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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Kessen

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 20 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 5 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Koei
Genre(s): Simulation
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: October 26, 2000
Summary
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Kessen II Kessen III
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central Game Revolution GameSpot Happy Puppy SonyWeb
Also On The Web: Official Game Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Da Gameboyz
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.
GamerWeb Sony
The bottom line, Kessen is a masterpiece in more ways than one and can keep even the most hardcore fan occupied for some time.
Read Full Review >Daily Radar
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.
GameSpy
If you want a strategic military simulation with immense amounts of depth, coupled with incredible visuals, Kessen is your game.
Read Full Review >Gaming Age
Encompasses fantastic graphical prowess with equally fantastic gameplay and depth.
Read Full Review >Game Fan
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.
IGN
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.
Read Full Review >Antagonist
This is more like a Japanese version of "Gone With the Wind" than a videogame.
CNET Gamecenter
One of the best console strategy games ever made.
PSX Nation
A masterpiece in it's genre. It's a shame its a genre that most casual players won't like.
Read Full Review >Happy Puppy
A brilliant lesson in game making as well as in history--and like history, it repeats itself again and again and again.
Read Full Review >Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
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.
Game Revolution
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?
Read Full Review >GameSpot
Stunning visuals and sounds. The only question is whether you are willing to sit down and play the game, with its continuously redundant nature.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
The battles soon result in simplistic tat-for-tat assaults using the boosted special attacks whilst the tactical differences between various sections is questionable.
Read Full Review >Hot Games
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.
Read Full Review >GamePro
Sadly, the controls in the Battle screen are totally counterintuitive, making it a slow, tedious chore to command your units.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.8 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Mark W. gave it a10:
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
Louieggy L. gave it a 10:
It Rocks... It totally engulfed me in the want to play it more!!!
Kessen gave it a 10:
its the coolest and most exciting game in the world.
Jason T. gave it a 10:
It was one of the best games that I have ever played.
