Kessen III - PlayStation 2

KESSEN III, the first sequel to the series in nearly four years, will be notable for several sweeping changes to the widely respected franchise. Out of Koei's myriad franchises, this is the one with the most promise. If you want Dynasty Warriors-style hacking with some extra gameplay, this series has it. It also has a degree of strategy, but you don't have to be Napoleon to enjoy Kessen III. However, the game's attempt to coordinate different gameplay elements isn't without hiccups.

The last Kessen allowed you to control individual officers, but this one takes it a giant step further, permitting you to switch to and play as multiple generals on the fly. Each one commands a unit of soldiers, and the armaments, armor, steeds, and other aspects of your general and unit can be changed throughout the game, letting you tinker with various soldiers, spells, and attacks. Some of your commanders may unleash giant worms on the enemy, while others may charge a foe's front with horses of fire. You'll have a lot of fun experimenting with the different options available.

On the battlefield, the game controls like Dynasty Warriors (with the same mindless combos), but with more destruction. Unfortunately, Kessen III can be frustrating when it comes to coordinating all your soldiers. Although you have to form up your ranks to perform effective attacks, you really wish you could create control groups like in a PC RTS. Kessen does well to avoid the personality-devoid regiments of most strategy games, but because of the sometimes-sloppy unit controls, the strategy portion of the title suffers.

For all you Dynasty Warriors fans, I suggest you spread your wings and give this game a try – there's so much more to chew on here. This series is close to breaking through, it only needs to tighten up and refine its core elements (as well as expand its linear structure) to stand out.

Plan out massive troop movements and battles and watch them play out in breathtaking graphics. Authentic weapons and equipment from the era are available to equip your men, with more than 450 different types of weapons and armor. You'll have direct real-time control of troop movements, offensives, and defensive maneuvers, with allied units able to join player units for combination attacks. Incredible specialty attacks, from Ninja Strikes and Katana Deathwheels to Spear Walls and Cavalry Charges, are at your disposal to defeat your enemies.

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