The Suikoden series is my favorite JRPG series

The Suikoden games have unique features that are not found in other JRPGs. This includes having a base for both playable and non-playable characters, which is an abandoned castle where the player can perform various activities, including playing mini-games.

All Suikoden games feature 108 stars of destiny as the protagonists, of which around 70% are playable characters. No other JRPG has this many playable characters. The simple turn-based combat system has enough variety that it stands out. You have 4 to 6 playable characters, then there is the rune system, which includes magic and attack skills, and there are runes that can be applied to various characters. There are also character-specific skills, which make each of the characters stand out. The player has to recruit these characters, and some of them are very tricky to recruit. Using a guide is recommended to ensure that no recruitable character is missed. Recruiting characters is a bit annoying yet fun aspect of these games.

Besides fighting enemies with the turn-based combat system, there are a few other variants of battles that include mass army battles, which can be tricky and challenging, and one-on-one encounters that feel grand and unique, though these encounters are few. You have non playable characters that do take part in these mass army battles and are generally tacticians, strategists, and army battle exclusive characters.

Visually, the games are simple, but due to their unique artistic look, the games stand out, be it in 2d graphics or 3d. I think that the best part of graphics in the Suikoden games is the battle animations, including the various spell animations. While the games are generally easy, the final boss encounter can be very hard. I remember how long it took to finally be able to finish Suikoden 3, my favorite in the series.

Suikoden III features a unique storytelling unlike previous games in the series. You experience the game from the viewpoint of three main characters, including a unique 4th main character whose story has its own importance in the overall game, and each character has a team of her/his own. While it lacks voice acting, so do most Suikoden games in the series so far, the presentation is well done with charming picturization and animations. For me, the most entertaining aspect of these games is the playable characters, and Suikoden 3 has some of the most memorable characters for me. Thomas from Suikoden 3 is my favorite character, and his likely love interest, Cecile, is a charming female character. Cecile has been the support pillar for Thomas from the start. These two characters are my favorite couple in the Suikoden series as well. Each Suikoden game features similar themes of family, friendship, and mainly good vs evil. Suikoden 3 features a unique turn-based system of its own that at times almost feels like an improved version of the combat found in the Grandia series. The characters move towards the enemy to attack, unless it's a ranged attacker, and sometimes the characters fail to reach near the enemy to attack, which is due to the strategic row-based character placement system of the game. Generally, you would want to use your range attackers, such as Jacques, in the back row and melee attackers at the front.

The Suikoden series is generally known for its 108 characters and strong emotional story experiences, excellent music, and solid combat. Personally, there are no other JRPG games or series that can match the Suikoden games for me. The Suikoden series is my favorite JRPG series.