Suikoden 5 is a great game but it gets boring because it doesn't appeal like the other series.
Characters:
the characters in this series are no different from the previous suikoden series. they're very similar with the usual characters that appeared in every series of the game such as Viki and Jeane. The characters are like tradition of the series, like Item shop owner, Armor shop owner character. and so on. there are some characters come together in battle and form a combo. That depends on their characteristics in the game. There is one con about the character, they're hard to recruit. some characters are so persistent. you have to talk to them more than once in more than one event. if you're being such a badass, some won't join, and if you're being such a good boy. again they won't join so you have to be very careful with choices you make.
The number of characters are 108.
bottom line: the characters are great.
Story:
As i mention earlier, the story takes place 8 years before suikoden 1. The story is about a prince in a Queensland known as Falena and about the three runes "if u played the previous game you'll recognize what the runes are" the three runes are; The sun rune, it's the most powerful rune in the game. The dawn rune, "spoilers" >> don't wanna ruin the game for you. The twilight rune, "spoilers>> same thing.
The main character is of course the prince and you have to name him. and you'll try to save your little sister from the people who betrayed your parents and restore the peace of Falena. Also, there a voice acting just like suikoden 4th. but it's not that great. the voice acting is bad. also the story telling is very very bad. that's what killed the game for me and stopped playing after 60 hours of playing.
bottom line: every suikoden's story is incredible.
Gameplay:
The gameplay has been improved with extra stuff taken from the other series. Good thing is the 6-person battle has come back, unlike the 4th and 3rd where u have different battle system. You can also perform a combo attack with different characters. You can also perform a formation for the battle itself. plus, there is a great thing i really liked in this formation which is you can do an all-out-attack with any formation you have perform, it's not necessarily an attack, maybe restoring some HP or preventing the enemy from attack for a period of time, so the command menu has some features that it's not the previous series.
Gameplay: good.
Graphics:
The graphics are beautifully designed. nothing's wrong with them.
Music:
The music is good, too but i still prefer the music of Final Fantasy series.
Overall: you have to be very patient to finish this game.
and it's only for suikoden fans. i am a fan of suikoden but this game didn't appeal so much. i spend most of my time exploring dungeons and running from city to another for nothing.