Suikoden STAR LEAP

Suikoden STAR LEAP
Developer(s)	MYTHRIL
Publisher(s)	Konami
Platform(s)	Mobile Phones
Genre	Role-playing Game

Suikoden STAR LEAP (幻想水滸伝 STAR LEAP), sometimes abbreviated as Gensui SP, is an upcoming mobile game set in the world of Suikoden. It was announced during the Suikoden Live event on YouTube on March 3, 2025 (March 4, JST). The game is being produced by Shinya Fujimatsu, directed by Yoshiki Takeyama (CEO of Mythril), and character designs were done by Moryo.

A manga adaptation of Suikoden STAR LEAP will be published by Kadokawa, with Shimizu Aki, the artist behind the Suikoden III manga, handling the illustrations.

In an interview to Dengeki, Fujimatsu stated that they "took the first and last letters of STAR LEAP and settled on "Suikoden SP" (Gensui SP in Japanese). The “SP” can also stand for SmartPhone, making it easy for people to associate it with a Suikoden mobile game. Plus, it carries a sense of “Special” as well."

Story

The story begins just east to the giant Scarlet Moon Empire, at a village located on the shore of a lake. One night, our hero, the village chief Hou's son, comes back home successful from his first hunt. The village is filled with celebration and brimming with hope for the coming days, but an assault is launched, and the fate of the village is changed in an instant.

Our hero, along with Hisui, Shirin, and Shapur, embarks on a journey to restore peace to the village. In the midst of the great whirlpool of destiny, the Hero's small adventure turns into a large ambition.

Setting

Suikoden STAR LEAP is set within the same world and calendar as the mainline Suikoden games. It takes place in SY 453, two few years before the events of Suikoden I, three years the events of Suikoden V. It is the same year that Odessa Silverberg forms the Liberation Army to resist the Scarlet Moon Empire’s tyranny.

The story revolves around the Rune of Change, a True Rune with the ability to traverse time. This mechanic allows the game to act as both a prologue and epilogue to various entries in the series, offering new perspectives on previously established events.

The story won’t alter the history of past games. It’s more about uncovering stories that weren’t told in the previous installments. The story of Suikoden SP begins a few years before Suikoden I and after Suikoden V. Initially, players will experience a prequel to Suikoden I, and as they progress, they will see stories that serve as prequels or sequels to Suikoden II and Suikoden III.

Since it is a mobile game, the story will be released gradually over time, similar to reading a long-running manga series. However, even at launch, the amount of playable content looks to be quite substantial.

Players will recruit 108 new Stars of Destiny while encountering familiar elements from past games, such as runes, kobolds, and unite attacks. Locations like Rockland, Lenankamp, and Gregminster will appear. Characters such as Viki, Odessa Silverberg, Flik, Viktor, Humphrey, Nina, and Leonardo can be seen in promotional material.

