Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Review: A Triumphant Return for Konami's Beloved RPGs on Nintendo Switch

Konami’s Suikoden I & II HD Remaster signals a significant moment for classic JRPG fans, bringing two of the PlayStation era’s most cherished role-playing games to modern platforms.

Released on the Nintendo Switch via the eShop, this collection arrives during a period where game remasters and revivals are riding high, reintroducing seminal stories and mechanics to new generations.

As Konami continues to mine its extensive legacy IPs, the spotlight now shines on its most storied RPG franchise, and the results are both nostalgic and illuminating. Suikoden I & II were initially developed for the original PlayStation in the mid-1990s, quickly gaining acclaim for their deep narratives and expansive cast of 108 recruitable characters.

These HD remasters, announced during a Nintendo Direct showcase, present numerous technical and artistic enhancements while trying to maintain what made the originals so beloved.

Each game has received updated backgrounds, refined or entirely redrawn character art, newly reimagined opening cinematics, and fresh English localization, modernizing the experience without losing touch with its history. In terms of presentation, there’s a noticeable difference in how the two titles were handled.

Suikoden II, often regarded as one of the finest JRPGs of all time, naturally received more development focus.

Its character art, originally illustrated by Fumi Ishikawa, has been upscaled, preserving the high-resolution portraits that fans remember fondly.

The new backgrounds capitalize on dynamic perspective and enhanced visual effects, bringing the world to life in ways the original hardware never could.

Suikoden I, with art redrawn by Junko Kawano, retains a faithful, top-down view.

While the backgrounds are richer in detail, some players might notice an uncanny visual consistency that closely mirrors the original work, for better and for worse. Both games include valuable quality-of-life improvements, such as battle speed options and a feature allowing players to quickly escape random battles once appropriate experience thresholds are met.

Despite these enhancements, some original mechanics remains untouched—for instance, inventory management in Suikoden I is as meticulous as ever, cementing the remaster’s dedication to preserving the game’s distinctive charm and challenges.

War battles and duels add dramatic flair, and while their designs are rooted in playful rock-paper-scissors strategies, they stand apart from standard encounters. Suikoden II distinguishes itself with richer character development, sharper writing, and a more complex, grid-based war battle system.

The infamous antagonist Luca Blight remains a highlight, his villainy intensifying the game’s central conflict.

Features such as save data bonuses for dedicated players encourage thorough exploration.

The overall gameplay raises the bar, offering more strategic battles and expanded customization for party members. On Nintendo Switch, Suikoden I & II HD Remaster delivers stable performance, though with a frame rate capped at 30 FPS.

In practice, this limitation does little to detract from the appeal of these turn-based classics, and both games feel responsive throughout.

No major frame rate drops were observed during testing, and Switch players will find that the portable format is an excellent way to experience these lengthy RPG epics on the go. Ultimately, this collection stands as a testament to Konami’s enduring RPG legacy, making two foundational titles accessible for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

While some presentation inconsistencies and granular mechanics may feel dated, the sheer ambition and heart of Suikoden I & II shine through.

For those who grew up longing for the storied PSP collection to launch in the West, this Switch release—with its thoughtful remastering and added conveniences—finally makes that dream a reality.

Suikoden II alone justifies the price of entry, while Suikoden I’s historical significance offers an inside look at the genre’s evolution.

For PlayStation RPG enthusiasts and Nintendo Switch owners, this collection is a worthy addition to any library.

Nintendo Switch Konami Suikoden Suikoden I Nintendo Switch I Suikoden I & II HD Remaster