Kessen II
Encyclopedia
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
.
Unlike Koei's other games based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms
(Dynasty Warriors
and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms game), the plot of Kessen II is a heavily fantasized version of the novel. The last of the Han dynasty
family, Liu Bei
, begins a rebellion
against the kingdom of Wei
led by Cao Cao
, with much of the game's events being based on the novel with alterations due to the different storylines. A significant change to the story involves a romance between Liu Bei and the character Diao Chan, being a significant factor behind Liu Bei's decision to go to war, and Himiko
, a fictional sorceress created for the game.
In addition to the fantasized theme, Kessen II departs from its realistic predecessor. Koei introduces elements of magic
, especially with the portrayal of notable strategist
s such as Zhuge Liang
and Sima Yi
as sorcerer
s. In battle, these characters are able to cause earthquake
s, summon lightning
storms and hurl fireballs.
The gameplay involves playing out major battles as the storyline progresses, with cutscenes between each battle for the development of the events and major characters. Before battle, players are given a choice of strategies to take, although they can manually control all units in the battlefield. All units are controlled by the AI unless the player directly intervenes, and battles between forces are carried out in real time. While in control of a unit, players are able to use special skills or magic spells to turn the tables, although enemy characters are also able to do so.
. This Mandate bestows the blessing of Heaven on any warlord who possesses it.
Shortly afterward, Cao Cao fosters a desire for world domination. Learning that Diao Chan possesses the Imperial Seal, he attacks Liu Bei at the imperial capital, Xuchang. Diao Chan is captured, and Liu Bei flees the capital. During the attack, Zhang Fei's eldest daughter Mei Mei is killed after saving Diao Chan from an explosion. Liu Bei retreats to Xu, and is unable to decide whether or not to declare war on Cao Cao. His officers, sworn brothers Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, Zhang Fei's daughters Li Li and Luo Luo, and also his childhood friend Mei Sanniang convince him to strike Cao Cao before they themselves are attacked. Following this, Cao Cao sends his vassal, the great warlord Xiahou Yuan to attack the lands of Xu however he is met by Liu Bei's army. During the battle, Captain of the Han Imperial Bodyguards, Zhao Yun joins Liu Bei, he mistakes Liu Bei's rebellion as an effort to restore the Han Empire, not as an attempt to rescue Diao Chan .
Guan Yu's adopted son, Guan Ping joins Liu Bei's forces before he faces Cao Cao's warlord Xun Yu (who is female in the game only) at the battle of Ru Nan. During the battle, it is made clear that Liu Bei's forces will not get far if they don't have a Lord Strategist on their side. During the battle, Zhou Cang joins to help aid Liu Bei in his mission. After the battle, Liu Bei and his forces travel three times to see Zhuge Liang but it is on the third visit that he swears his allegiance to Liu Bei.
At one point, Liu Bei's emotions get the better of him. He shouts that the only thing he is fighting for is Diao Chan. Zhao Yun, assuming he does not therefore care about peace, or the Han Empire, deserts, and Liu Bei is forced to fall on the mercy of Sun Quan
, ruler of Wu.
By now, Cao Cao dominates the north of the Empire, along with the strategic Jing Province.
Liu Bei and Sun Quan form an alliance, and agree to face Cao Cao in naval battle of the river Chi Bi
. Zhuge Liang devises a plan, and Liu and Sun achieve a miracalous victory, in defiance of Heaven's Mandate.
Following this, Cao Cao overthrows the Han Emperor, and declares himself emperor of Wei
. Liu Bei gains ruling power over the Yi Province, the southern Jing Province, and Nanman. He declares his land Shu
.
A long and bloody conflict between the three kingdoms of Wu, Wei, and Shu commences, with Wu fighting for Cao Cao at one point. In the final battle, Himiko attempts to destroy Liu Bei by unbalancing heaven, but Zhuge Liang supposedly destroys her. Eventually, the land is unified by Liu Bei, Diao Chan is rescued, and with his dying breath, Cao Cao tells Diao Chan to "create a world where a person like me cannot be born".
At the "Battle of East Lau", one finds out that Himiko is not dead after all, but has raised a rebellion with what remains of the Wu and Wei armies. Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang defeat Himiko again, and she supposedly flees "to an island across the sea".