Gameplay Features

• Headquarters System: The protagonist’s village, destroyed in the attack, will serve as the game’s HQ. Players can expand and develop the village over time.
  • The base features a massive tree that blooms with flowers similar to cherry blossoms. This tree is a crucial point in the story, as the village was founded beneath it.
  • When you recruit a specific character, a blacksmith shop will be built. However, some facilities will already be functional from the start.
  • Mini-games will be included. For example, fishing will be one of them, and there will be around 100 different types of fish to catch. The types of fish available will change depending on the location of the town. Fishing becomes available once you recruit a particular character.
  • There are both new mini-games and some that have been changed from Suikoden II's systems, like the fishing mini-game.
  • There will not be a bath at the launch of the game, but it is something that the team says fans can look forward to.
• Character Recruitment: Like the mainline Suikoden games, recruitment involves meeting and befriending characters throughout the adventure.
  • The production team stated that they "are also prioritizing accessibility. For example, players will be able to form parties with their favorite characters from past games."
  • With a few exceptions, the 108 Stars in Suikoden STAR LEAP will primarily consist of new characters.
  • The team is also considering events that focus on specific characters from past games.
  • The new 108 Stars can be recruited by progressing through the main story. The gacha and event system will primarily focus on characters from past Suikoden titles.
  • There will be characters who join the party as part of the story, and others who require specific conditions. Once you reach the end of the main story at launch, you’ll be able to focus on gathering and strengthening the 108 Stars in preparation for the next chapter.
  • When you have many companions, some will gather materials for you. The more companions you have, the easier it becomes to collect materials.
  • While maintaining the world and history of the Suikoden series, this game combines the new 108 Stars with characters from past games. It’s a unique element that works well for a mobile game. Both types of characters will be gathered in the base, and it will create a fun experience for the players.
  • When selecting names for characters, the staff tried to chose names that were different from established characters, but there are a few characters intentionally made similar.
  • There are around 400 NPCs in the game, as well.
• Music: The game will feature over 100 new songs, as well as orchestrated arrangements of classic Suikoden tracks, totaling around 150 BGM pieces.
  • They’ve used instruments like the koto and shamisen. Since the Suikoden world has a mix of Japanese, Western, Chinese, and Asian influences, they’ve incorporated those tastes into the music. Even though it’s a mobile game, they recommend listening with headphones or earphones to fully experience it. Tracks from past games have been re-arranged.
  • There will be both new and old tracks. For example, when you’re in familiar areas from Suikoden I, you’ll hear the original music from that game. However, in original areas from Suikoden STAR LEAP, new tracks will play.
• Voice Acting: The main story will be fully voiced, except for the main character. The main character will have a voice during battle, however. While most characters have been recast, a few will be voiced by the same actors as in past games. Since even past characters have voice lines, the total number is quite massive (laughs).
• Gacha & Events: While gacha mechanics and events will be included, they will not affect the main story.
  • Gacha will be character-exclusive - no runes or equipment will be included in gacha. There will be versions with different motifs and costumes.
• War Themes & Battles: The narrative explores war, balancing serious themes with the camaraderie among characters. There will also be large-scale battles.
  • As with previous Suikoden titles, the war system will vary. This game will use an RTS (Real-Time Strategy) format, where you’ll tap units to move them and choose which opponents to engage. Additionally, each battle will allow you to use special "war skills" that can only be activated during war scenes. The team stated that rather than directly replicating the old system, they designed a completely new gameplay experience.
  • Once the battle begins, the game will automatically switch to a separate screen. The mechanics for these battles will be slightly different from regular combat. There will be concepts like "first attack" and "counterattack." The attacking forces will be split into two units: the first attacking unit, which will execute a coordinated attack, and the counterattacking unit, which will follow afterward.
  • Each unit will have distinct roles, such as cavalry or infantry, and their effectiveness will vary. Some characters may even have the ability to lead a unit, while others cannot.
  • There will be a "wave attack" system, where multiple units can launch a coordinated assault on enemy forces. This works similarly to the "linking" system used in regular battles. By targeting vulnerable enemy units, you can deploy several units to overwhelm them and defeat them in one swift strike.
  • You’ll also encounter "close combat" and "ranged" units during these wars, and depending on the difficulty level, you’ll need to utilize these strategies to gain the upper hand in battle.
  • The war battles that appear in the main story won’t be overly difficult. However, for those seeking more of a challenge, they are planning additional content using this battle mode outside of the main story, a separate challenge mode. It will be a battle-focused mode distinct from the main story. The main story's war battles won’t be so hard that players get stuck, but they will still offer enough depth to be engaging.
• Battle System: Features fast-paced combat where six characters can participate and collaborate in unite attacks.
  • The game is adopting symbol encounters, with the added feature of preemptive attacks via field actions. If you manage a successful sneak attack, you can create an imbalance in the enemy’s formation, allowing you to launch a powerful chain attack right at the start. This is similar to the feeling in Suikoden I when the protagonist and their mentor Kai can quickly take down enemies with a cooperative attack.
  • Since it’s a mobile game, they designed the encounter system with limited playtime in mind. Random encounters could make the game feel too time-consuming and stressful, so they aim to avoid that. But they made sure to place enemies in areas where encounters will still happen, so you won’t be able to completely avoid battles while exploring.
  • Basically, all characters will be playable and can be included in battle parties. However, not all characters will excel in battle. While there is a six-member battle party, there will be a support system where some characters can assist from the background instead of directly participating in combat.
  • Combo Command: In previous Suikoden games, you would select actions for all party members at once, and then the turns would unfold. However, in this game, they’ve adopted a system where characters act one by one in order. Once there are four or more party members aligned on the timeline, you can trigger "Combo," and when activated, the characters will perform a series of attacks that deal bonus damage.
  • The order of actions is influenced by regular attacks, Runes, and special techniques.
  • Regular attacks allow for the quickest follow-up actions, while the speed of follow-up actions for Runes depends on the type used.
  • They’ve included a fast-forward feature that keeps the action flowing quickly. Even without using the fast-forward option, battles progress smoothly, but it’s a convenient tool for repeated battles.
  • There are various types of special attacks in this game, and some characters will have a "Together" attack as their special attacks. Some characters will use their own unique techniques, though.
  • In the teaser trailer, there was an "Childhood Friend Attack" (O-sanajimi Attack), which is actually an special attack for Suikoden II characters like the protagonist and Jowy. This special attack has a similar motion to the one seen in Suikoden II, where the protagonist and Jowy circle around the enemy and then perform a group attack.
    • They have included some Suikoden homages, and for certain characters, their "Together" attacks from past games have been upgraded. You’ll be able to enjoy these enhanced versions.
  • Special attacks can be activated by a single character, compared to those done in the past that required multiple characters.
  • When it comes to commands, there are typically two techniques (skills) plus the special attack for each character. Some techniques are tied to Runes, while others are specific to characters who don’t use Runes.
• The dialogue will change as the timeline evolves, reflecting the progress in the story. There is also a a time-based system, where materials you can gather will vary by season. Additionally, the graphics will change with the time of day—morning, afternoon, evening, and night, all offering different visuals. There might be events that only happen at night.
• Instead of a Tablet of Stars (Tablet of Promise), there will be a Trial of the Tablet, which, when completed, significantly enhances the protagonist’s abilities.
• Players can strengthen weapons through a blacksmith and upgrade Runes. They are designing the growth system to stay true to the Suikoden style.
• Rune swapping isn’t a feature in this game. Each character is tied to their own specific Rune, and you’ll develop that Rune as you progress. They initially considered allowing Rune swapping, following the tradition of past Suikoden games, but they found that it might create a high barrier to entry for newcomers unfamiliar with the series. So, they adjusted it for this game, making the system simpler while still retaining the essence of Suikoden.
• Towns and Villages: During your travels, your companions will speak to you. As you walk through towns, you'll also overhear conversations from the residents. These passive dialogue scenes will help provide additional context to the world and story, especially for new players experiencing the Suikoden universe for the first time.
  • In Gregminster, they’ve populated the city with many residents to express the bustling life of a prosperous town. There are over 400 residents in Gregminster. Other towns, like Rockland, will have fewer people, and the number of residents will vary depending on the town's size. In front of the castle in Gregminster, you’ll meet Alen and Glenshiel. The towns are quite large, so they added a “fast travel” feature to help you get around.
  • There are blue lights sometimes in the town. They are a small item drops. You don’t have to pick it up, but it's an optional feature for players to enjoy. There are also treasure chests at the end of alleyways, so feel free to explore and see what you can find.
• Instead of affection, there will be a "bond" system. It's one of the elements for character development. The "bonds" have ranks, and you can track them as numerical values. As the bond rank increases, it will bring various benefits, including receiving items.
• There will be waiting motions on the field map, not only for the new 108 Stars, but also for characters from past games, we've added motions. You can enjoy various motions at the base as well. They’ve paid a lot of attention to the pixel art expressions, whether it's in the town, during events, or in battles.
• They’ve prepared animations for the loading screens. For example, there will be a loading screen with Viki teleporting using the "Blinking Rune."
• They wanted to avoid making first-time players feel confused or anxious, so we decided to skip the teleportation failure element this time.
• Within the story of Suikoden STAR LEAP, it’s possible that names of past protagonists may come up as historical heroes. However, they’ve made it so players can customize the protagonist’s name in advance. They’ve provided a default name, but if players want to input the name they used when they played the original game, that name will appear in the story.

