Collect a party of 108 members, build a castle, gamble, command massive battles, duel 1v1, fuse runes and weaponry
The game has 108 heroes that can fight with in your party, most of which you have to search for to find. The heroes you find contribute to your castle by offering services and building entirely new wings onto your fortress. Each character has a unique weapon that can be upgraded via blacksmith + rune fusing. Selecting the right combination of characters in your party also unlocks powerful "unite" abilities where they combine their strength in dramatically enhanced combos. You can play Suikoden over and over with different parties and experience the game in totally different ways due to the varying nature of the attack types of each of the heros. As the game progresses, you find yourself somehow attached to the people who join your cause against the corrupt empire.
Playing the role of the spoiled rich kid with a powerful father, you are thrust into a military position where you take orders from a slimy, corrupt military official. After running a few errands for him it becomes quite apparent that, contrary to your upbringing, the country you serve is imperialistic and incredibly corrupted by greed and an insatiable lust for destructive power.
As you progress through the game, many would be foes become allies in defeat as they become sympathetic to your cause. This is a strong point in the game as it grays the line between good and bad people. It shows that both of the characteristics exist in all of us and that fact gives the characters in the game a sense of humanity which enables us to relate to all of them.
Suikoden is a classic that should be in everyone's library.... this review doesn't even scratch the surface of why this game is so great.... even by today's standards.