Earlier this week, Konami delighted fans of classic RPGs with a special live stream dedicated to the beloved Suikoden series. The franchise, which hasn't seen a new entry since a Japanese and PSP-exclusive side story over a decade ago, sparked a wide range of expectations for what was to come. The stream brought mixed emotions with the announcement of a new Suikoden anime (exciting!), and a long-awaited new Suikoden video game...but it's for mobile and includes gacha mechanics (a bit of a letdown!).

The newly announced anime, titled "Suikoden: The Anime," is set to adapt the events of Suikoden 2. As the first production under Konami animation, details about its visual style and international availability remain scarce. We were only treated to a brief glimpse of scenery:

This is certainly thrilling news for dedicated Suikoden fans and could potentially serve as an engaging entry point for newcomers if the anime becomes widely accessible.

The announcement of the new game, "Suikoden Star Leap," has left fans with mixed feelings. The game promises stunning visuals reminiscent of Octopath Traveler's 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds. Set a few years before Suikoden 1 and after Suikoden 5, it retains the series' hallmark of featuring 108 characters.

However, the decision to release it exclusively on mobile platforms, coupled with the inclusion of gacha mechanics and ongoing monetization, has stirred disappointment among fans. Historically, Suikoden has been a series of premium games available on consoles and PCs, making this a significant departure. Whether these monetization strategies will hinder players' enjoyment or their ability to collect all 108 characters remains to be seen.

In the meantime, Suikoden enthusiasts have something immediate to look forward to with the re-release of Suikoden 1 and 2 in the form of "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.