Suikoden III Vol 4-5

[meganbmoore]

This continues to be very well crafted, if somewhat along the normal epic fantasy lines. I like all the storylines, but wish Chris’s storyline had been focused on more here. Then again, I have high hopes for when we do get back to her, given what was going on when we last saw her. We also have more plotlines and increasing (though not unexpected) plotlines and complexity. You’d think Angel Sanctuary and Orphan’s Tales would both teach me to not try to follow them all simultaneously (just when they’re pertinent) and make me immune to such things, but they don’t seem to have.

The series also continues to avoid vilifying any of the various factions. Individuals are evil or corrupt, but no nation is really put forward as the villain, though I do sigh a bit at how the Grasslands seem to be the minority underdogs as opposed to the more advanced seeming, European-based Zexen and Harmonian empires. Aside from one sect, the series also seems to be fairly blind to gender when assigning roles. No one even thinks to question Hugo’s mother leading an army, or even her appearing to be the understood leader of the Grasslands’ armies, and female mercenaries, tutors and bishops don’t seem to be treated any differently than male ones. In addition, Chris’s gender doesn’t seem to be a consideration in her fame, just her youth, skill in battle, and ability to inspire her followers. IIRC, when her men initially objected to her, it was because of the assumption that someone her age and with her social position had to use that position to get the job, not that they didn’t want to follow a girl. They also got over it quickly.

There’s also a clan of psychic amazons, and aerial combat, including giant insects used as steeds. And, of course, more duck warriors.

I kind of wish, though, that Hugo hadn’t become the new Flame Champion. It doesn’t look like the series will turn into Coming of Age Village Boy Hero fantasy, but I’m not big on the threat of that, however slight that threat is. Though now that he is, I hope it means that Chris will get the Water Rune.

I’m getting more curious about the relationships between various supporting characters, and all the “you thought this was my motivation, but you’re probably wrong” bits with them. Early on, I thought Caesar might be the younger Harmonian bishop, but it looks like that might not be the case after all. And I’m very curious to see what happens with Salome’s coup in Zexen, and what he’s up to with Thomas. It would have been nice, too, to see Hugo deal a bit more with killing in battle for the first time.

Also, the series finally did something that annoyed me when Geddoe told Sana that the former Flame Champion hid his suffering from her out of love. Because what says love like finding out the person youi shared your life with, who supposedly shared everything with you, kept a huge part of himself a secret “for your own good.” Certain tropes, no matter how well intentioned, need to die.
 
No spoilers, please. Game spoilers count, as I don't know how much the plots differ.

Comments

[may-flyer.livejournal.com]

One of the nice things about the game is that the player can choose who becomes the Flame Champion - Chris, Hugo, or Geddoe. Though I think Hugo is still considered the "canon" option.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Well, Geddoe already has his own rune, and Chris's father has the water rune, so if there IS going to be a Flame Champion, Hugo does make the most sense. In a way, though, I was hoping there wouldn't be a Flame Champion, or at least, that one wouldn't be found until later.

[fourthage.livejournal.com]

I loved that about the game. I picked Chris as the flame champion my first play-through just because I could.

[dawnrune.livejournal.com]

the series also seems to be fairly blind to gender when assigning roles.

That's the way it in pretty much all of the Suikoden games. Women play big roles and there aren't that many characters that are WTF about that. I think that's awesome, personally.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

Yup. It seems to be completely merit based, with (aside from the amazon seers) no indication that the world has ideas about gender appropriate positions.

[fourthage.livejournal.com]

Suikoden has always done "I am the hero of my own story" well for their characters, as well as not feeling the need to spill their motivations to the hero(es) during their first encounters.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

*nods*

I'm not a gaming person, so I've been wishing more had been adapted.

[fourthage.livejournal.com]

I know there was some sort of manga done for the second game, but it's been ignored by both publishers and scanlation groups. I'd really like to find the time someday to do a post on gender roles in the fifth game, because there's both hand-banging clichés and complete trope reversals.