Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster interview: Producer Rui Naito on revisiting PlayStation magic

I fondly remember heading down to my local rental store, it wasn’t a Blockbuster, it was one of those odd independent places, and renting out Suikoden for my PlayStation. This would have been back in 1998 - I was a recent convert to RPGs thanks to Final Fantasy VII, and was eagerly gobbling up everything else I could. It was my fourth time renewing my rental, I was close to securing all 108 characters as part of my burgeoning army, and I was told that someone else was waiting to play the game. Instead, opting to buy the game, the path was set for me to follow the Suikoden franchise for many years.

It was difficult being a Suikoden fan. The series didn’t have the same popularity of a Final Fantasy or a Dragon Quest, yet it had a unique feature unseen in other titles. Your hero would have to gather 108 other characters to accompany them on their quest to save a kingdom, or the world. It was a hook that many fans loved, because as the series developed, these side-characters would expand and become more fleshed out, with some genuinely lovely moments.

It was also tough to love Suikoden because it’s lack of popularity caused it to be overlooked by retailers in the UK, often making it difficult to source the games as they branched out to the PlayStation 2. Sitting down to chat with Rui Naito, the producer of the Suikoden series, I had to ask if we’d ever get a chance to revisit the later games in the franchise, after the release of Suikoden I & II HD Remaster.

“We’ve received many requests for other Suikoden titles to be made available again, and we’re always listening to what fans want,” said Naito-san. The legendary producer continued, “Right now, our focus is on ensuring Suikoden I & II HD Remaster delivers the best experience possible. If it resonates with both longtime fans and new players, that could open up more opportunities for the future.”

Konami

The remastered edition, which was released on 6 March to favourable reviews, will be a great gateway for modern RPG fans to dip their toes into two classics from the PlayStation era. As I mentioned above, the Suikoden series was heavily overlooked outside of Japan, but it was also a series that released new entries sporadically, perhaps without the consistency of something like Final Fantasy.

I wondered if Naito-san considered the Suikoden series as overlooked, and he answered with an optimistic charm, saying, “This answer might not be the critical answer, but I think that Suikoden had a huge impact on the RPG genre, particularly in terms of its storytelling and character recruitment. In particular, I think it was one of the few games at the time to depict human conflict.”

The stories of both games, that opened the franchise, have stood the test of time, with many fans citing the second game as having one of the best RPG narratives within the genre. The first two games explored the impact of war, and how it affects individual members of the populace. Due to the sheer number of characters the player would meet, it was understandable that each would react to conflict is myriad ways, and they’d all come together within a base, attempting to live and cooperate.

Naito-san continued on the longevity of the series, mentioning Suikoden inspiring those that came after, noting, “the idea of collecting a diverse range of characters and managing a base where they can grow may have inspired many RPGs that followed. Furthermore, I think that its emotional story and political themes showed that RPGs can explore complex and mature storytelling and deeply resonate with players.”

It has been over 30 years since Suikoden debuted on the PlayStation, and it’s been a fond favourite of many since then. For a long time, the only way to play was to find the original discs, until Sony, among others, rereleased the games via digital storefronts. That was to very little fanfare, and it took Konami remastering the game to get folks talking about the series again. But what made them look to Suikoden now?

“Suikoden has always had a passionate and dedicated fanbase, and we’ve seen strong demand over the years for these games to be made available on modern platforms. The opportunity to bring Suikoden I & II back with visual and qualify-of-life improvements felt important,” explained Naito-san. The remasters will give new players a chance to jump in fresh, and experience gems in the RPG crown. And it’s fitting that the series returns now, after companies like Square Enix has been revisiting and remastering their golden age RPGs for some time.

Konami

There’s been a renaissance of ‘old school’ RPGs over the past few years, boosted by the HD-2D visual revolution from Square Enix, who has revived the older formula of RPGs that was, for a long time, only thriving in indie games, after so many developers focused on 3D. The recent comeback was led by the likes of Live A Live, Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy and more recently, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake.

I wondered, was a visual refresh ever on the cards for Naito-san and his team when making the Suikoden remasters. “Our goal was always to respect the original games as much as possible,” he explained, going further, “We wanted to stay faithful to the original pixel-art identity of Suikoden I & II, rather than reimagining them in a new visual style. The remaster enhances the original aesthetic while refining details like backgrounds, spell effects, and animations.”

This ensures that long-time fans get that immediate nostalgia kick, while newer players get to experience refined visuals, from a more polished experience. It was mostly in the visual that the games got an overhaul, with much of the bones of it remaining preserved. Naito-san went on to say, “While we made refinements to the UI and some gameplay elements for a smoother experience, the core mechanics, including item management and turn-based battles, have been preserved to maintain the authentic Suikoden feel.”

It seems there was no temptation to stray from the path laid back in the 1990s, after all, Konami believes that Suikoden has stood the test of time, with the producer noting, “The storytelling, character-driven recruitment system, and deep political themes in Suikoden I & II remain just as compelling today as when they were first released.”

Remastering such an old title is quite the challenge, however, Naito-san and his team knew exactly where to start - by playing the games again. “The first step was revisiting the original materials – character art, music, and design notes – to ensure we could faithfully recreate the experience,” he remarks. It was only after experiencing the games with fresh eyes that the team could then note what must be revamped, and what could stay preserved to time.

Konami

Work quickly shifted over to a list of tasks, and Naito-san explains how they worked through the design and remastering process, “We focused on enhancing the pixel art, updating the UI for modern platforms, and adding quality-of-life improvements like auto-battle and double-speed modes. Throughout, we carefully balanced modernization with staying true to the original vision.”

Was it difficult to remain faithful to the original releases? Was it tempting to dive in and change the games? Or was there a set of rules Naito-san and his team established to keep the spirit of Suikoden I & II? The producer breaks down his thinking, saying, “We carefully followed a set of principles to ensure the remaster remained true to the original artistic vision. Every update – whether it was refining character sprites, adjusting UI elements, or enhancing effects – were made with authenticity in mind. The balance between modernization and nostalgia was at the core of our approach.”

What emerged, at the end, was a very faithful retelling of the first two Suikoden games. I’d say for better or worse, as some may find the intact designs of the late 90s a little restrictive. However, the spirit is very much alive, and the team worked tirelessly to retain the magic of the series, attempting to ensure that all players come away wanting more. Key here has always been the stories at the heart of the games, which place emphasis on plucky, or downtrodden characters fighting against the odds, or overthrowing tyranny - an always popular formula. Now, I just hope, that love for Suikoden builds, and we can see more from the series revamped for modern consoles.