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Binding: Video Game Brand: Playstation EAN: 0014633142587 ESRB Age Rating: Teen Label: Electronic Arts Manufacturer: Electronic Arts Platform: PlayStation2 Publisher: Electronic Arts Studio: Electronic Arts Accessories: Editorial Review: Amazon.com Review: Kessen is the first DVD PlayStation2 title--boy, what a difference a DVD-ROM makes! Kessen's fantastic cutscenes showcase the difference between the visual capabilities of non-DVD and DVD formats. That difference is analogous to the gap between analog television and HDTV quality. The graphics are awesome, too. In a triple barrage, three rows of gunmen draw and fire their guns. Not everyone does it at exactly the same time, and the number of men goes back as far as the eye can see. The smart choreography makes the battle seem much more real. In fact, you actually can see other soldiers fighting as the generals duel. The game's orchestral score is wonderful, and the sound effects also are great, with booming cannons, neighing horses, and clanking spears. While all of the above makes for a very splashy presentation, it doesn't do much for the gameplay. Those who have found fault in the micromanagement of past Koei strategy titles surely will be disappointed with Kessen. It's often painful to see every single stat and try to improve them all in a set amount of time. Kessen goes too far in that every battalion has a morale level, called zeal, as well as a certain number of soldiers of different types. Each general has a different amount of loyalty to you, but it really doesn't affect gameplay, as far as we could tell. Before each battle, you go through the political stage. Here, you can persuade undecided generals or enemy generals to join you in battle, or not to fight at all. That's a cool aspect, but the game basically tells you outright who will join you and who won't. The pace of the battles is extremely slow, like in most other Koei games. However, the difficulty is not. Many times, you're given so many reinforcements that you just can't lose. Also, every single event involves a 20-second cutscene, with no obvious way to skip these. Sure, the triple barrage is impressive the first few times that you see it; but, after the 100th time, it wears a little thin. And you get to see a cutscene every time that your enemies do the same to you. Unlike other RTS games, there's hardly ever any cause for alarm or stress--even if you're losing, you feel like there's not a lot you could do about it, anyway. --Todd Mowatt Pros:
Average Rating:
 Rating:  - What a bore...Alright, So i go throught Blockbuster looking for some interesting game to pop-out at me, and this cover just looks soooo Cool! So naturally the game must be! I mean with all that effort into the cover, the game has to be spectacular! Wow was I ever so wrong... The game is basically about 6 levels long and it is just about impossible to lose unless you have no idea about strategy at all. The game took me just a little over an hour to beat, which is saying a lot, cause I dont usually beat things ... Read More Rating:  - The Lessen I Play Kessen, the Better!If you are really into Japanese history, then you may like this game. If you are really into strategy games and Japanese history, you may like this game. In fact, go rent part 2. It has to be better than this mess. If you are not interested at all in Japanese history, then to you, this is simply a very lame strategy game that should be avoided at all costs. If you are not even into strategy games, let alone Japanese history, you shouldn't even be reading this review! This game is just bad. ... Read More Rating: - Really goodIf the goal behind Kessen was to create a spectacular-looking display of medieval Japanese warfare, it succeeds and then some. If the goal was to make a good real-time strategy game, however, Kessen fails. While at first it's breathtaking to watch the clash of dozens of incredibly detailed 17th Century Japanese soldiers-riflemen, archers, swordsmen, lancers-accompanied by the roar of battle and epic music, Kessen's focus on eye and ear candy hurts the gameplay. This is most evident in the many beautiful, ... Read More Rating: - Good StuffBasically, people are too critical when it comes to games! I'd say this game could use a little more options, but i believe it is really well made and put together beautifully! I love the war, and how u get to control thousands of men rather than just 1, 2, 3 or 4...This game was really fun, and suspenseful. I hope number 3 is like it, only better! Rating:  - this game could have been betterthis isn't really a fun game it is basically a look at how great the PS2 graphics are for one of the first games I think its ok but still thsi game isn't really worth the money get Dynasty Warriors |