Cao Cao begins with trusted officers like Xun Yu
and Xiahou Yuan
. However, he is also noted to be battling Yuan Shao
at the same time as dealing with Liu Bei, thus explaining why some of his stronger officers come in later. Cao Cao also develops a bond with Diao Chan, which annoys the sorceress Himiko
to no end. As Himiko secretly held romantic feelings for Cao Cao, she'd often take out her frustrations on Diao Chan which would just anger Cao Cao even further.
Cao Cao manages to constantly quell Liu Bei's efforts to defeat him, but soon finds trouble when Zhuge Liang enters the scene. Cao Ren
, Cao Cao's cousin, nearly gets killed; Xiahou Yuan, Cao Cao's best officer, is slain in an ambush; and finally Cao Cao himself is nearly beheaded in battle against the sorcerer if not for Himiko's intervention. Liu Bei later allies himself with Sun Quan for the Battle of Chi Bi, but Cao Cao manages to overcome them despite a brilliant fire tactic, proving the power of the Mandate of Heaven.
Following Chi Bi Cao Cao is forced to let Liu Bei and Sun Quan recover as Ma Chao
launched an attack on the capital. While this was going on Liu Bei managed to create the territory of Shu. In response Cao Cao dethroned the Han Emperor and created Wei. Xun Yu also became jealous of Diao Chan, as she too was in love with Cao Cao, but reluctantly agreed to serve him as a warrior rather than a woman.
As Cao Cao continued to win battles against Liu Bei, his uncle, in fear of what the ultimate result would be, revealed that Cao Cao and Liu Bei were brothers by means of the same mother. This explained as to why Diao Chan knew a tune Cao Cao remembered his mother singing from time to time. In spite of this new information Cao Cao captured Liu Bei's capital and subjugated Wu. However Liu Bei and his officers escaped and vanished. Not long later Cao Cao learnt that Liu Bei was leading a large rebellion in his former province of Xu.
During the final battle, Himiko went into a jealous rage and tried to destroy everyone, but Cao Cao and Xun Yu were able to pacify her. Following his final victory at the "Battle of Chang Zheng", Zhuge Liang raises a rebellion with what remains of the Wu and Shu armies. Cao Cao and his army defeat Zhuge Liang. After this, one sees that Diao Chan and Liu Bei were reunited.
Strategy game
A strategy game or strategic game is a game in which the players' uncoerced, and often autonomous decision-making skills have a high significance in determining the outcome...
loosely based on the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. It is the sequel to Kessen
Kessen
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....
in name only; both Kessen and the later sequel 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...
are based on events in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Unlike Koei's other games based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, written by Luo Guanzhong in the 14th century, is a Chinese historical novel based on the events in the turbulent years near the end of the Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history, starting in 169 and ending with the reunification of the land in...
(Dynasty Warriors
Dynasty Warriors
is a series of tactical action video games created by Omega Force and Koei. The award-winning series is a spin-off of Koei's turn-based strategy Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, based loosely around the Chinese classical novel of the same name. The first game titled Dynasty Warriors,...
and the Romance of the Three Kingdoms game), the plot of Kessen II is a heavily fantasized version of the novel. The last of the Han dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
family, Liu Bei
Liu Bei
Liu Bei , also known as Liu Xuande, was a warlord, military general and later the founding emperor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history...
, begins a rebellion
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
against the kingdom of Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
led by Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
, with much of the game's events being based on the novel with alterations due to the different storylines. A significant change to the story involves a romance between Liu Bei and the character Diao Chan, being a significant factor behind Liu Bei's decision to go to war, and Himiko
Himiko
Himiko or Pimiko was an obscure shaman queen of Yamataikoku in ancient Wa . Early Chinese dynastic histories chronicle tributary relations between Queen Himiko and the Cao Wei Kingdom , and record that the Yayoi period people chose her as ruler following decades of warfare among the kings of Wa...
, a fictional sorceress created for the game.
In addition to the fantasized theme, Kessen II departs from its realistic predecessor. Koei introduces elements of 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...
