A bit of background to start. I'm not what you would call a hardcore Suikoden fan, but neither am I oblivious to the long-running JRPG series. Back in the 2000s, I played (and greatly enjoyed) both Suikoden V and III. Sometime in the 2010s, I picked up the original Suikoden to play on international flights. But when it comes to Suikoden II (the game on which this anime is based), I have to admit that, after finishing the first game, I only got a dozen or so hours into it—which happens to be almost exactly what these first three episodes of the upcoming anime adapt.

While I say “first three episodes,” there is actually a hidden asterisk in there—the first episode is double length. Over the course of 94 minutes, we see Riliu and Jowy go on more than a few adventures as they attempt to reunite, get home, and spread the truth about what happened to their unit.

The story is dramatic and exciting—and while it's often lighthearted and comedic in tone, it can also be surprisingly brutal. I admit to being shocked at how far the anime was willing to go into the ultraviolence. Numerous decapitations and fatal stabbings are shown in all their disturbing glory—and even named characters aren't safe from gruesome deaths. That said, it's important to note that said ultraviolence has a clear and necessary purpose: character development.

Luca, the main villain of the story, is the worst kind of scum. His opening act is massacring children, and he follows it up by going full genocide during his invasion of Jowston. Of course, he's also a sadist who toys with his victims—making them debase themselves as he revels in pleasure at the moment they realize he's going to kill them anyway. The anime wants us to hate this man—and all it has to do to accomplish this is show his actions in all their senseless brutality.

If Suikoden: The Anime has one issue, it has far too many characters. From farmers and mercenaries to traveling performers and the upper echelons of the Highland nobility, named characters are constantly being introduced—and all too often disappearing from the story just as quickly.

Unfortunately, this is kind of the nature of the beast when it comes to Suikoden. One of the selling points of the series is that every game has a huge cast—with at least 108 characters to recruit into your army. Some are main characters, and some have only the bare bones of what anyone would consider a story, but if you want the best ending, you've got to collect them all.

This leaves the anime facing a no-win scenario. The storytelling is objectively less focused by including these characters, but excluding them would only anger longtime fans of the games, who are excited to see their favorite characters in all their newly animated glory. It's no surprise the creators of the anime have gone towards pleasing their established fan base by including as many as possible, but I suspect the constant name-dropping will confuse any newcomers.

As for how the anime looks, there is a clear difference in quality between the first, double-length episode and the two that follow it. The first episode has characters that stay on-model even between frames, and action that doesn't shy away from difficult animation. And even though much of it is set at night, the action remains easy to follow. However, in the following two episodes, things change drastically. While I wouldn't say the show suddenly looks ugly, the typical budget-saving tricks come out in full force. Fights contain abstract backgrounds of moving lines to imply speed, attacks cut away at the moment of impact, and shadows and other details become much less nuanced. It's not bad, but it is worse in comparison.

As for the music, all I can say is that it didn't stand out in any way—it was neither good enough nor bad enough to catch my attention. Moreover, this screening did not include the TV series' opening or closing credits (which often feature the best songs of any given series).

All in all, as a Suikoden player, these first three episodes left me satisfied. Seeing Suikoden I characters like Viktor, Flik, and Apple in action was a real treat—but I have a feeling newcomers will be left wondering why they feel like they should know these people. That said, the main story is understandable—if a bit schizophrenic in how it jumps around. Luca is a fantastic villain, and it's easy to root against him—especially as he continues to beat our heroes in these early battles. Will this show end up bringing Suikoden to the masses? Probably not. However, anyone who's already a fan will find a lot to love here.