Love crossword puzzles but don’t have all day to sit and solve a full-sized puzzle in your daily newspaper? That’s what The Mini is for! A bite-sized version of the New York Times’ well-known crossword puzzle, The Mini is a quick and easy way to test your crossword skills daily in a lot less time (the average puzzle takes most players just over a minute to solve). While The Mini is smaller and simpler than a normal crossword, it isn’t always easy. Tripping up on one clue can be the difference between a personal best completion time and an embarrassing solve attempt. Recommended Videos Just like our Wordle hints and Connections hints, we’re here to help with The Mini today if you’re stuck and need a little help. Related Below are the answers for the NYT Mini crossword today. New York Times Across State sch. founded by Thomas Jefferson – UVA Flower containers – POTS “Crib” or “pad,” for “house” – SLANG Pants, informally – TROU Company nicknamed “Big Blue” – IBM Down Company nicknamed “Big Brown” – UPS What “V” stands for on a battery – VOLT Big name in 1980s arcade games – ATARI Stuck-up sort – SNOB Big Red, e.g. – GUM Editors’ Recommendations

James Austin Johnson returned as President Donald Trump. NBC 2025-04-13T12:38:39Z Save Saved Read in app This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? The latest episode of "SNL" saw Trump world meet "The White Lotus." James Austin Johnson returned as Trump, parodying Jason Isaac's beleaguered financier from the HBO show. The spoof seems to have been a hit with fans, with many calling it the shows funniest skit in some time. "Saturday Night Live" continued to roast key White House figures in this weekend's episode, which saw President Donald Trump and his inner circle checking in to the "The White Lotus."Retitled "The White POTUS," James Austin Johnson returned as the US president, parodying Jason Isaac's beleaguered financier from the HBO show.In the wake of the real president's tariff announcements — which have sparked chaos in global financial markets — Johnson's caricature of Trump is seen numbing his pain with a prescription bottle of chicken nuggets and threatening to shoot Uncle Sam himself (Andrew Dismukes).As Johnson's Trump fights an existential crisis at the breakfast table (Chloe Fineman), playing his wife Melania but embodying Parker Posey's iconic character from the show, asks: "Can you imagine how awful it would if America lost all its money and no one respected us anymore?""You would never let our economy go to pieces, right, hon?" she continues, as Johnson's Trump's phone pings with a news flash about a tariffs-induced recession.The pre-taped sketch also saw Mikey Day play Trump Jr., Alex Moffat as Eric Trump, and Scarlett Johansson as Ivanka Trump. Scarlett Johansson as Ivanka Trump in the "White POTUS" sketch. NBC In line with her "White Lotus" counterpart, Johansson's Ivanka is seen seeking spiritual enlightenment, only to change her mind when she's told: "You must ask yourself: 'Am I ready to give up greed and material possessions in order to lead an honest and ethical life?'"Elsewhere, Beck Bennett returned as a shirtless Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kenan Thompson appeared as Tiger Woods, and the episode's celebrity host Jon Hamm portrayed RFK Jr.The star-studded lineup also featured a brief appearance from musical guest Lizzo, who played a disgruntled American who realized their savings had tanked."Oh, my God, there's $5 million in my bank account," she said. "It was 20 million last week."The skit seems to have been a hit with fans, with some on social media lauding it as one of the best sketches the show has done in some time."'The White Potus' is the most brilliant and well-done satire SNL has done this century," one X user wrote."Gonna need at least 10 seasons of this," another said."The White Potus is the funniest thing Saturday Night Live has done in years," a third added.Earlier in the episode, Johnson's Trump was also the focus of an Easter-themed cold open, which began by dramatizing the bible story of Jesus (played by Mikey Day) casting moneylenders out of the temple on his arrival in Jerusalem."Remind you of anyone?" Johnson's Trump said, interrupting the sequence. "I also got rid of money last week, but instead of one temple, I did a whole country. Maybe even the globe. The money's gone.""Hi, it's me, your favorite president, Donald Jesus Trump, comparing myself to the son of God once again," he continued. "Many people are even calling me the Messiah because of the mess I, uh, made out of the economy, all because of my beautiful tariffs." Recommended video

