CNET Networks Entertainment GameSpot | GameFAQs | SportsGamer | Metacritic | MP3.com | TV.com
Home | About Metacritic | About Metascores | What's New | Wireless Versions | Discussion Forums | Advertising Inquiries | Contact Us | RSS
Metacritic.com: We Deal With Criticism
     Help
> Switch to Advanced Search  
Film Video/DVD Music Games Books TV
Printer-Friendly Version Email This Page Discuss In Our Forums

Games

Playstation Reviews
PS3 | PS2 | PS One | PSP

Xbox Reviews
Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo Reviews
Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64


PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Games In Our Forums

 

Upcoming & Recent Releases

sort by name sort by score

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.



Kessen II ps2 Game Reviews
Kessen II
Critic Score
Metascore: 71 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.9 out of 10
based on 15 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game

Assume the role of historical Chinese general Liu Bei of the Shu kingdom whose ultimate goal is the destruction of the Cao Cao, the leader of the Wei kindgom in order to rescue his lost love and claim his opponenet's land. New "Agen Technology" allows for 500 soldiers on-screen at a given time.

PUBLISHER: KOEI
DEVELOPER: KOEI
GENRE(S): Real-Time Strategy
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE: September 27, 2001

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...

85
GamerWeb Sony
The storyline is engaging, and commanding an elephant to tromp through units and trample people is pretty hard to beat.
Read Full Review
84
IGN
Builds on its predecessor by bringing the player even closer to the action.
Read Full Review
84
TotalGames.net
Unlike the original Kessen, KII is far more accessible and the fantasy element gives the whole show a far more epic feel in the style of TV’s Mahabarat (okay, it’s a Hindu show, but you get the idea).
Read Full Review
80
Game Informer
When it came down to it, I began to wonder if all the info and options available to me made a difference in the outcome of the battles at all. Definitely play Kessen II to blow up guys with meteor showers; just don't expect to do everything with your new abilities.
Read Full Review
80
PSX Nation
About as visually-appealing, user-friendly, fun and deep as Koei can make a strategy simulation without watering-down the formula completely, which makes it ideal for newcomers to the genre or the "Kessen" universe.
Read Full Review
78
GameSpy
More about style than substance. Nevertheless, the style excels, and there's still enough substance to give strategy gamers something worthwhile.
Read Full Review
77
GameSpot
A game that is visually striking, with massive spell effects and a histrionic storyline, but one that may not appeal to fans of realistic war simulations.
Read Full Review
70
Hot Games
If DW3 was the video game equivalent of "Braveheart," then Kessen II is Kuroswawa's "Ran" -- just a little more meat in your dish.
Read Full Review
70
Electronic Gaming Monthly
The gameplay is ironclad; however, a few presentation problems hold the title back. [Dec 2001, p.250]
60
Yahoo! Games
If you’re a serious strategy aficionado who expects more than to be seduced by lush eye candy, you’ll lament the restricted control system and the over-emphasis on storyline at the expense of intricate gameplay.
Read Full Review
60
G4 TV
The controls are too simple to make you want to play the game for very long.
Read Full Review
60
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Inconsistent voice acting and poor plot development. [Dec 2001, p.168]
60
GamePro
The difference between the sheer energy in the cinemas and the painstaking gameplay is so striking that it feels like you’re fighting battles less to win them than to see the next visual treat.
Read Full Review
58
Core Magazine
If you are looking for a historical strategy sim you will be disappointed with Kessen's superficial treatment of military planning. But if you are seeking eye candy and a trite but entertaining story you'll likely be thrilled with this title.
Read Full Review
54
GameShark
Despite its initial luster, it becomes tedious rather quickly.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 9.9 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Sean gave it a 10:
Great! I love it. Its just as good as dyansty warriors 4(not graphics)

Harley (Pogo-the-monkey) D. gave it a 10:
Absolute brilliance the fights are brilliant the spells are great and the plot is very good! cant i please give it 11 out of 10? (to be perfect i wish they had summoning abilitys like ff10 and summoner 1/2 now that would make it perfect!!!

Joe M. gave it a 10:
This game rocks on! I'm an aussie and i think it covers every strategy type, but it should be more like Dynasty Warriors 2! That's the best strategy game ever! Like others, i would say it needs a two player mode, but it would be great if you could control the Wu empire instead of Shu and Wei!

Chris T. gave it a 10:
Absolutely brilliant, good story line. Voice acting could be better but that doesn't affect the game to much. The thrill of messing up the computer in some brilliant strategic move is always satisfying

Jackie M. gave it a 10:
How is this game not a ten? Sure it's no Advance Wars, but many have been known to play though the games dozens of times before getting bored, plus it fixes everything from Kessen 1, such as impossoble AI, fog of war, etc. , what could be wrong with it, what other game puts you in battle with 10000+ others, at one time!

Jhsyfur gave it a 10:
From what i've seen it looks really good, but it's not out over in the uk yet! 8o(

Pat G. gave it a 10:
I will never get tired of this game. The graphics and cinemas are outstanding and the game as a whole opens an omnipotent can of whoop-ass on eveybody else. The musical score is breathtaking, and the characters are in-depth. The only problem I see is: where can I download tracks off the musical score?

Read more user comments...

Discuss this game in our forums

Return to top of page
Home | FILM | DVD/VIDEO | MUSIC | GAMES | BOOKS | TV | Forums | About Metacritic metacritic.com

About CNET Networks | Jobs | Advertise | Partnerships                                Visit other CNET Networks sites:

Copyright ©2007 CNET Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use