Kessen

North American PlayStation 2 cover art

Developer(s)| Koei
Publisher(s)| Koei (JP)
Electronic Arts (NA/PAL)
Director(s)| Fumito Kozutsumi
Designer(s)| Tachiki Kanda
Norimitsu Komine
Fumito Kozutsumi
Takao Sakai
Masahiko Sugahara
Yōichi Wada
Ichiro Yasuda
Platform(s)| PlayStation 2, PlayStation Network
Release| PlayStation 2

* JP: March 4, 2000 (2000-03-04)
* NA: October 26, 2000 (2000-10-26)
* PAL: December 15, 2000 (2000-12-15)

PlayStation Network

* JP: July 25, 2012 (2012-07-25)

Genre(s)| Real-time tactics
Mode(s)| Single-player

Kessen (決戦, "Decisive Battle") is a real-time tactics video game produced by Koei and published by Electronic Arts. It was a launch game for the PlayStation 2 in Japan and North America. It was initially the only real-time wargame game available for the PlayStation 2.

It is a real-time tactics game set in feudal Japan, focusing upon a conflict between the eastern Tokugawa clan and western Toyotomi clan (with Ishida Mitsunari as the Toyotomi's guardian and protector) shogunates at the end of Sengoku Jidai. Tokugawa Ieyasu served as the primary representative for the Eastern forces where the Western army changed leaders based on the results of select key battles.

Although it was, for the most part, historically accurate, the game contained a number of "what-if" scenarios, for example, if the Western forces are victorious at the Battle of Sekigahara (historically an Eastern victory).

Two sequels were later created, Kessen II and Kessen III. These two games introduced magical and meteorological elements to the games.

## Contents

* 1 Cinematics
* 2 Development
* 3 Reception
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## Cinematics

A note from the game's producer, Kou Shibusawa, addressed to players before any campaign begins, explains his desire to take his own twist on this segment of history but felt too constricted by cinema to do so properly. With Kessen, he believes that he was able to explore his ideas more freely. Thus, several of the game's cutscenes have a theatrical feel similar to chanbara and jidaigeki films.

Before each campaign begins, a narrator enlists a brief summary of the events proceeding the selected campaign to help familiarize players with the battle taking place. After the pre-planning of the battle is finished, a cinematic event occurs, often dramatizing character interactions or significant historical events that took place before the battle occurs.[1][2] Similar events also occur after the war council, during battle, and at the battle's end.

Among the historically accurate retelling of events, preference for the often romanticized accounts were sometimes used. Notable instances include Hosokawa Gracia ordering a soldier to kill her and Tokugawa Hidetada ordering the assassination of Sanada Masayuki for causing his tardiness at Sekigahara.[3]

## Development

The game was developed in one year with a budget of $5 million.[4]

## Reception

Reception

| Aggregate score

Aggregator| Score
Metacritic| 75/100[5]
Review scores
Publication| Score
AllGame| [6]
Edge| 7/10[7]
Famitsu| 32/40[8]
Game Informer| 8/10[10]
GameFan| 82%[9]
GamePro| [11]
GameRevolution| B[12]
GameSpot| 7.4/10[13]
GameSpy| 88%[14]
IGN| 8.1/10[15]
OPM (US)| [16]
Playboy| 75%[17]

Kessen received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[5] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a score of one nine, one eight, one seven, and one eight, for a total of 32 out of 40.[8][18]

Elsewhere, Jeff Luther from GamesFirst! noted that the game is easy to pick up, although he felt that it failed to maintain its difficulty level after the initial stages.[19] Others have also described it as redundant and slow.[20][21] Cutscenes were cited by one critic to be "the visual appeal to Kessen".[14] Graphics concerning the historical figures were also said to be "over-the-top" and colorful enough to the point of ridiculousness, though impressive.[15] What gained Kessen the most praise was the game's sound department, many citing the orchestral score to be "epic" with one critic noting the "English voices to be good and fitting". Overall, it is seen as a game for history buffs of Japanese history with a good but flawed presentation.[13]

