My favorite suikoden is easily the first one. I loved the story, the rune being a self desctructive weapon, amongst other story developments in the game. I've also finished the game three times without actually owning a copy of the game
I missed out on Suikoden II and Suikoden III but I was able to obtain Suikoden IV and finished it. I must admit that i expected more out of the fourth one. A lot of the familiar systems were still around and I didn't like the change from 6 party members down to 4.
about 6 months ago I found out that Suikoden V was already out for a while.. which by the time i began looking around for the game it was no where to be seen. So like an impatient person I went to a gamestore that often had more rare games and paid multiple pretty pennies for the game (70 bucks!? DAMNIT). So far I haven't gotten very far but the game is really starting to pick up.
Now, my cousin also purchased the game not knowing I already had it. He went to a local blockbuster and looked in "Previously used" bin and got Suikoden V for $20.
I hurt inside.
Money isn't that big of an issue but I'm just bitter

Like when the PSP compilation of suikoden 1&2 chose not to have a North American Release. (There goes my reason to buy a PSP)
To recap: I've finished Suikoden I multiple times. I missed out on Suikoden II, Suikoden III and Suikoden Tatics. I own and finished suikoden IV and am currently playing a very expensive Suikoden V.
For anyone who's looking for more information on suikoden as a series on a whole. You can find all the information you'd ever want on suikoden at
http://www.suikosource.com. The site isn't the easiest to navigate but if you trudge through that you'll eventually find what you want.
I apologize if I bored you
