- Plan out massive troop movements and battles and watch them play out inbreathtaking graphics.
- Authentic weapons and equipment from the era to equip your men with - more than 450 different types of weapons and armor.
- Direct real-time control of troop movements, offensives, and defensive maneuvers - allied units can join player units for combination attacks.
- Incredible specialty attacks from Ninja Strikes and Katana Deathwheels, to Spear Walls, and Cavalry Charges for defeating your enemies.
Platform:PlayStation 2
KESSEN III is the first sequel to the series in almost four years
and will be notable for several sweeping changes to the widely
respected franchise. The series
Review
------
Out of all of Koei's myriad franchises, this is the one I have
the most hope for. If you want Dynasty Warriors hacking with some
extra gameplay thrown in, then this series has it. It also has a
degree of strategy thrown in, but you don't have to be Napoleon
to enjoy Kessen III. However, the game's attempt to pat its head
while rubbing its belly isn't without hiccups.
The last Kessen let you control individual officers, but this
one takes it a giant step further, permitting you to switch to
and play as multiple generals on the fly. Each one commands a
unit of soldiers, and the armaments, armor, steeds, etc. of your
general and unit can be changed throughout the game, letting you
tinker with all kinds of different soldiers, spells, and attacks.
Some of your commanders may unleash giant worms on the enemy,
while others may charge a foe's front with horses of fire. You'll
have a lot of fun experimenting with all the different options
available to you.
On the battlefield the game controls like Dynasty Warriors (with
the same mindless combos), but with more destruction.
Unfortunately, Kessen III can be frustrating when it comes to
coordinating all your soldiers. Although I like how you have to
form up your ranks to perform effective attacks, I really wanted
to be able to create control groups like in a PC RTS. Kessen does
well to avoid the personality-devoid regiments of most strategy
games, but because of the sometimes-sloppy unit controls, the
strategy portion of the title suffers.
For all you Dynasty Warriors fans out there, I suggest you
spread your wings and give this game a try – there's so much more
to chew on here. This series is close to breaking through, it
only needs to tighten up and refine its core elements (as well as
expand its linear structure) to stand out.
Concept:
Like the last Kessen, this installment continues to add touches
of Dynasty Warriors
Graphics:
: Koei has cleared up most of the fogging and pop-up for the
Dynasty Warriors-like portions
Sound:
A few new takes on your typical symphonic score are sprinkled in
Playability:
Commanding and keeping your units together is a mixed bag
Entertainment:
In its genre blending attempts, Kessen III pushes neither action
nor strategy to the extreme
Replay:
Moderate
Rated: 7.75 out of 10
Editor: Matthew Kato
Issue: March 2005
2nd Opinion:
In nature, organisms that share identical genetic code are
particularly susceptible to disease. Koei's lineup has staved off
this e for a while by diversifying franchises in key areas,
but the changes in Kessen III are a sign that they are all slowly
converging into the same species. Kessen III provides action
along the lines of a group-oriented Dynasty Warriors, while still
retaining the strategic elements that set the previous entries
apart (plus some cool additions, like support troops). However,
even with its blending of styles, it's still the video game
equivalent of the History Channel – it grabs your attention and
may even teach you something, but it just can't blow your socks
off.
Rated: 7.5 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba
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