Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 20
  2. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. The battles themselves are almost always immense, with more than 30,000 troops a side (that's the smallest battle I can remember in the experience) but you don't get that feeling of enormity.
  2. The bottom line, Kessen is a masterpiece in more ways than one and can keep even the most hardcore fan occupied for some time.
  3. 88
    If you want a strategic military simulation with immense amounts of depth, coupled with incredible visuals, Kessen is your game.
  4. Despite a multitude of polygonal eye-candy and the largest amount of high-quality FMV ever seen in a game, its otherwise spare graphics and lazy AI won't appeal to everyone.
  5. Encompasses fantastic graphical prowess with equally fantastic gameplay and depth.
  6. Never mind that the story is fantastic--especially because it's based on real history -- the one thing that will get this gem some serious press is the overload of eye candy.
  7. 81
    Though whoever commissioned the dub will be smitten at the last by the hammer of justice, Kessen is a great game otherwise, one of the best-looking, and more than that the most accessible console strategy title to come down the pike in a long while.
  8. One of the best console strategy games ever made.
  9. This is more like a Japanese version of "Gone With the Wind" than a videogame.
  10. A masterpiece in it's genre. It's a shame its a genre that most casual players won't like.
  11. A brilliant lesson in game making as well as in history--and like history, it repeats itself again and again and again.
  12. 75
    The game's biggest downfall is that it isn't particularly difficult.
  13. You're welcome to nod knowingly, and call Kessen a tremendous game, a work of art; it is. But think very, very carefully before actually buying it.
  14. This is not a game for the impatient, and some gamers might find the slow pace and long battles to get a bit boring. But ruling all of Japan should take a while, right?
  15. Stunning visuals and sounds. The only question is whether you are willing to sit down and play the game, with its continuously redundant nature.
  16. The battles soon result in simplistic tat-for-tat assaults using the boosted special attacks whilst the tactical differences between various sections is questionable.
  17. The game is fun to watch (and that's mostly what you'll be doing) for a couple of hours, but beyond that the repetitive pre-scripted cut-scenes and ease of play will leave you bored.
  18. 50
    Sadly, the controls in the Battle screen are totally counterintuitive, making it a slow, tedious chore to command your units.
  19. 50
    It seems as if the story actually is more important than the game.
  20. An excellent game ... if you like games with a low replay value.
User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Kessen Graphics 6/10- The graphics for it’s time are pretty lacking for ps2 standards in the cutscenes, though the character animations in the gameplay are ok, each character model sees some variety and the overall design of the soldiers is a sight to behold for American audiences. The dueling sessions aren’t too special, the characters do their job but it seems like the animation and effort could have been better. Sound 5/10- The soundtracks themselves are traditional Japanese war tunes and sound good for their standards. The clashing of swords and bullets shot from rifles and cannon blasts make the game sound a lot more life-like, though the quality is lacking. The voice acing is actually pretty bad; some characters give an average/boring performance while others just sound outright terrible. It seems corny on a level that doesn’t make you laugh but cringe. Gameplay 8/10- The gameplay definitely does hold the game together as a whole. It’s precisely what you would expect from this type of RTS title. The large amount of soldiers fighting on screen and the moral organization make the gameplay more stimulating than it’s led on to be. You have the option of looking in on clashes between opposition, and though you cannot directly influence the fight in person the massive feel and atmosphere of thousands of men on screen is awe-inspiring to the eye. Many special attacks or charges are available for each type of general and troop, and effectively using them can encourage playing the higher difficulty to test your real-time pressure and decision-making skills. Though at times the game can be slow-paced and drawn out, battles in ancient Japan were slow-paced, giving the feel of the realism behind the gameplay. Final Words/Personal Experience- At a younger age I found this game to look amazing and was astounded by its gameplay mechanics. Though I may like it personally better than most people, I would have to give it a… 7/10- it’s the first of its kind and the formula was new for western audiences, but it seems unpolished and clunky to give it a better rating. Full Review »
  2. MarkW.
    10
    It was a superb game and it was the game that i was hoping some company would make and electronic arts did so a BIG thank you to electronic arts
  3. LouieggyL.
    10
    It Rocks... It totally engulfed me in the want to play it more!!!