Episode 1 of Gensou Suikoden was a solid start for me, but the pacing definitely felt rushed at times. Riou and Jowy barely get a chance to breathe before everything falls apart, and the whole ambush immediately makes you question what’s really going on.
What worked best for me was their friendship. Even with so much happening, their bond feels believable, and that makes the waterfall scene and everything after it hit harder. I also liked that Riou doesn’t instantly trust Viktor and Flik. After seeing his entire unit wiped out, it makes sense that he would be suspicious of everyone.
The episode also does a good job of making the war feel more complicated than just “good side vs bad side.” The more Riou learns, the more obvious it becomes that someone is manipulating events from behind the scenes.
The animation was a little uneven in a few places, and some scenes moved too quickly, but the characters and mystery kept me interested. Not a perfect premiere, but definitely enough to make me want Episode 2. ⚔️🔥