In a podcast landscape dominated by the manosphere, one of the biggest podcasts targeted to women sounds like it could be a children’s television show. Giggly Squad is hosted by two best friends, fashion influencer Paige DeSorbo and comedian Hannah Berner, who first rose to fame via the Bravo reality show Summer House. In 2020, the pair began doing weekly Instagram Lives and eventually launched the podcast. Since then, Giggly Squad has become one of the top-ranking shows on Apple Podcasts, with 44 million downloads last year. DeSorbo and Berner just wrapped up a sold-out national tour and are now releasing their first book How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriously; promotion for the book recently included a guest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. In several ways, Giggly Squad feels like an obvious daughter of Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy. The show largely appeals to Gen Z white women. (Their fan base calls themselves the “Gigglers.”) It also has a similar conceit to the first iteration of Cooper’s pod: Two girlfriends having honest, sometimes frivolous, conversations about dating, sex, mental health, and other aspects of their lives. It resembles a casual text chain between two best friends. In a recent episode, DeSorbo updated listeners about her UTI while Berner joked about an intense bout of PMS. “I like to let the Gigglers know where we are in our cycles,” Berner said. Intimacy and kinship between hosts has become an expected feature of women-led podcasting nowadays, the best friend chat its own genre. It makes the audience, too, feel like one of the gang.“It really just feels like you’re FaceTiming your best friends,” says Alexa Toback, a self-proclaimed Giggler. “You get a relationship that’s so close to them. It’s like a conversation you’re having with your friends every week.” The affinity fans feel speaks not only to the increasingly parasocial role that podcasts have taken in our lives post-pandemic, but the way female friendship has become a commercial enterprise. How podcasts became our new BFFsCasual gabfests between women aren’t a new invention in the podcasting space. Some of the best examples have been organic endeavors by friends seeking a public outlet to discuss their personal lives and interests. A popular product of the early podcast boom was the Call Your Girlfriend podcast, hosted by Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow. The two long-distance friends would catch each other up on their lives, while having insightful and informative conversations about culture, politics, and gender. My Favorite Murder, hosted by comedians Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff, saw two pals bonding over their interest in true-crime stories. The BuzzFeed-then-Slate podcast Thirst Aid Kit saw hosts Bim Adewunmi and Nichole Perkins verbally salivating over their latest celebrity crushes. These older examples are a bit more produced and polished than the off-the-cuff, hyperpersonal vibe of Giggly Squad. However, podcasts like DeSorbo and Berner’s feel like a natural progression of this setup. This “group chat” phenomenon has proliferated the podcasting world recently, with shows like Lemme Say This, hosted by college best friends Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix, and The Ringer’s Jam Session, hosted by work pals Amanda Dobbins and Juliet Litman. The genre’s growth is particularly visible on social media. TikTok and Instagram Reels are rife with clips of two women sitting in a pink or beige studio and, in TikTok terms, having a yap about seemingly inconsequential matters. Naturally, this chummy dynamic is also found in popular podcasts hosted by sisters, what you might consider a subgenre of the best friend pod. There’s the pop culture show The Toast, hosted by controversial sibling duo Jackie and Claudia Oshry, that has managed to become a mainstream hit. Olympic rugby player Ilona Maher’s newly launched podcast, House of Maher, featuring her sisters Adrianna and Olivia, is described as an audio version of their sibling group chat. It’s already performing well on the Apple Podcasts charts. The hit Netflix series Nobody Wants This brought new attention to The World’s First Podcast, hosted by the show’s creator Erin Foster and her sister Sara. The Netflix show portrayed a fictional version of the podcast, with Kristen Bell standing in for Foster.Kristen Bell and Justine Lupe in the Netflix series Nobody Wants This. Netflix“Does this format feel more abundant in the culture?” says Vulture’s podcast critic Nicholas Quah. “The answer is yes, and that’s tied to the fact that podcasting has become normalized. It’s become part of everybody’s media diet.” Quah adds that these loosely structured, largely unscripted podcasts are everywhere because