Kessen
Encyclopedia
is a PlayStation 2
launch title
produced by Koei and published by Electronic Arts
. This was the first DVD-ROM format game for the PS2. 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 sequel
s were later created, Kessen II
and Kessen III
. These two games introduced magic
al and meteorological elements to the games.
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. Similar events also occur after the war council, during battle, and at the battle's end.
Amongst the historically accurate retelling of events, preference for the oft 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.
As of January 2008, the game holds an average ranking of 77% at GameRankings. The title also won a special prize Playstation Award in 2000. It was also nominated for the grand prize in the consumer's selection for graphics and scenarios.
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
launch title
Launch title
A launch game, or launch title, is a video game released to consumers synchronously with the release of its respective video game console, meaning they are the only available games at the time of the console's launch. Several of these games are also packaged with the console...
produced by Koei and published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
. This was the first DVD-ROM format game for the PS2. It was initially the only real-time wargame
Wargame (video games)
Wargames are a subgenre of strategy video games that emphasize strategic or tactical warfare on a map, as well as historical accuracy.-History:The genre of wargame video games is derived from earlier forms of wargames...
game available for the PlayStation 2.
It is a real-time tactics
Real-time tactics
Real-time tactics or RTT is a subgenre of tactical wargames played in real-time simulating the considerations and circumstances of operational warfare and military tactics...
game set in feudal Japan, focusing upon a conflict between the eastern Tokugawa clan
Tokugawa clan
The was a powerful daimyo family of Japan. They nominally descended from Emperor Seiwa and were a branch of the Minamoto clan by the Nitta clan. However, the early history of this clan remains a mystery.-History:...
and western Toyotomi clan
Toyotomi clan
Originating in Owari Province, the served as retainers to the Oda clan throughout 16th-century Japan's Sengoku period. -Unity and Conflict:The most influential figure within the Toyotomi was Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three "unifiers of Japan." Oda Nobunaga was another primary unifier and the...
(with Ishida Mitsunari
Ishida Mitsunari
Ishida Mitsunari was a samurai who led the Western army in the Battle of Sekigahara following the Azuchi-Momoyama period of the 17th century. Also known by his court title, Jibunoshō...
as the Toyotomi's guardian and protector) shogunates at the end of Sengoku Jidai
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
. Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
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
Battle of Sekigahara
The , popularly known as the , was a decisive battle on October 21, 1600 which cleared the path to the Shogunate for Tokugawa Ieyasu...
(historically an Eastern victory).
Two sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
s were later created, Kessen II
Kessen II
is a strategy game loosely based on the Three Kingdoms period of China. It is the sequel to Kessen in name only; both Kessen and the later sequel Kessen III are based on events in Japan....
and Kessen III
Kessen III
is a PlayStation 2 video-game produced by Koei and is based on the life of Oda Nobunaga.-Historical background:The game's time frame is roughly between the years 1550 to 1590...
. These two games introduced magic
Magic (gaming)
Some role-playing games or game systems can include a set of rules that are used to portray magic in the paranormal sense. These rules simulate the effects that magic would have within the game context, according to how the game designer intended the magic to be portrayed...
al and meteorological elements to the games.
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 cut scenes have a theatrical feel similar to chanbaraSamurai cinema
While earlier samurai period pieces were more dramatic rather than action-based, samurai movies post World War II have become more action-based, with darker and more violent characters. Post-war samurai epics tended to portray psychologically or physically scarred warriors. Akira Kurosawa stylized...
and jidaigeki
Jidaigeki
is a genre of film, television, and theatre in Japan. The name means "period drama" and is usually the Edo period of Japanese history, from 1603 to 1868. Some, however, are set much earlier—Portrait of Hell, for example, is set during the late Heian period—and the early Meiji era is also a popular...
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. Similar events also occur after the war council, during battle, and at the battle's end.
Amongst the historically accurate retelling of events, preference for the oft romanticized accounts were sometimes used. Notable instances include Hosokawa Gracia
Hosokawa Gracia
', usually referred to as ', was a Christian convert, a daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide and the wife of Hosokawa Tadaoki....
ordering a soldier to kill her and Tokugawa Hidetada
Tokugawa Hidetada
was the second shogun of the Tokugawa dynasty, who ruled from 1605 until his abdication in 1623. He was the third son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate.-Early life :...
ordering the assassination of Sanada Masayuki
Sanada Masayuki
was a Japanese Sengoku period daimyo. He was the third son of Sanada Yukitaka, a vassal daimyo to the Takeda family in Shinano province. He is known as a master strategist. Sanada Nobuyuki and Sanada Yukimura were his sons.-Biography:...
for causing his tardiness at Sekigahara.
Reception
Kessen was generally received positively by critics. Jeff Luther from GamesFirst! magazine reviewed that the game, though easy to pick up, failed to hold difficulty after the initial stages. Others have also said it to be redundant and slow. Cut scenes were cited by one critic to be "the visual appeal to Kessen". Graphics concerning the historical figures were also said at to be "over the top" and colorful enough to the point of ridiculousness, though impressive. 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.As of January 2008, the game holds an average ranking of 77% at GameRankings. The title also won a special prize Playstation Award in 2000. It was also nominated for the grand prize in the consumer's selection for graphics and scenarios.