Kessen was one of the launch titles for the PlayStation 2 console, offering, from studio Koei, a grand depiction of the Battle of Sekigahara, one of the decisive clashes in Japanese history. The player commands one of the warring sides, deploying infantry, cavalry and archer units across a vast battlefield and deciding their movement and deployment in real time, while trying to make use of terrain, army morale and the abilities of heroic commanders. The battle command system is simplified compared to classic strategy games, with emphasis placed more on clarity and cinematic quality than on depth of micromanagement, which made the game more approachable even for players who usually avoid the genre. Between individual clashes, the player chooses which historical commander to promote and what tactical advantages to grant them for the next battlefield.
Technically, at the time of release, it served as a showcase of what the new console could do - vast battlefields with dozens of units on screen, dramatic camera sequences and cinematic cutscenes between phases of the battle seemed impressive at the time, and many reviewers cited them as proof of the PlayStation 2's graphical power. The atmosphere is completed by grand orchestral music and voiced commanders who shout orders on the battlefield and comment on the course of the clash, making the game feel like a living historical epic film. The narrative sticks to historical facts only loosely and stylizes the characters more as heroes of an epic than as faithful historical figures, which was a deliberate creative approach by studio Koei.
In period reviews, Kessen was praised especially for its audiovisual side and as a representative title for the new generation of consoles, while its strategic depth was seen as more limited compared to the turn-based strategy games of the time. Today the game is remembered as an interesting experiment on the border between strategy and interactive film, which paved the way for further entries in the series as well as similarly styled historical titles from Koei. For fans of historical battles and oriental aesthetics, Kessen remains an interesting title to try even today, although it is more of an accessible experience than a deeply elaborate strategic system.
Why play it: For fans of historical battles and oriental aesthetics, it's an interesting experiment on the border between strategy and interactive film - a more accessible experience rather than a deep strategic system.
Game 161 of 269 for Sony PlayStation 2