they’re simple to make: “The economic structure of podcasting is to privilege shows like these that are very cheap, easy to record, and efficient.” The barrier for entry is low — they don’t require journalistic skills or expertise on a certain subject. Instead, the prerequisite is friend chemistry and a sense of relatability. Over time, listeners gain knowledge of the hosts’ history with one another, interests, pet peeves, and other minutiae. By listening to Lemme Say This, for example, audiences get to know about Harris and Dix’s core college memories, past relationships, and parental quirks. While “podcast bros” aim for self-improvement, podcast girlies are embracing gossip and mess The parasocial effect that comes from watching women relate to each other may feel particularly familiar to fans of reality shows — another extremely character-driven format that gives audiences an unnatural amount of personal knowledge about people they’ve never met. Perhaps it’s not surprising then that podcasts like Giggly Squad have become a natural extension of branding for reality stars themselves. You can expect almost every Real Housewife nowadays, including notable duos, to launch their own podcasts based on their already-established personalities and friend dynamics. These podcasts inevitably start to mimic reality TV, in providing both mindless entertainment and a deeply engaging connection to the talent. By design, the hosts create their own share of extracurricular gossip for listeners to converse about. When Litman announced her pregnancy on Jam Session a few weeks ago, fans ran to the NYCInfluenerSnark subreddit to share their excitement and curiosity about the news and also mused about what the show would look like when she took maternity leave. When DeSorbo disclosed on Giggly Squad that she was having panic attacks, fans on Reddit immediately tried to investigate the cause. Giggly Squad has the added benefit — and pressure — of the friends’ very public off-air personas; the show is a place where they can discuss the news moments created outside of the podcast too. When tabloids reported that DeSorbo had split from her partner of three years, Southern Charm star Craig Conover, last December, fans knew they could tune into Giggly Squad for the inside scoop. The same feedback loop occurred last month when Berner received backlash for comments she made during an interview with Megan Thee Stallion at the Vanity Fair Oscars party. Listeners anticipated the next episode, where Berner addressed the viral incident. Quah says that “embracing a sense of mess and scandal” has become central to how younger women are building their brands through podcasts. The way these shows embrace gossip and intimate conversation can easily be written off as a cheap tactic for attracting listeners. However, it’s not a coincidence that these podcasts have become, as Quah puts it, “sites of female empowerment,” forums for women to have the raw, unfiltered conversations where they feel heard and understood. It’s a notable distinction from the world of “podcast bros,” like Joe Rogan and Andrew Huberman, speaking to wonky self-help experts and promoting an individualist lifestyle of self-improvement. As shows like Giggly Squad continue to be made and their audiences continue to grow, these supposedly frivolous podcasts are occupying crucial space in women’s lives. They’re a stand-in friend, a subject to gossip about, and a much-needed space to feel understood. See More:

Summer is approaching and for those planning camping excursions or extended road trips, a reliable power source is something you can’t do without. Whether charging your devices out in the wilderness or maintaining your RV appliances in working condition, the EcoFlow Delta 2 portable power station is the ultimate must-have. Small, rugged and green, this power station (among the finest on the market today) keeps you plugged in and feeling good no matter where your summer travels take you. And at its current price of $449 on Amazon—which is a 36% discount from its usual $699 (almost matching the previous Black Friday’s price point)—there’s never been a better time to invest in this game-changing device. See at Amazon Powers Laptops, Phones, And More The EcoFlow Delta 2 is built to withstand everything you can throw at it: It’s got a 1024Wh capacity and a 1800W peak output, so it can power 90% of your devices without breaking a sweat. From powering lights and running portable fridges to charging laptops and phones, it delivers clean power without the noise and fumes of gas generators. This is ideal for camping trips where peacefulness and quiet are part of the deal. Through EcoFlow’s X-Stream technology, this premium power station can be