Suikoden goes back to the past.
Let's start with visuals. Presentation has always been very important part of RPGs because it is necassary to tell the story better. Graphically, like ususal Suikoden it isn't eye opener. It does have clean feeling to it, but generally graphic will feel outdated. The dungeons are too simplistic and looks quite unimpressive compare to recent PS2 RPGs such as Grandia III and Shadow Hearts. The game also has this odd camera view. It is zoomed quite far out and even if you zoom in it just doesn't feel quite right. Also you can't rotate the camera and in dungeon it is easy to get yourself lost due to this camera angle. However, the cut scenes are quite well done. The presentation during cut scenes and duels are very well made with good animation. Still, that much seems rather standard these days so in just about every way, graphically this game will never impress you. However, the fans of first two Suikoden will realize the presentation is quite similar to first two suikoden, but in 3D polygon graphic, which is good thing.
Gameplay of Suikoden would be one of stronger points here. Suikoden uses same battle mechanism from first two game of the series. It's quite simple and the magic system works kind of like pokemon games, where you have certain magic and MP relates to only that specific magic. So cure spell would have 2/3 next to it and that would mean at max you can use it 3 times and you have two remaining. The co-op attacks are here as usual. The normal battles aren't impressive, but it works and any RPGer would enjoy it or at least be able to put up with it. The regular battles are quick and simple so it's easy to get used to.
However, if that's all Suikoden had to offer... it wouldn't be Suikoden and we wouldn't love it as much. There are two more types of battle and they would be Duels and Wars. Both battle mode has one really old game as it's roots, which would be rock paper and scissor. Duel is classic example of this. In duel, you will have 3 attacks and one beats another. you will have 3 seconds to input that attack and if you used an attack that beats whatever AI picked, then you will do damage. if you dont, then you will take damage and if you pick the same you will get equal damage done to you. It would be just another rock paper and scissor if it wasn't for your opponent to keep saying things that would give you hint what kind of attack was coming. However, this is quite enjoyable especially because the animation for Duel is really well done. It feels more like you are watching martial arts movie in a way. Duels often adds more dramatic feeling to the storyline and the chances are that fans will enjoy it.
The best part of Suikoden I think would be the Wars. Again it uses the idea of rock paper and scissors. There are three types of units and one beats another. Same type evens out. The war is played through the world map and it gives some kind of grid. It isnt turn based strategy but feels like it, but it does move in real time. There isn't much strategy to it other than just attack enemy units with your own that it is strong against. However, your tactician plays big role in this mode where there is story related strategies. It makes the entire war battle feel much more strategic although you aren't doing much. There are some special skills your commanders can use to add little more depth to it, but it's not going to turn Suikoden into real strategy game. The goal here is simple and fun and that is exactly what it provides.
The only part Suikoden falls in gameplay would be during exploration. The randomly generated battles are quite frequent and loading times are frequent too. Also with dungeons being long and not so pretty doesn't help. However, often dungeon zones are around two zones so it's not alot of walking, but this is by far the weakest part of the game.
The sound is medicore. The voice acting is done quite well considering it's dubbed. The voice acting is mostly convincing enough and rarely awkward. The music is subpar but it functions. However, there are some great music that fits very well during the cut scenes. It's just during your travels in town and battles and such that makes you never really paying attentions to the music. The music isn't bad, but it's not good either.
The most important part of any RPG is story, then followed up by presentation, sound, and gameplay would be the last. Gameplay just doesn't have to annoy the players and players can enjoy any RPG that has great story with great presentation. If story falls short, even with great gameplay the RPG itself becomes much less enjoyable like recently released Grandia III for example. What makes Suikoden V such a great game would be because of storyline.
The first 8 hours or so, Gamespot and other reviews said it started too slow and it was boring. I disagree. Actually I think it is one of the strongest part of this game.
Spoiler Alert*************** (I think...)
The first 8 hours allows you to play the role of a prince in peaceful nation. It is not all that peaceful but in relative terms it is quite peaceful. From here you slowly find out about the political situation, and the personal life of the prince and his relation to his family. Also there are some obvious signs of danger but it never surfaces to keep the tension to keep the players interested. Because it all started out slow and built up quite a setting, when the peace is broken after about 8 hours of gameplay, everything is much more dramatic, and playing the role of a prince trying to find a place for himself was quite enjoyable and was different experiance from other RPGs. One can be mercenaries out for revenge or hero rescuing princess for only so much. This slow pacing is quite a nice change and it's something I would like to see more happening.
The story is quite similar to first Suikoden games. Definitely not identical and not as simple as first two Suikoden games, but it is of same nature with more drama and complicated schemes. The fans will definitely enjoy, right from the start.
End Spoiler******************
Suikoden V is just what the series needed. It went back to the reason why we loved this game so much. The huge number of characters to recruit, the story of an army, simple but fun gameplay, the varieties of fights. Sometimes, change isn't the best thing.