• ID = PS0439
• STYLE = 3D Turn-Based Strategy
• DEV. = KOEI Co., Ltd.
• PUB. = KOEI Corporation
• R-DATE = Oct-02-2001
• ESRB = T / For Teen
• PLAYERS = 1 player
• LIST PRICE = $49.99
  

The enormous war simulation, KESSEN, was only the beginning. In KESSEN II, the story is that of two warring Chinese generals. Liu Bei and Cao Cao. Whereas the original took place over the course of 11 epic stages, the sequel boasts an amazing 30 levels of play. Another notable improvement is the game’s ability to handle more than 500 onscreen characters at a time. You probably thought the capacity for 100 in the first was impressive.

Created by the minds that built the popular THREE KINGDOMS series, KESSEN II allows you to use magic in your combat. Lightning, tornadoes, and earthquakes are all at your disposal as weapons throughout the epic war. Already a fan favorite, the game combines expert storytelling and impressive visuals to create a cinematic experience, the likes of which no gamer has ever seen. You can save all of your progress with a memory card, and it’s up to you whether you’d like to battle the computer or a friend.

• 30 stages.
• 500 onscreen characters.
• An awesome story.
• Use of magic.
• Two-player action.

Amazon.co.uk
Kessen II, the bigger brother of PlayStation2 launch title Kessen, is a tactical title that requires great patience and bags of time to play, but rewards the player who sticks with it. In typical Japanese style, the story revolves around the feudal period of the country's history, with the themes of honor and betrayal on a grand scale. Think of it as a console war game involving ordering huge units of troops around a battlefield and you won't be far wrong.

As a gaming experience, Kessen II can be rewarding and at the same time oddly frustrating, given the relatively poor quality of graphics during planning phases and the ponderous and overly intrusive cutscenes. The fighting sequences are all very impressive, though, with up to 500 troops on the screen at any one time, and magic users who can throw hellfire, damnation, and some very large boulders.

For a game of such complexity, the learning curve is nicely balanced, and it never feels as if it's going to get too difficult too quickly. But what may really hold the game back is its core subject--a tactics game set in feudal Japan will appeal to a very limited market. That said, if you fancy a break from Metal Gear's military tiptoeing and Grand Theft Auto III's blatant "shoot first and never mind the questions" attitude, there's a lot to be said for Kessen II. --Chris Russell