Suikoden Demon Century

Original Title: 妖世紀水滸伝 - 魔星降臨
Romanized: Youseiki Suikoden - Masei Kourin
Literal: Mysterious Century Suikoden - Decent of the Demon Star

Plot Synopsis

Sometime in the near future, Tokyo was reduced to rubble (as usual). A number of unfriendly gangs now call the areas that haven't yet been rebuilt home (as usual). Controlling these gangs is a crime syndicate trying to take over the world (as usual).

On to this scene walks Takateru, a friendly young brawler from the boonies looking for his sister who disappeared in town a while ago. It only takes him about five minutes to find out that she was kidnapped by the head of the gangs (as usual), so he sets off to rescue her (as usual), joined by a motley crew of city dwellers looking for a little payback (as usual).

Oh, there's also some business about a demon running the company and the motley crew being the reincarnation of heroic warriors of ages past... And as usual, much mayhem ensues. Much mayhem.

Quick Review

Rating: 3 / 5
Reviewer: Marc
Review Date: 2006-08-24

Suikoden Demon Century has all the earmarks of generic cheesy action: Motley crew of good guys get together and kick bad guy butt. Except motley doesn't even come close--this contingent of good guys has to be one of the strangest this side of the Tendo Dojo. From the transvestite martial artist Miyuki who is constantly hitting on our hero to the priest and nun who run the local orphanage... no, make that commando priest and ninja nun--the cast makes up for the total lack of backstory or substance mainly on the "you've got to be kidding" factor. Miyuki and Takateru actually have a funny, awkward relationship that makes for some fun by itself, but mainly what Suikoden has to offer is heaps of crazed action--everything from sword fights to four guys versus an entire army. It's all surprisingly good looking, though again somewhat ironically the nifty character animation--particularly Miyuki's distinctive design and expressive face--are the most memorable parts. The dub is cheesy and isn't afraid to flaunt it, making for some goofy bad-movie fun.

Suikoden Demon Century is a short, action-packed nugget of so-bad-its-good action anime for those with the right taste or some friends over for late-night anime watching.

US DVD Review

No English-language DVD exists as of this writing.

Content Guide

Several raunchy jokes and a lot of violence bump this into at least the 13-up category, and I'd call it 16-up.

Violence: 4 - Not extreme, but lots and lots of shooting.

Nudity: 1 - Not much

Sex/Mature Themes: 2 - Nothing physical, but some mature themes.

Language: 2 - Not extreme.

Notes and Trivia

This anime adaptation is based on the first in a series of 14 light fantasy novels by Hitoshi Yoshioka published between 1990 and 1995. Yoshioka is probably better known for writing the series of light novels on which The Irresponsible Captain Tylor was based. Note also that this Suikoden is not based on the Suikoden series of video games--the only similarity is the Chinese story from which both draw a basic foundation.

The "Suikoden" of the title refers to a famous work of classic Chinese literature, "The Water Margin." Written in the 16th century, it tells the tale of a heroic bandit (loosely based on a historical figure) who gathers a group of 108 outlaws imbued with 108 spirits.

In modern times, it has been adapted into a number of martial arts films, both Japanese and Chinese TV series, and several video games--both the early Koei title for the NES and several computer systems, Bandit Kings of Ancient China, and the long-running fantasy-themed Gensou Suikoden series from Konami for the PlayStation and PS2.

Note that the Suikoden III manga series by Aki Shimizu (available in English from Tokyopop) is directly based on the game of the same title.

Availability

Formerly available in the US from AD Vision on subtitled or dubbed VHS, both long out of print. They had announced a DVD release, but as of this writing it has never come to be.

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