’ll also be recruiting new characters by befriending the personalities you meet on your adventure. 

Meanwhile, there’ll be action sequences, from small to large-scale battles. Using the RTS gameplay format, you’ll dismantle enemies. You’ll also need to coordinate your attacks among party members, balancing melee, ranged, and special attacks.

Development

After a long hiatus, Konami returns with Suikoden STAR LEAP. It’ll be developed by MYTHRIL and published by Konami Digital Entertainment. Aki Shimizu, manga artist and illustrator, will be a part of the team working on the upcoming game.

You probably know his famed works in Suikoden III manga and the Hyakki Yako series. Meanwhile, the theme song, Campanula, will be composed by none other than Kaho Nakamura.

Trailer

Check out Suikoden STAR LEAP’s teaser trailer. While the video is in Japanese, the environments and characters induce nostalgia. You can spot returning characters like Viktor, Flik, Viki, Humphrey, and Odessa Silverberg. But it’s the action sequences that are most thrilling.

The development team is designing a completely new gameplay experience that you can catch a glimpse of in the trailer. It looks like RTS gameplay with melee and ranged attacks and collaboration between party members. 

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

Suikoden STAR LEAP’s release date has, unfortunately, not been announced yet. The teaser trailer description reads, “Release date details and more information will be shared in a future announcement.” So, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for any new updates. 

One way you can keep track of new information is by following the official social media handle or checking in on the website. What’s certain, though, is Suikoden STAR LEAP will only launch on mobile platforms, including iOS and Android.

The store pages aren’t up yet. However, we do know that the new game will be free-to-play. It’ll include in-game purchases. However, we have no clue about whether there will be any editions.