, especially with the portrayal of notable strategist
Strategist
A design strategist has the ability to combine the innovative, perceptive and holistic insights of a designer with the pragmatic and systemic skills of a planner to guide strategic direction in context of business needs, brand intent, design quality and customer values...
s such as Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
and Sima Yi
Sima Yi
Sima Yi was a general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He is perhaps best known for defending Wei from Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions...
as sorcerer
Magician (fantasy)
A magician, mage, sorcerer, sorceress, wizard, enchanter, enchantress, thaumaturge or a person known under one of many other possible terms is someone who uses or practices magic that derives from supernatural or occult sources...
s. In battle, these characters are able to cause earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s, summon lightning
Lightning
Lightning is an atmospheric electrostatic discharge accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms...
storms and hurl fireballs.
The gameplay involves playing out major battles as the storyline progresses, with cutscenes between each battle for the development of the events and major characters. Before battle, players are given a choice of strategies to take, although they can manually control all units in the battlefield. All units are controlled by the AI unless the player directly intervenes, and battles between forces are carried out in real time. While in control of a unit, players are able to use special skills or magic spells to turn the tables, although enemy characters are also able to do so.
Liu Bei's Storyline
The game begins with the player controlling Liu Bei's army. Liu Bei is an officer of the Han Empire, ruler of the Xu Province, and is trying to subjugate the rebellions breaking out all over the Empire. Assisting him is disciplined officer Cao Cao, and his love, Diao Chan, a woman assigned to protect the Mandate of HeavenMandate of Heaven
The Mandate of Heaven is a traditional Chinese philosophical concept concerning the legitimacy of rulers. It is similar to the European concept of the divine right of kings, in that both sought to legitimaze rule from divine approval; however, unlike the divine right of kings, the Mandate of...
. This Mandate bestows the blessing of Heaven on any warlord who possesses it.
Shortly afterward, Cao Cao fosters a desire for world domination. Learning that Diao Chan possesses the Imperial Seal, he attacks Liu Bei at the imperial capital, Xuchang. Diao Chan is captured, and Liu Bei flees the capital. During the attack, Zhang Fei's eldest daughter Mei Mei is killed after saving Diao Chan from an explosion. Liu Bei retreats to Xu, and is unable to decide whether or not to declare war on Cao Cao. His officers, sworn brothers Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, Zhang Fei's daughters Li Li and Luo Luo, and also his childhood friend Mei Sanniang convince him to strike Cao Cao before they themselves are attacked. Following this, Cao Cao sends his vassal, the great warlord Xiahou Yuan to attack the lands of Xu however he is met by Liu Bei's army. During the battle, Captain of the Han Imperial Bodyguards, Zhao Yun joins Liu Bei, he mistakes Liu Bei's rebellion as an effort to restore the Han Empire, not as an attempt to rescue Diao Chan .
Guan Yu's adopted son, Guan Ping joins Liu Bei's forces before he faces Cao Cao's warlord Xun Yu (who is female in the game only) at the battle of Ru Nan. During the battle, it is made clear that Liu Bei's forces will not get far if they don't have a Lord Strategist on their side. During the battle, Zhou Cang joins to help aid Liu Bei in his mission. After the battle, Liu Bei and his forces travel three times to see Zhuge Liang but it is on the third visit that he swears his allegiance to Liu Bei.
At one point, Liu Bei's emotions get the better of him. He shouts that the only thing he is fighting for is Diao Chan. Zhao Yun, assuming he does not therefore care about peace, or the Han Empire, deserts, and Liu Bei is forced to fall on the mercy of Sun Quan
Sun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
, ruler of Wu.
Eastern Wu
Eastern Wu, also known as Sun Wu, was one the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period after the fall of the Han Dynasty. It was based in the Jiangnan region of China...
By now, Cao Cao dominates the north of the Empire, along with the strategic Jing Province.
Liu Bei and Sun Quan form an alliance, and agree to face Cao Cao in naval battle of the river Chi Bi
Battle of Red Cliffs
The Battle of Red Cliffs, otherwise known as the Battle of Chibi, was a decisive battle at the end of the Han Dynasty, immediately prior to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. It was fought in the winter of 208/9 AD between the allied forces of the southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan...
. Zhuge Liang devises a plan, and Liu and Sun achieve a miracalous victory, in defiance of Heaven's Mandate.
