Gensō Suikogaiden is a two volume series of spin-offs from the Suikoden series of role-playing video games. Suikogaiden Volume 1: Swordsman of Harmonia was released in the autumn of 1999; Volume 2: Duel at Crystal Valley was released in the spring of 2001. Both volumes are visual novels, rather than role-playing games the other Suikodens are known for. The games were only released in Japan and never officially translated into other languages. The events of the game intersect with those of Suikoden II, but are more of a side story, hence the name gaiden.
Volume 1: Swordsman of Harmonia
, the protagonist controlled by the player and an agent of Holy Harmonia's Southern BorderDefence Force, has been assigned to obtain information to either verify or disprove a rumour concerning the appearance of one of the 27 True Runes in the Jowston City States. During his travels, he encountersSierra Mikain, a female vampire, who decides to accompany him on his journey. As a result, he soon becomes entangled in the larger conflict involving the events of Suikoden II.
Volume 2: Duel at Crystal Valley
After the completion of the Dunan Unification Wars, Nash intends to return to the capital of Holy Harmonia, the Crystal Valley. However, his travels involve more adventure than he anticipates. His journey involves traveling through the Grasslands, where one village happens to be celebrating the legend of the Flame Champion and the Fire Bringers who stopped the Harmonians from invading some sixty years ago; an unfortunate stop over in Caleria, the base of operations for mercenaries of Southern Harmonian Border Defence Force; helping stop a wild dragon from terrorizing a village before finally reaching his destination. As Volume 2 was released roughly a year before Suikoden III, it presumably helped set up and introduce the Grasslands, which were the main focus of Suikoden III. Nash also returns in Suikoden III; outside Japan, Suikoden III is Nash's first appearance in the series.
Development
The Suikogaiden games were made by a separate development group at Konami. After Duel at Crystal Valley was completed, the Suikoden III team and the Suikogaiden team merged and began work on both Suikoden IV and Suikoden V.
