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Kessen (決戦), which literally means "decisive battle" in Japanese, is a real-time strategy game for the PlayStation 2. Like Dynasty Warriors 2, it was one of the first titles of its genre to be featured for the console. The game is set near the end of the Warring States period in Japan, beginning with Sekigahara and historically ending with the Osaka Campaign.

The game aims to create a controlled movie experience, with players choosing to win or lose battles to experience different storylines. The cinematics and music are similar to samurai films, with characters adopting a complementary tone. Players start as Ieyasu Tokugawa and can choose their leader and difficulty level. Each scenario earns branching storylines, visible in the "Battle History" option.

It is followed by two other titles, Kessen II and Kessen III. Though each title shares the same name and similar gameplay elements, neither of these are direct sequels. Kou Shibusawa serves as the producer for all three titles. The main composer for the series was Reijiro Koroku (小六 禮次郎), who is known for his orchestral work in Japanese TV dramas and select NHK taiga dramas. Serving as narrator of the Japanese dub is Keiichi Noda.

Gameplay

Each storyline is a continuous string of battles between the two armies. Story segments take place before the planning and strategy phases. Special cutscenes can also occur during battle.

Planning

Players prepare for battles, meeting commanders and vassals to gather information on enemy officers, skill charts, and men. On level 4 and 5 difficulty, players must decide which candidates to defect or bide time.

The vassal on the left presents information for the player's army. Here, they can decide who to send into battle. A portion of the generals are mandatory and cannot be switched out so only candidates may be changed. Armies can also customize their unit types based on the players' available resources. Unit types are as follows:

  • Footmen - average soldier with a sword. Commonly used defensive type.
  • Spearmen - strongest footmen unit available to every general. Can create a spear wall to repel the enemy's advance. Works well against other foot armies but has mixed results with mounted types.
  • Bowmen - archers on foot. While they are good for ranged conflicts, they are weak with head on conflicts. A good support unit.
  • Riflemen - troop with long ranged rifles. They can perform a normal volley that damages footmen or a "Triple Volley" skill to greatly wound any type. Can either be men or women.
  • Horsemen - swordsmen on horses with a decent defense. Good against footmen but weak against other mounted units.
  • Lancers - horsemen armed with spears. An army of lancers can use "Charge", which allows the entire army to rush through an enemy and appear on their flank. Overall powerful unit.
  • Cavalry - riflemen on horseback capable of sniping with the "Flying Fusillade" skill. Best used at a distance to shoot the units who aren't on horses. Weak against other horsemen types. Can either be men or women.
  • Kunoichi - troop type that dominates the others and is the fastest unmounted type. A very destructive troop to let loose on the enemy with the "Kunoichi" command. However, they come in low numbers and are weak to ranged or surprise attacks. Often reserved for the highest-ranking officers.

Army formations determine officer skills and offensive/defensive capabilities. Generals can adjust formations, but final decisions remain after passing a segment.

War Council

The player adjusts their army's position on the field after generals report opposing positions. They can move units, target enemies, reinforce ally, or build fortifications. Preset strategies like Offensive, Defensive, Army Stand Firm, and Army Attack are available for players to choose from.

Battle

The player's right-hand man provides them with battle conditions and planned reinforcements, enabling them to confirm orders and decide whether to proceed or abort the plan.

  • Generals can be selected by the cursor on the map, switching through the trigger buttons, or through a roll call menu. They can be ordered to march, reinforce an ally, or attack. Though the player can set targets for them, the general's path of movement is set by the computer.
  • Officers have specific maneuvers for their unit type, requiring zeal. Restoring zeal can be achieved through rallies, ally destruction, or general requests. Engaging in these maneuvers boosts zeal, enhancing the player's experience.
  • Army morale affects the unit's fighting power. If morale is low, the unit does less damage and loses troops at a quicker rate. 100 is the best condition while 20 or below will cause the army to flee.
  • Troops can suffer from fatigue if they're used too much in battle. To restore a unit to their optimum state, stop their movements and give them to time to rest. Both morale and fatigue can be noted by the general's comments. A more accurate assessment of their states can be seen by tapping the Info option for each unit.
  • Duels between generals take place randomly and are never denied. While the results only affect army morale, they inevitably lessen the loser's performance. Army commanders are not exempt from this event.
  • This title highlights the importance of gauging an officer's loyalty during planning to prevent protesting or reluctance, as these factors can decrease morale and zeal, affecting the general's willingness to accept orders.
  • Victories are often determined by numbers, with less than 50 men losing ground. Determining an enemy can be done through normal conflict or powerful officer skills. If a retreating unit escapes with high morale, they can gather more men.

Characters

For the English version of the game, generals are given shorter names for easier recognition. These abbreviations can either be one of the figure's names or an amalgam of both their names to distinguish themselves from others. Some examples include:

Tada Honda = Tadatomo Honda; Honda = Tadakatsu Honda
Yuki Sanada = Yukimura Sanada; Yuki = Hideyasu Yuki
Maeda = Keiji Maeda; Toshi = Toshitsune Maeda

Players can view figures' full names and brief biographies in the pause menu during battles, with their given names sometimes spoken instead of their full names.

East

West

Others

Battles

Related Media

A sequel to the previous Kessen pachinko was announced by Nishijin whilst still carrying the Koei-Tecmo copyright. Its title is CR Kessen ~ Sengoku Seiha no Michi and, like other Kessen titles, it features revised interpretations of historical figures. The machine appears to be a revised version of this game with a much younger Ieyasu as the star. Hanzo, Okatsu, Tadakatsu, and others appear in the game with new designs. Using his Kessen appearance from the first pachinko machine, Nobunaga also makes a cameo in this title. It was revealed in a press event on December 16th with a pachinko idol unit.

The two image songs for the machine are performed by Tomohiro Uchida and Yumemi Narisawa. Uchida's song is titled Tsurugi (剣~TURUGI~) while Narisawa's song is titled Mungen no Sora (無限の空). A third song, Futatsu no Kaze (ふたつの風), also appears in the machine and is performed by Kenshiro.

Allusions

  • The monochrome painting of two samurai armies clashing for the game's Japanese cover was first used for the PlayStation cover of the second Nobunaga's Ambition title, Zengokuban. It can later be seen during the opening cinematic for Samurai Warriors.
  • In the Japanese version of Kessen, Teruzumi Akashi performs an upbeat dance with his men before fighting the enemy. He had two different dances, depending on the unit type he has for his army. This was cut in the American port but is parodied by Meng Huo in the following title.

Gallery

External Links

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