charged fully from 0 to 80% in 50 minutes and fully charged within 80 minutes if it’s plugged into an ordinary AC socket. This means less time waiting for it to charge and more time on your outdoor adventures. If you’re off-grid, you can also pair it with solar panels (sold separately) for clean, green energy. With a maximum 500W solar input, the Delta 2 can be charged to capacity in as little as 6 hours in perfect conditions. Its LiFePO4 battery chemistry enables the Delta 2 to retain more than 3000 cycles of capacity before dipping to 80%—six times longer than the major part of its competitors—there is no fear of degradation with use over time. Its built-in Battery Management System also automatically regulates electricity flow to protect you and your devices. But probably the most important for you is that the Delta 2 features 15 output ports to handle almost any device. These include six AC outlets for large appliances, two USB-C ports with a maximum output of 100W, four USB-A ports (two regular and two fast-charge) and a few DC outputs such as a car charger port. From inflating an air mattress, running a projector for backyard movie nights, or just charging your phone, this power station has something for every situation. Last but not least: at just 27 pounds and with a built-in handle, the Delta 2 is easy to transport despite having a strong set of features. Its size makes it fit snugly in your car or RV without taking up much space. For campers and road-trippers looking to reduce their environmental footprint, the Delta 2 presents a greener option than traditional generators. At $449, this EcoFlow power station is an investment that will pay itself back multiple times over in the way of comfort and reliability. See at Amazon

Well, with all the news about Nintendo Switch 2 game prices, it looks like a lot of us are going to be playing our old favorites for a while. The good news: there’s actually a cheap way to make old games feel new. Windows 11 Pro can help make your games play smoother and look nicer, and it’s only $14.97 (reg. $199).  What does Windows 11 Pro do? Windows 11 Pro isn’t just some fancy upgrade for tech lovers. It actually makes your regular gaming sessions better without you even having to think about it. Auto HDR makes your games look prettier, even the old-school ones. And DirectStorage means games load super fast, so you spend less time staring at loading screens. If you’re the type to have your game running while you chat on Discord and browse the web, you’ll probably notice everything feels a bit snappier when you switch between them. Then there’s Windows Copilot, an AI helper built right in and using the same tech as OpenAI. It can help you find files faster, edit your system settings, or even give you the gist of a game guide while you’re playing.  Plus, Windows 11 Pro has some extra security and privacy tools like BitLocker encryption and virtualization. That’s good news if you’re downloading mods or trying out new game launchers. It helps keep things safe. It also works great if you have more than one monitor or a fancy high-refresh screen, and it’s ready for whatever new PC parts might come out down the line. April 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT is the cutoff to get Windows 11 Pro for life for $14.97. StackSocial prices subject to change.  Microsoft Windows 11 Pro – $14.97 See Deal

Nature, Published online: 09 April 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08684-xTreatment of supported ceria nanoparticles at high temperature in gasoline vehicle exhaust/steam results in their dispersion into atomically thin oxide domains with enhanced oxygen mobility and storage capacity.

You don't need plate tectonics to get continental crust that looks modern, a new study finds.

#DRIVE Rally, an arcade-inspired rally-driving game in which you can personalize almost all the cars, will leave Early Access and see a full launch in a few days.See what's new: https://80.lv/articles/this-old-school-rally-game-where-you-can-personalize-almost-all-car-parts-gets-full-release-in-few-days/@drivethegame

