WTP Review: Suikoden Tierkreis

Suikoden Tierkreis is a handheld spin-off of a long-running series of role-playing games previously released for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2. All of the previous Suikoden games have shared common themes, including a heavy military and political focus with a band of young rebels as the protagonists. Though this Nintendo DS iteration gets rid of some of the most popular gameplay elements from the console Suikoden releases, it maintains the complex plot, with multiple factions and kingdoms fighting against each other and frequent back-stabs and plot twists.

The player takes control of a group of friends from Citro Village, a simple town that finds itself caught between two warring nations, the Order of the One True Way and the Magedom of Janon. If the former sounds like it has religious overtones, it should. The Order believes in predestination, and high-ranking members spout rhetoric that often sounds very similar to some Christian beliefs. The Magedom, on the other hand, is situated in cities that have a very exotic Middle Eastern style. Their beliefs are more mystical, and their ruler practices polygamy.