Summary

Genso Suikoden: Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki (2012) stands out in the Suikoden series for its time-travel narrative and introduction of a job class system, while retaining the signature recruitment of 108 characters. The game’s departure from main series canon has not deterred fans, who appreciate its innovative gameplay and rich storytelling.

• Release Year: 2012
• Genres: Role-playing game (RPG)
• Platforms: PlayStation Portable
• Developers: Konami
• Publishers: Konami

Introduction

Genso Suikoden: Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki is a unique entry in the beloved Suikoden series, taking players on a journey through time to battle the recurring menace of the Terrus Firma.

Synopsis

Genso Suikoden: Tsumugareshi Hyaku-nen no Toki, also known as “The Woven Web of a Century,” is a role-playing video game developed by Konami for the PlayStation Portable. This game is a side-story within the Suikoden “Million World” multiverse, separate from the continuity of other games in the series.

The game’s plot revolves around a swordsman protagonist from a small village and his two friends, Myura and Zeno. Their lives take a dramatic turn when a mysterious boy named Xephon sends them back in time by 100 years. In the past, they meet heroes who previously defied a powerful being known as the Centennial Monster. This monster rises every century and attempts to destroy the world.

The protagonists, now in the past, must train with these heroes of antiquity to face the Centennial Monster. Their mission is to defeat this monster and break the cycle of destruction. This journey takes them through three time periods of the game’s world: the present, 100 years ago, and 200 years ago.

The gameplay of Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki is a traditional console role-playing game featuring three-dimensional characters and environments. Players control a party of up to six characters out of a possible 108, recruited from the three time periods. Each character is classified as one of eight combat job classes or a craftsman class, each with their own distinct abilities and statistics.

Battles in Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki are turn-based, with each character taking turns attacking based on their speed statistic. Players can arrange their characters in formation on a three-by-three grid, which affects certain characters’ combat performance. Certain characters can also use special team-up moves with others to attack enemies together.

Characters can take on new sub-jobs by altering their equipment. The “Skill Transmission System” allows characters from the past to teach others of the same job class new abilities that have been “lost in time”.

Characters

The game features a rich cast, including the young swordsman, his friends Myura and Zeno, and the mysterious Xephon. The player can recruit 108 characters, continuing the series’ tradition.

Gameplay

It introduces a job class system and allows visible enemies on screen, avoiding random encounters. The game maintains the six-party member battle system and explores towns through menus.

Conclusion

Despite its departure from the main Suikoden series canon, Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki offers a compelling and fresh take on the franchise’s formula.

Review Score

7.5/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

Fan Art

Fan Art Style: Normal

Fan Art Style: Retro

Fan Art Style: Modern