The Future of AI in Creative Industries: Blending Art and Automation3 min read·Just now--Image by Vista LiberataFrom My DeskHello RAIXs,In a world where creativity is the heartbeat of progress, AI is stepping in as a powerful enabler of artistic transformation. Today, I invite you to explore how AI is reshaping the creative industries — from design and music to literature and film — by becoming a collaborative partner rather than a competitor. This newsletter is about embracing a future where technology amplifies our imaginative capacities, unlocking new avenues of expression and innovation.What Happened / What’s the Insight:We’ve seen the emergence of AI tools that not only automate routine tasks but also spark creative breakthroughs. Across industries, artists and creators are discovering that AI can:Augment the Creative Process: From generating unique design concepts to composing music and crafting compelling narratives, AI offers fresh perspectives and ideas that blend seamlessly with human ingenuity.Democratize Art Creation: AI-powered platforms are making high-quality creative tools accessible to everyone — regardless of background or training — empowering individuals to bring their visions to life.Transform Storytelling: By analyzing patterns and preferences, AI can assist in refining narratives and tailoring experiences, paving the way for more personalized forms of storytelling.Lessons or Insights You Can ApplyView AI as a Creative Ally: Instead of fearing that AI will replace traditional art forms, see it as a tool that can expand your creative potential. It’s about collaboration that enhances what’s uniquely human — emotion, nuance, and storytelling.Experiment Without Boundaries: Embrace the opportunity to explore new techniques and styles. AI is not here to confine your creativity; it’s here to offer a palette of endless possibilities.Stay Ahead of the Curve: The creative landscape is evolving. Keep learning about emerging AI tools and trends to ensure that your skills and artistry continue to evolve alongside technology.Tools, Prompts, or Frameworks:I’m not laying out a strict blueprint but inspiring you to experiment:Creative AI Platforms: Explore tools that assist in graphic design, music composition, and writing. These platforms can help you experiment with styles and ideas, turning inspiration into tangible art.Reflective Prompt:“How can I integrate AI into my creative process to enhance my work while preserving the authenticity of my personal vision?”Collaborative Projects: Engage with communities that are pushing the boundaries of art and technology. Collaboration can turn innovative ideas into reality.My Thought of the Day“The fusion of AI and creativity is not about replacing the human touch — it’s about enriching it. Embrace technology as your creative partner, and together, you’ll redefine what it means to be truly innovative.”5-Minute ReThynk TaskReflect: Spend 5 minutes noting down one creative project where you believe AI could enhance your output.Envision: Imagine how incorporating AI might transform that project — what new elements or perspectives could it introduce?Commit: Pledge to experiment with one AI tool in your next creative endeavor and observe the differences.Share: Use the hashtag #FutureCreative to share your ideas and connect with others exploring the intersection of art and AI.CTAThe future of creativity is here — and it’s powered by the synergy of human passion and AI innovation. Read the full newsletter to dive deeper into how this transformative alliance is reshaping creative industries. Let’s embrace this bold new era and unlock our fullest potential together.Stay inspired, keep experimenting, and remember: technology is here to elevate your unique creative voice.Jaideep ParasharFounder & CEO, ReThynk AIAbout the AuthorJaideep Parashar is a forward-thinking leader at the convergence of technology and creativity. His journey from a secure career to pioneering innovations in AI has empowered countless professionals to reimagine their roles in this evolving landscape. Through his compelling insights and thought-provoking newsletters, Jaideep inspires a community of innovators to harness the transformative power of AI — reminding us that our unique human touch is the foundation of all true creativity.

Jawmuncher Crisis Dino Moderator Oct 25, 2017 44,174 Ibis Island Platforms: Xbox, PS4, Switch, PC Price: $49.99 (Available Physically, Xbox Play Anywhere Support for Xbox Digital) Release Date: March 6th 2025 View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PGH51IQFWEY&pp=ygUTU3Vpa29kZW4gY29sbGVjdGlvbg%3D%3D ABOUT THIS GAMEA hero's destiny is written in the Stars The legendary KONAMI JRPGs Suikoden I and Suikoden II have now been remastered in HD! The Story of Suikoden I A once renowned hero turns into a violent tyrant, and an empire falls into decline. A Liberation Army is rising up in an act of rebellion against an oppressive rule. One by one the 108 stars of Destiny gather to shape the course of history. The Story of Suikoden II Our story's hero and his friend Jowy are members of the Unicorn Youth Brigade, which participated in a drawn-out border dispute between the Highland Kingdom and the City-States of Jowston . A few months earlier, a truce agreement was signed between the two forces, both of which were happy to see an end to the fighting. However, hidden under the momentary peace the fires of a new war continued to smolder… Features of Suikoden I & Suikoden II HD ・All background illustrations have been upgraded to HD ・Updated effects breathe new life into the pixel art animation ・New environmental sounds effects to immerse yourself in this fantasy world ・Battle SFX are also now HD and add a new level of realism ・Newly added auto-save ・Battle Fast Forward ・Conversation Log   Last edited: Mar 4, 2025 FF Seraphim Member Oct 26, 2017 16,212 Tokyo Thanks for the OT! Cannot wait to play these two games again!  