Wow! I could just end my review right here, but I get paid by the word, so let me tell you why WOW comes to mind. This is my first Playstation 2 game. I didn't get it from some company for free. I didn't rent it at some store. I didn't even borrow it from a friend. I waited for what felt like years for a Playstation 2 and I wanted a damn good game to start me off. And Kessen is damn near perfect.

     This game is a historical decisive battle depicting a real life battle between two feudal warlords trying to unify Japan. You are Tokugawa Ieyasu and you have to battle with Ishida Mitsunari in several epic battles. You must set your troops up, develop strategy and be wickedly smart, for every decision you make could be your last. Kessen is no walk in the park where you just click a few decisions on a menu and sit back and watch. This is a real battle. You must watch out for enemy forces trying to surround you. You must not let pride get in the way and not fallback when your forces are being overwhelmed or you will be squashed.

     I have never in all my life played such a smart game where I had to think so much to obtain victory. I felt like I was involved in a real battle. The graphics aretremendous. Everything looks so cool and utterly realistic that I felt like I was back in feudal Japan. The music just added to the drama and intensity of the game. Everything about this game is nearly flawless.

     In fact, the only part of this game that could have used work was the dubbing. I didn't like it at all. It wasn't perfect, nor was it funny like that seen in kung-fu films. It was awkward in the middle. I think subtitles should have been used instead. That would have added to the realism. Still, there were way too many things going good for this game that you can easily overlook the dubbing flaw.

     Badseed's Bottomline: This is my first Playstation 2 game and it gets a 9 out of 10. Yep, the scale has been raised for Playstation 2 games. As time goes on, I am sure the there will be even better games, but in comparison to what is out there, Kessen is one of the best games for the new system. The graphics are beautiful, the music is tremendous, and the game play is not only fun but also challenging. I felt really smart when my decisions ended up helping my army win the battle. I felt like a jerk when I had to retreat out of fear. I cannot wait to obtain victory and unlock the mode that allows me to play as Ishida instead! And with Kessen II coming out, I am looking forward to kicking some more Warlord ass. Get this game. It will make the wait for the Playstation 2 worth it. Comments and or questions about this article should be sent to Badseed@ybfree.com.

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