Growlanser IV: Wayfarer of the Time

What appeared to be a regression in Growlanser III actually provided the template for Growlanser: Wayfarer of time, which completed the structural transition back to the original, and is both the series' most refined and ambitious work yet. Each of the four major facets of Growlanser's world are in peak form here: The high fantasy quotient - now with a biblical sense of apocalypse, the sci-fi undercurrents (providing a sinister backdrop), the warring political SRPG (imbued with Suikoden's sense of cruelty on a grander scale), and visual novel-esque relationship building - enhanced by dedicated socialising segments, all combine to form a symbiotic whole. In addition, the upgraded graphics and adjustments to several mechanics, far more creative missions and dungeons, and new features help confirm a new mature phase for the series, polished in all respects. While the combat system remained intact, suffering from the same few wrinkles working against the eclectic missions, its fluid nature compensates for the amount of battles travelling from location to location.

The cast of characters and their surrounding non-gameplay mechanics are what stitches all of this together. Throughout the game, connections are formed, altered or introduced between the colorful cast, and plenty in this complex network are susceptible to player decisions and story beats - exemplified by over 40 different endings. The communal tragedies of the previous two game's cutscenes began to include individual tragedies too, aided by more meticulous character building and a stronger political focus in its worldbuilding. All in all, a worthy disciple of Suikoden, although not as thematically pure.