Gure Avenger Oct 28, 2017 1,103 Hell yeah!!   Merton Member Oct 25, 2017 1,443 At first I said this isn't out until March, why so early with an OT and then realized it is March......excellent OT   lucablight Member Oct 27, 2017 2,895 Here's hoping this will be the definitive version of the games.   Jubilant Duck Member Oct 21, 2022 9,025 Merton said: At first I said this isn't out until March, why so early with an OT and then realized it is March......excellent OT Click to expand... Click to shrink... Time escapes us like grains of sand falling through the fingers. With every breath you draw closer to your death. Please enjoy replaying Suikoden I & II as you hurtle towards your mortal transition into the immortal nothingness.  Baphomet Member Dec 8, 2018 21,291 It's predownloading right now , can't wait for the 6th :)   hersheyfan Powered by Friendship™ Member Oct 25, 2017 1,888 Manila, Philippines Preordered on Steam, with an NSW physical copy out for delivery. Suikoden is back, lets fucking go!!  Kazer "This guy are sick" Member Oct 27, 2017 3,036 Thanks for making the OT, Jaw! Excited to replay these. Haven't played either in like ~25 years.   BassForever One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 31,491 CT This thread is a reminder I've not pre ordered the physical, fixed that.   MangoUltz "This guy are sick" Member Mar 24, 2019 3,875 Great OT. So excited to play these again. It's been years (decades). Have the physical coming from Amazon and it's saying no delivery until 10 March, which is a massive bummer  Modest_Modsoul Living the Dreams Member Oct 29, 2017 27,840 I am curious to see/read the new localization. It's time to put South Window to the rest.  Saphirax Member Oct 25, 2017 1,350 Ahhhh, I can't wait! 2 is my favorite game in the series.   N64Controller Member Nov 2, 2017 11,680 Reminder to everyone who is new to the Suikoden franchise, there's a lot of characters BUT there's a lot of incentives to use a lot of them, too. Leveling up in these games is super easy, just bring a low level character with you and they'll skyrocket to high levels after very few fights. So don't hesitate to test things out.  Vargas Member Oct 27, 2017 680 Don't leave Pahn on the sidelines.   Scar One Winged Slayer Member Oct 26, 2017 3,111 Title Town You can turn off the timer for the Clive sidequest. This will help me during my streams of the game, so I don't have to rush and I can still showcase everything these games have to offer.   Mivey Member Oct 25, 2017 20,299 Will be neat to finally have this series on PC. Never played a Suikoden game before. Hoping this runs well on Steam Deck (would be strange if not) and that it's playable that way in terms of screen size.   Hours Left Member Oct 26, 2017 19,854 I'm so excited. 🤩🤩🤩 Suikoden is the best series there is. I hope this is just the beginning of the resurgence of the IP. Thank you Jawmuncher for stepping up and making the OT!  Paertan Member Oct 28, 2017 1,556 Can´t wait for the weekend! Played them both 10+ times but it has been quite a while since my last playthrough.   strife85 Member Oct 30, 2017 1,774 Do I need to play 1 to enjoy 2? I heard 2 is the better game.   Liam Allen-Miller Member Nov 2, 2017 7,836 Shibuya Not a Suikoden guy but this thread title absolutely kicks ass   Vincent Grayson Member Oct 27, 2017 7,155 Mount Airy, MD I can't remember, is it the first or the second game that has a time-gated recruit you have to get by a certain number of hours or miss entirely?   Lucreto Member Oct 25, 2017 7,200 strife85 said: Do I need to play 1 to enjoy 2? I heard 2 is the better game. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Not really. It's more for continuity. You can play it separately but you get a better overall view of the world. There are characters and places in the first game that appear in the second.  Hours Left Member Oct 26, 2017 19,854 strife85 said: Do I need to play 1 to enjoy 2? I heard 2 is the better game. