Earlier this week, Konami delighted fans of classic RPGs with a special live stream dedicated entirely to the beloved Suikoden series. The franchise, which hasn't seen a new entry since a Japanese and PSP-only side story over a decade ago, sparked a wide range of expectations among its followers. The announcements that followed stirred a mix of emotions: a Suikoden anime (yay!), and a brand new Suikoden video game, albeit for mobile with gacha mechanics (oh no!).

Let's dive into the anime first, aptly titled Suikoden: The Anime. This series will be based on the events of Suikoden 2 and marks the inaugural production of Konami Animation. While we didn't get a comprehensive look at the visuals or any details on its international availability, a brief scenery clip was shared:

This is thrilling news for dedicated Suikoden fans and could serve as an excellent introduction for newcomers, provided the anime becomes widely accessible.

The second major announcement, however, has left fans with mixed feelings. A new game, Suikoden Star Leap, was unveiled, showcasing stunning visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler with 2D sprites set against 3D backgrounds. The game is set a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, and it retains the series' signature feature of including 108 characters.

However, the excitement is tempered by the fact that Star Leap is slated for release exclusively on mobile platforms. While this might not be a deal-breaker for die-hard fans, the inclusion of gacha mechanics and ongoing monetization has raised concerns. Historically, the Suikoden series has been known for its premium, console, and PC releases, making this shift to a mobile gacha model somewhat disappointing. The true impact of these monetization strategies on gameplay and character collection remains to be seen.

In the meantime, Suikoden enthusiasts can look forward to the re-releases of Suikoden 1 and 2 in the Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars. A new trailer for this collection was showcased during the live event, and it's set to launch tomorrow, March 6.