Suikoden 1 in relation to plot coherency and characters kick Suikoden 2's arse. McDohl Rulez, and while Riou is cute in a squishy toy way he is nonetheless rather boring. Though number two did have MORE Leon, and Shu, and the COOK OFFS! Suikoden 2 is still a good game just not as good as one because the plot still does not make sense to me, and while I like Jowy the way he did things is still incomprehensible to me. Suikoden 3 made me happy 'cos Geddeo is awesome and I want to be Chris, the plot was damn awesome (COHERENCY) and there are MORE Silverbergs. Though Hugo's chapters were a bit boring (LOTS!). So, ranking.

1. Suikoden 1!!! McDohl!!!!
2. Suikoden 3 (to be fair, game play wise Suikoden 3 is superior to One, BUT Suikoden 1 has McDohl! A Flik that was a Punk, a Thief Viktor, Odessa, Mathiu, and Kalekka!)
3. Suikoden 2 (it had a lots of good things going for it BUT the weak motivations or at least the lack of logical planning, and the lack of a strong lead made this game playable but NOT great.)

As for Suikoden IV... haven't played it and will NOT let anyone sway my decision until I play it.

More beer then sleep.