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Do you have to? No. Should you? Absolutely. Suikoden's most defining feature is the continuing story, themes and characters between instalments. Vincent Grayson said: I can't remember, is it the first or the second game that has a time-gated recruit you have to get by a certain number of hours or miss entirely? Click to expand... Click to shrink... There is no time gated recruit in either game, but Suikoden II has a time gated side quest that is purely just extra story. Though they just revealed in the livestream that you can turn off the time barrier for the side quest now and do it at your leisure.  Brando "This guy are sick" Member Oct 25, 2017 1,583 Vincent Grayson said: I can't remember, is it the first or the second game that has a time-gated recruit you have to get by a certain number of hours or miss entirely? Click to expand... Click to shrink... It's the second game for Clive but it isn't for a recruitment. His whole side quest is now a trophy which you have to do in under 20 hours. The day 1 patch is adding an option to turn off this time limit. If you're going for the platinum you'll also have to be playing hard mode. I cant imagine many first timers going in blind being able to do this in 20 hours so there's no reason why you shouldn't turn this option on. View: https://i.imgur.com/HHmckl1.png   Like the hat? Member Oct 25, 2017 6,583 Suikoden II has been my favorite game since i first played it in 1999. I've played through it countless times since then. I'll be playing through it again now. It's been a while since ive played through the first game so that'll be a nice bonus   Blue_Toad507 Member May 25, 2021 3,671 Are there no reviews yet? I'm interested as someone who has never played the series but I want to see the consensus before committing to these versions.   tucah Member Oct 25, 2017 1,461 Huge fan of the series but the hype behind the remaster, the fact that Suikoden is back, didn't really hit me until the silly stream yesterday. I can't wait to dig back into this world and hope the remasters are good.   OmegaDL50 One Winged Slayer Member Oct 25, 2017 10,491 Philadelphia, PA Suikoden II is my favorite game of all time and Suikoden I is an excellent game too. Really looking forward to do my yearly playthrough with this new version.   The Praiseworthy Member Oct 30, 2017 10,296 Thank you for the OT. Love this series, a lot of fond memories, still can't believe it is returning in some form. Can't wait to relive some of my favourite moments again especially in S2.  werezompire Zeboyd Games Verified Oct 26, 2017 14,638 Under new features, you can add difficulty levels. Easy, Normal, and Hard available on both games.   Sephiroth Member Oct 26, 2017 6,911 Its too bad none of the Saturn content could be added. A battle arena would have been cool.   OnanieBomb Member Oct 25, 2017 11,202 I want to preorder the heck out of this but Konami so I'm gonna wait to see what people say about performance on switch vs ps5. I'm hoping it won't be as blurry as the hd2d games on Switch because I'd rather have it there.  jungius Member Sep 5, 2021 3,420 werezompire said: Under new features, you can add difficulty levels. Easy, Normal, and Hard available on both games. Click to expand... Click to shrink... my recommendation for those who are new to the game is to play on hard for sure, the original game is toddler level difficulty, im not even lying  jungius Member Sep 5, 2021 3,420 strife85 said: Do I need to play 1 to enjoy 2? I heard 2 is the better game. Click to expand... Click to shrink... the story is self contained but 1/4 of characters of suikoden 2 is from suikoden 1 and the story is directly correlated, I'd say play 1 first because it is a short game, I finished the game in one sitting 5 years ago.  tokkun Member Oct 27, 2017 6,105 strife85 said: Do I need to play 1 to enjoy 2? I heard 2 is the better game. Click to expand... Click to shrink... You don't need to, but Suikoden 1 is a pretty brisk game by JRPG standards. You could beat the PSX version in 15-20 hours without much difficulty.  Foot Member Mar 10, 2019 12,888 jungius said: my recommendation for those who are new to the game is to play on hard for sure, the original game is toddler level difficulty, im not even lying Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yeah, easy mode must be pretty funny.   falcondoc Member Oct 29, 2017 7,894 Don't like the new background visuals, especially in cities… Still will probably get  Flipmenex Member Oct 27, 2017 2,273 I think someone said in the stream thread yesterday that the Event Timer thing might not be for time-gated quests, but for those few situations where you have an unseen timer to choose a reply / action, which makes a bit more sense. There's at least a big one that definitely made some people mad back in the day, and I don't recall if all duels had timers, so this is also a good option. Still hoping it also works for that certain quest though.  