The title won a special prize PlayStation Award in 2000. It was also nominated for the grand prize in the consumers' selection for graphics and scenarios.[22] It was a runner-up for GameSpot's annual "Best Strategy Game" award among console games, losing to Ogre Battle 64.[23]

## References

1. ↑ Kessen- Tokugawa's Rearguard. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2014-06-09. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
2. ↑ At Sekigahara, Shimazu Yoshihiro: So Ishida said, "Night attacks are for cowards! Go fight boldly!" He would not listen to me and now look what we face. Koei (October 26, 2000). Kessen. PlayStation 2. Electronic Arts.
3. ↑ Tokugawa Ieyasu: You had Masa Sanada murdered!? You fool! I detest such treachery!/ Tokugawa Hidetada But it was- it was because of him that we were late to arrive at Sekigahara! I just felt- / Tokugawa Ieyasu: What, more excuses... Leave my sight! I grow sickened by your face. Koei (October 26, 2000). Kessen. PlayStation 2. Electronic Arts.
4. ↑ "Interview with Koei". February 24, 2000. Archived from the original on September 30, 2000. https://web.archive.org/web/20000930034248/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/00_02/24_vg_koei/index.html. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Kessen for PlayStation 2 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/kessen/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
6. ↑ Chung, Terry. "Kessen - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141114231756/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=25637&tab=review. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
7. ↑ Edge staff (January 2001). "Kessen". Edge (93).
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "プレイステーション2 - 決戦". Famitsu 915: 55. June 30, 2006.
9. ↑ "REVIEW for Kessen". GameFan. November 3, 2000.
10. ↑ Fitzloff, Jay (November 2000). "Kessen". Game Informer (91). Archived from the original on March 19, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050319224203/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200011/R03.0807.1221.28907.htm. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
11. ↑ Jake The Snake (October 23, 2000). "Kessen Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on January 13, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050113215903/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/7085.shtml. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
12. ↑ G-Wok (November 2000). "Kessen Review". Game Revolution. http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/kessen. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sato, Ike (March 14, 2000). "Kessen Review". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kessen-review/1900-2545912/. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Carlock, Jamie (November 10, 2000). "Kessen". PlanetPS2. Archived from the original on February 15, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010215010049/http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/nov00/kessen/. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Smith, David (October 23, 2000). "Kessen". http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/10/24/kessen. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
16. ↑ Baker, Chris (December 2000). "Kessen". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Archived from the original on January 24, 2001. https://web.archive.org/web/20010124041600/http://www.zdnet.com/opm/stories/main/0,11891,2646669,00.html. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
17. ↑ Ryan, Michael E. (February 13, 2001). "Kessen: Lights, Camera, Shogun". Playboy. Archived from the original on February 2, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020202201335/http://www.playboy.com/sports/games/kessen/index.html. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
18. ↑ Perry, Douglass C. (March 2, 2000). "Now Playing In Japan, Vol. 19". http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/03/03/now-playing-in-japan-vol-19. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
19. ↑ Luther, Jeff. "Kessen -- PS2 -- Four Stars". GamesFirst!. http://www.gamesfirst.com/reviews/jluther/kessen/kessen.htm. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
20. ↑ Klepek, Patrick. "Kessen". Gaming Age. http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=ps2&game=kessen. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
21. ↑ McKown, Kevin (26 January 2011). "Kessen". ZTGD. http://www.ztgd.com/reviews/kessen/. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
22. ↑ "Playstation Award 2000". GameCity. http://www.gamecity.ne.jp/products/info/ps_award2000.htm. Retrieved February 19, 2009.
23. ↑ GameSpot Staff (January 5, 2001). "Best and Worst of 2000". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020213041653/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/bestof_2000/.

## External links

* Official Achieved Page at Koei
* Kessen at MobyGames

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