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Outstanding First Generation Title Shows PS2 Off

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: November 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Koei's Kessen is an incredible Strategy RPG that takes all of the technological advancements of the PS2 and spins a remarkable web of astonishingly mind-boggling game engine graphics (that compare to 99 PC graphics), astounding movie reminiscent sequences (akin to Braveheart, the Patriot, or the Gladiator), outrageously life-like human animations, amazingly competent acting, and a massively intricate real-time battle system that mixes the complex pleasures of war strategy with the unbelievable cinematic presentation of a motion picture.

Kessen remains a must buy for any lover of strategy RPGs such Age of the Empire, Civilization, Boulder's Gate, or Panzer General. Finally, A PC game on a console.

VERY BAD GAME PLAY!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: February 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

My 1st review:

Yes, it is true this game may have killer vidoes... but that's all it is basicly, When you start there is a tutorial that takes about a half hour to go through, (the whole time you're pressing X and reading) then you finally get to play and you are totally confused, And you don't really do much though the whole game but watch fights so it gets old VERY fast, because its always the same.

And for those people who think you can fight from a first person view in the battles that take place, just so you know you can't, and this game is for 1 player, (they could have made it two) The only thing this game really offers are good dvd films and a good sorty line. (based on true events in chinse history)

So in conclusion I give this game an over-all 2 stars.

You gotta get this one

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 65
Date: July 28, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game is awesome. It runs smoothly with great graphics. It will keep you playing untill u beat it. If you have the money go out and get this one with your PS2

Great, but definitely trying to please 2 crowds

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 19, 2000
Author: Amazon User

For those of us that stayed up nights cursing Oda Nobunaga and his blasted "ambition," this game may very well seem like one of his traps. Old Koei games were NOT real big on doing much thinking FOR you. Autopilot was never an option then. Well, apparently the suits at Koei finally broke down and decided to make a strategy game for the masses, one without all the pesky troop upkeep and rice. The opening credits fill in the gamer that Kessen was made to resemble a movie-like experience (much like Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid.) That becomes readily evident when, after going through a tutorial that teaches you all about how to order your generals, and influence enemy generals, and plan battle routes, the game begins to basically play itself.

WARNING! NO GREAT AMOUNT OF TACTICAL APTITUDE IS REQUIRED TO PLAY THIS GAME!

Always a little intimidated by Koei's previous elegant epics? Well, this isn't one of them. You can get as involved or as passive as you want this time, your generals will think for themselves, thank you very much. Old-timers may get a bit miffed at the lack of any serious micromanagement aspects, but even the crankiest curmudgeon will rejoice at the fabulous storyline and character development. And did I mention the graphics? Never has routing your opponent on the battlefield looked so rewarding.

In short, it is very much a like a Koei playable movie, sans any deep strategy or wide-scale management. As such, one must have patience. Not necessarily for learning the game, more for sitting back and watching as your generals go to work on the opposition. This is still fun, even for an old "rice-head" like myself (Aerobiz Supersonic anyone?) and newcomers to the Koei stable will likely be very impressed by the grand nature of it all, and grateful that they don't have to spend an eternity making sure the dams and levees are properly funded.

And who knows, maybe this game will count for credits toward that Japanese History major you've been wanting to obtain ;-).

Ok game...

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 27, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Ok game but the setup is very bad... If you don't have a memory card then don't buy this game... First of all the first board takes 30 minutes to get through and you don't get to do anything because it is a tutorial... So if you don't save the game you have to play the first board, and also the gameplay isn't free enough, it practicly plays itself... If you have a memory card, it's a good game, if you don't i wouldn't recomend it.

Better to look at than to play

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 15, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Kessen is a beautiful game in spots. The cut scenes and battle sequences are amazingly rendered and by far are the best part of the game. On the negative side however, most of the actual game consists of you moving little blobs of color around a map. Additionally, the interface is confusing and frustrating at times, althought the game is easy enough so that you can win every battle on your first try without really doing much of anything, making any attempt to simulate a strategy somewhat useless. .. If you want a graphical showpiece for your ps2, kessen is good, but if you want a game that you can play again and again, look elsewhere.

Rent before you buy it

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 08, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This was the first game I bought for my PS2. I thought it was going to be like Romance of the 3 Kingdoms. But it was way different. But, it is still a good game. For poeple who dont like stradegy games, stay clear from it. Basicly, its an interactive movie. You choose what army attacks and what it attacks with. Guns, cannons, arrows. You can choose what armys you want to be in the battle, and what kind of formations you want them to be in. And, you get to choose what armys go where and plan out your whole attack in a war council. Its a pretty cool PS2 game, but not the best by far.

Fun game, but

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: July 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Kessen is a fun game, gives players the power to control a whole army. From the CG cut-in scenes to the special movements of the armies. Although there is a history lessen built into the game that really makes me sleepy.

Gameplay is very interesting. From building up your raid skill points to surrounding your enemy its all exciting. Graphics are good, something you just start to expect from Koei (The development Company)

Complete time taken to finish game isn't very long once you get done with the 30 minute tutorial at the beginning.

So I end with, rent before you buy. If you like the game after you rent it go out and buy it.

Well....I guess its OK....kinda.....sorta

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: October 04, 2001
Author: Amazon User

If your a stratagy lover and have patience of steel perhaps you will like this game. It has alot of history to it if your looking for a social studies lessen and decent graphics, but other than that...well...thats about it for this game, theres not to much more i can say about it.

this game could have been better

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

this 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

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