Art Style

In an interview. Fujimatsu explained that Suikoden I and II remain iconic among RPG fans, many of whom still appreciate high-quality pixel art. Rather than viewing it as outdated, the team chose pixel visuals to appeal to classic RPG sensibilities while enhancing them with modern techniques. The game’s backgrounds were first modeled in 3D before being refined with hand-drawn pixel textures, a level of detail not possible in the original releases.

Takeyama noted that while backgrounds use 3D, all characters are fully animated in 2D pixel art to retain the smooth pacing and expressive animations of the originals. He cited Nanami’s reunion scene in Suikoden II, explaining that pixel art helps balance emotion and humor in ways 3D models might not. The goal was to highlight what made Suikoden special while also appealing to new players.

Fujimatsu explained that Moryo’s illustrations and character designs strongly convey fantasy and storytelling, making them a perfect fit for Suikoden SP. While Moryo did not create every design from scratch, they were responsible for many character designs and final illustrations. They also supervised the designs of all 108 Stars and new enemies. Moryo worked closely with the team, using character backgrounds and story details to develop fitting designs. He noted that their work added depth and personality. The team acknowledged that distinguishing the 108 Stars of Suikoden SP while avoiding similarities with past Suikoden characters was challenging. Some returning characters were redesigned by different illustrators.

Characters

Hero - name can be freely chosen. He grew up in the main village. Tomohiro Ono did the voice.

Hisui - a servant in the hero's house. She is suppressing her emotions and has a mysterious story. She is a cheerful and kind girl by nature. She is voiced by Hika Tsukishiro.

Hou - Chief of the village and the father of the hero. He built the village and everyone can rely on him. He used to be a fiery fighter, but he brough the ruffians together and created a new village. Other than that, his past is shrouded in mystery, but he seems to have relations with many important people in various countries. Akio Otsuka did the voice.

Shirin - The hero's childhood friend. She has a sharp tongue, but she is honest and has a strong sense of justice. Her high-spirited personality is a mirror to her father's, who raised her on his own. She sometimes gets caught up in tunnel vision, but her sense of justice is strong. Fairouz Ai did the voice.

Shapur - The hero's teacher and butler of the Hou household. He used to be a general. He doesn't seem to be the kind of person to settle as a butler of a household in a small village. He is a strong and dependable character. Takuya Sato did the voice.

Music

The game features an original song, "Campanula" (カンパニュラ), composed and performed by Kaho Nakamura.

Other songs include March Forth, Under the Stars (the Hero's Army theme song), Overcoming Difficulties (normal battle song), and Blooming Fields (field map song).

Gallery

Videos

Suikoden Star Leap - Trailer

External links

• Official Site
• Official X account
• Famitsu Interview, March 2025
• https://dengekionline.com/article/202503/34686