Following this, Cao Cao overthrows the Han Emperor, and declares himself emperor of Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
. Liu Bei gains ruling power over the Yi Province, the southern Jing Province, and Nanman. He declares his land Shu
Shu Han
Shu Han was one of the three states competing for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period, after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The state was based on areas around Sichuan, which was then known as Shu...
.
A long and bloody conflict between the three kingdoms of Wu, Wei, and Shu commences, with Wu fighting for Cao Cao at one point. In the final battle, Himiko attempts to destroy Liu Bei by unbalancing heaven, but Zhuge Liang supposedly destroys her. Eventually, the land is unified by Liu Bei, Diao Chan is rescued, and with his dying breath, Cao Cao tells Diao Chan to "create a world where a person like me cannot be born".
At the "Battle of East Lau", one finds out that Himiko is not dead after all, but has raised a rebellion with what remains of the Wu and Wei armies. Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang defeat Himiko again, and she supposedly flees "to an island across the sea".
Cao Cao's storyline
Cao Cao's intro is very similar to Liu Bei's, but obviously focuses more on his point of view. It is almost immediately established for him that he has the Mandate of Heaven, and dives into the personality of some Wei officers, not to mention the details of Diao Chan's time in captivity.Cao Cao begins with trusted officers like Xun Yu
Xun Yu
Xun Yu was a strategist and statesman who served as an advisor to the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.-Early life:...
and Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was killed in the Battle of Mount Dingjun against Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong in 219, and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Min , literally meaning "sympathetic...
. However, he is also noted to be battling Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao
Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...
at the same time as dealing with Liu Bei, thus explaining why some of his stronger officers come in later. Cao Cao also develops a bond with Diao Chan, which annoys the sorceress Himiko
Himiko
Himiko or Pimiko was an obscure shaman queen of Yamataikoku in ancient Wa . Early Chinese dynastic histories chronicle tributary relations between Queen Himiko and the Cao Wei Kingdom , and record that the Yayoi period people chose her as ruler following decades of warfare among the kings of Wa...
to no end. As Himiko secretly held romantic feelings for Cao Cao, she'd often take out her frustrations on Diao Chan which would just anger Cao Cao even further.
Cao Cao manages to constantly quell Liu Bei's efforts to defeat him, but soon finds trouble when Zhuge Liang enters the scene. Cao Ren
Cao Ren
Cao Ren was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty and Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He played a significant part in assisting Cao Cao in the civil wars leading to the end of the Han Dynasty...
, Cao Cao's cousin, nearly gets killed; Xiahou Yuan, Cao Cao's best officer, is slain in an ambush; and finally Cao Cao himself is nearly beheaded in battle against the sorcerer if not for Himiko's intervention. Liu Bei later allies himself with Sun Quan for the Battle of Chi Bi, but Cao Cao manages to overcome them despite a brilliant fire tactic, proving the power of the Mandate of Heaven.
Following Chi Bi Cao Cao is forced to let Liu Bei and Sun Quan recover as Ma Chao
Ma Chao
Ma Chao was the oldest son of Ma Teng and a military general during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he received the nickname "Ma Chao the Splendid" due to his elaborate armour and grand skill...
launched an attack on the capital. While this was going on Liu Bei managed to create the territory of Shu. In response Cao Cao dethroned the Han Emperor and created Wei. Xun Yu also became jealous of Diao Chan, as she too was in love with Cao Cao, but reluctantly agreed to serve him as a warrior rather than a woman.
As Cao Cao continued to win battles against Liu Bei, his uncle, in fear of what the ultimate result would be, revealed that Cao Cao and Liu Bei were brothers by means of the same mother. This explained as to why Diao Chan knew a tune Cao Cao remembered his mother singing from time to time. In spite of this new information Cao Cao captured Liu Bei's capital and subjugated Wu. However Liu Bei and his officers escaped and vanished. Not long later Cao Cao learnt that Liu Bei was leading a large rebellion in his former province of Xu.
During the final battle, Himiko went into a jealous rage and tried to destroy everyone, but Cao Cao and Xun Yu were able to pacify her. Following his final victory at the "Battle of Chang Zheng", Zhuge Liang raises a rebellion with what remains of the Wu and Shu armies. Cao Cao and his army defeat Zhuge Liang. After this, one sees that Diao Chan and Liu Bei were reunited.