PlanetSmasher The Abominable Showman Member Oct 25, 2017 130,958 Flipmenex said: I think someone said in the stream thread yesterday that the Event Timer thing might not be for time-gated quests, but for those few situations where you have an unseen timer to choose a reply / action, which makes a bit more sense. There's at least a big one that definitely made some people mad back in the day, and I don't recall if all duels had timers, so this is also a good option. Still hoping it also works for that certain quest though. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yeah. There are two MAJOR plot decisions in Suikoden II where you have barely a few seconds to respond before a decision is made for you. I THINK that's what this option is meant to resolve, not the time gating on Clive's quest. But I guess we'll have to see. "Event timer" is a very vague statement and the game doesn't really have any on-screen countdowns to hide from the player.  Light-Cloud Member Apr 3, 2021 202 Maybe I'm imagining it but I swear I remember the original announcement they showed how you could change the graphics to the original PS1 look but I haven't seen anything about that since. Is that still a thing? Was it ever a thing? I'd love to have both options   jungius Member Sep 5, 2021 3,420 Light-Cloud said: Maybe I'm imagining it but I swear I remember the original announcement they showed how you could change the graphics to the original PS1 look but I haven't seen anything about that since. Is that still a thing? Was it ever a thing? I'd love to have both options Click to expand... Click to shrink... never saw that being advertised tho  werezompire Zeboyd Games Verified Oct 26, 2017 14,638 On the question on whether you need to play the first game first, besides the first game being pretty good in its own right, there's a special sidequest in Suikoden 2 that is only unlocked if you use the Suikoden 1 data transfer.   Quinton Staff Writer at TheGamer Verified Oct 25, 2017 22,763 Midgar, With Love good title as others have said/will say, don't skip 1  PlanetSmasher The Abominable Showman Member Oct 25, 2017 130,958 werezompire said: On the question on whether you need to play the first game first, besides the first game being pretty good in its own right, there's a special sidequest in Suikoden 2 that is only unlocked if you use the Suikoden 1 data transfer. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Right. While you don't NEED to play Suikoden I first, the original game is pretty goddamn short and the rewards in Suiko II for importing your save data are all pretty good. For example: weapon upgrades for characters who were in the first game carry over into the sequel.  Vincent Grayson Member Oct 27, 2017 7,155 Mount Airy, MD Hours Left said: Do you have to? No. Should you? Absolutely. Suikoden's most defining feature is the continuing story, themes and characters between instalments. There is no time gated recruit in either game, but Suikoden II has a time gated side quest that is purely just extra story. Though they just revealed in the livestream that you can turn off the time barrier for the side quest now and do it at your leisure. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Thanks. It's been a long time since I played either of them, and I could swear I remembered it being a fast character or something and you had to get him in under so many hours, but I guess that's all it was.  ResinPeasant93 Member Apr 24, 2024 2,206 I'm not expecting too much of a new translation. I know they cleaned up the ellipses fest that the second game had and they may (and should) fix the actual errors and bugs in the original translation. But I'm also expecting South Window to remain South Window You also don't want to skip 1 so you can get Tir and Riou on the same team and break the game with their all enemy combo attack (certain restrictions apply - see rules for details)   PlanetSmasher The Abominable Showman Member Oct 25, 2017 130,958 Vincent Grayson said: Thanks. It's been a long time since I played either of them, and I could swear I remembered it being a fast character or something and you had to get him in under so many hours, but I guess that's all it was. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Nah. To get Stallion (the series' recurring "fast guy" character) you just need to have run away from battles at least 50 times.  KujoJosuke Member Oct 25, 2017 8,546 I got my switch copy preordered on Amazon, and Greenmangaming has it 25% off for Steam so I ordered from them as well. So excited!   Yu Narukami Unshakable Resolve Member Oct 26, 2017 5,638 .   Last edited: Mar 4, 2025