is a two volume series of

spin-off Spin-off, Spin Off, Spin-Off, or Spinoff may refer to: Entertainment and media *Spinoff (media), a media work derived from an existing work *''The Spinoff'', a New Zealand current affairs magazine * ''Spin Off'' (Canadian game show), a 2013 Canad ...

s from the ''

Suikoden is a series of role-playing video games developed and published by Konami. Created by Yoshitaka Murayama, the games are loosely based on the classical Chinese novel '' Water Margin'', whose title is rendered as in Japanese. Each individual g ...

'' series of

role-playing video game Role-playing video games, also known as CRPG (computer/console role-playing games), comprise a broad video game genre generally defined by a detailed story and character advancement (often through increasing characters' levels or other skills) ...

s. was released in the autumn of

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

; was released in the spring of

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

. Both volumes are

visual novel A visual novel (VN) is a form of digital interactive fiction. Visual novels are often associated with the medium of video games, but are not always labeled as such themselves. They combine a textual narrative with static or animated illustratio ...

s, rather than role-playing games the other ''Suikodens'' are known for. The games were only released in Japan and never officially translated into other languages. The events of the game intersect with those of ''

Suikoden II is a role-playing video game developed and published by Konami for the PlayStation video game console and the second installment of the '' Suikoden'' video game series. It was released on December 17, 1998, in Japan; on September 29, 1999, in No ...

'', but are more of a side story, hence the name '' gaiden''.

Volume 1: Swordsman of Harmonia

Nash Latkje, the protagonist controlled by the player and an agent of Holy Harmonia's Southern Border Defence Force, has been assigned to obtain information to either verify or disprove a rumour concerning the appearance of one of the 27 True Runes in the Jowston City States. During his travels, he encounters Sierra Mikain, a female vampire, who decides to accompany him on his journey. As a result, he soon becomes entangled in the larger conflict involving the events of ''

''.

Volume 2: Duel at Crystal Valley

After the completion of the Dunan Unification Wars (the events of ''

''), Nash intends to return to the capital of Holy Harmonia, the Crystal Valley. However, his travels involve more adventure than he anticipates. His journey involves traveling through the Grasslands, where one village happens to be celebrating the legend of the Flame Champion and the Fire Bringers who stopped the Harmonians from invading some sixty years ago; an unfortunate stop over in Caleria, the base of operations for mercenaries of Southern Harmonian Border Defence Force; helping stop a wild dragon from terrorizing a village before finally reaching his destination. As ''Volume 2'' was released roughly a year before ''

Suikoden III is a role-playing video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo and published by Konami for the PlayStation 2 video game console, and the third installment in the ''Suikoden'' video game series. It was released in 2002 in Japan a ...

'', it presumably helped set up and introduce the Grasslands, which were the main focus of ''Suikoden III''. Nash also returns in ''Suikoden III''; outside Japan, ''Suikoden III'' is Nash's first appearance in the series.

Development

The ''Suikogaiden'' games were made by a separate development group at Konami. After ''Duel at Crystal Valley'' was completed, the ''

'' team and the ''Suikogaiden'' team merged and began work on both ''

Suikoden IV is a role-playing video game developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo and published by Konami exclusively for the PlayStation 2 video game console and is the fourth installment of the ''Suikoden'' video game series. It was released in Au ...

'' and ''

Suikoden V is a role-playing video game developed by Konami and Hudson Soft and published by Konami for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console and the fifth and final main installment of the ''Suikoden'' video game series. It was released in 2006, and ...

''.

English fan translation

In August and September 2013, fan translations of both games were released to the public by a group of ''Suikoden'' fans led by RinUzuki.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Genso Suikogaiden Suikoden PlayStation (console) games PlayStation (console)-only games 2000 video games Japan-exclusive video games Video games developed in Japan Video games scored by Miki Higashino Visual novels Single-player video games