The battle system also sees the return of one or two original gameplay mechanics that, for some reason, were changed in Suikoden IV and also the addition of some brand new features. Players will once again have up to six characters in battle and be able to set them out as in Suikoden I and II. Each character will have a different attack range, short, medium and long, meaning that the player will need to place them in certain formations in order to get the most out of their party. Also, when there are less than six in your party you can place the characters in formations that will have different effects such as increased attack or defence ability.

The co-op attack has also been kept, which allows two characters to team up in battle to perform powerful attacks against a single or group of enemies. It is a feature unique to the Suikoden series but one that they have failed to evolve. Though at times it is useful and interesting to use, most of the time using each character's single attack can produce more damage.

In order to add some variety to character development, a new Training mode has been added. After each battle not only will you acquire experience points but also SP points too. These can then be spent to teach your characters different abilities, having a maximum of two equipped per character. Although this can vary the progression of your characters to a certain degree, it is no more different to experience points in general and it is a wonder why added it at all. It simply wastes your time, as you have to keep going into a town and finding a Training arena to acquire the abilities.

It is good to see that the Duel Battle has also been kept and been given a new lease of life with two changes. First of all, you will hear what your opponent says but you will then have to choose your move not simply by highlighting an option but by pressing a corresponding button. The developers have also put a time limit on your choices so you will need to act fast.

The large-scale battles have also been changed. Konami has included a range of battles both on land and sea, allowing you to manoeuvre army and navy units. In the past, this was undertaken on a turn-based grid system. However, you can now command your units in real-time. As in all games of the series your units will be led by three of your 108 heroes and certain combinations will produce certain abilities and results.

Both Suikoden III and IV boasted anime elements in terms of their visual design but Suikoden V has a more obvious cel-shaded finish that once again echoes the 2D pixel graphics of Suikoden I and II. It is an excellent look, crisp and clear, adding to the fantasy element of the game and producing some stunning characters and environments. Technologically, the game has not advanced much past Suikoden IV since the two were so closely developed one after the other. However, Konami director Takahiro Sakiyama has announced that future instalments will be seen on next-generation consoles and when they are, we are bound to see more detailed textures, models and lighting effects in abundance.

Norikazu Miura has composed a most wondrous score that once again harks back to those of Suikoden I and II. Many familiar with the series will recognise a lot of the tracks in Suikoden V as a lot of them are re-worked variations. In each title in the series the audio has strengthened the narrative to entice emotion and atmosphere and Miura achieves this perfectly.

Suikoden V is a frankly awe-inspiring game, an where each and every attribute has been designed to an amazingly high-standard. The series has always been a strong example of how the genre should be approached and this new instalment only goes to prove this further. You need not look any further, all RPG fans, this is what you have been looking for most of this console generation. Those new to the Suikoden series and RPGs in general, you could choose no better series or game to start playing, this one has it all.

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By Tobias Rowe