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[Sleipner]

With a blend of dynamic action, thought provoking strategy and historical relevance, the series has gone from strength to strength and there has currently been 3 games which are part of the Kessen series. This is a topic to see just which game the fans see as the best Kessen available to play.

Kessen 1
Koei's Kessen 1 Site

The definitive strategic command experience for the PlayStation 2 brings Japan's Warring States Period to life. As a formidable warlord you will lead riflemen, archers, infantry, and massive cavalries into decisive battles for control of Japan. Read the vicissitudes of war and discover your strategic advantage.

Kessen 2
Koei's Kessen 2 Site

Love and Battle in the Three Kingdoms. A Magnificent Historical Fantasy encompassing dynamic battles and dramatic action Experience battles firsthand. Command your troops at the squad level. Employ devastating Elemental Attacks, including tornadoes, lightning strikes, and meteor showers!

Kessen 3
Koei's Kessen 3 Site

Tides of men will face the tides of war. Nobunaga takes center stage in this epic drama. Conquer the turbulent era and become the master of your destiny. More than twice the number of battlefields, officers and special skills as Kessen II.

Which game do you think is the best of the series and what makes it the best in your view?

[Lord_Tyrant]

Kessen 2 was my favorite because i like how you could take control of any officer and i thought it was interesting with the storyline and magic but i haven't played 1 yet

[Alomovo]

I haven't played 1 yet either, but I'm split between 3 + 2. I enjoyed the storyline and general ROTK-ness of 2, but 3 took me into the realms of Japan's history, and had a far better (IMO) game system than 2. I must acquire 1 though.

[Lord_Tyrant]

i need to get it or rent it but for 2 i liked the huge scale of fighting and 3 i liked how you could give the characters different helmet and armor and not forgetting the cinematics

[Ryuu]

I guess my favorite is Kessen II, since it's the only one I have played. I mean it was fine, but minor problems along with the horrible story (plus it didn't take to long to beat) made by return it to the store only after a few days.

The battle system was fun, but it wasn't good enough to make me keep the game.

[AstralDragon]

Kessen III is definitley my favorite. They have improve the Kessen series so much started with the first one. Although I haven't played the first one with Tokugawa's story, I have played Kessen II, which I did not enjoy very much. So, yes! Great improvements Koei made and likewhoa did Koei make this game addicting or what?!

[SteelDragon]

Kessen2 wins me over for the battles.
Kessen3 wins for the Story telling, very well done, an no jet packs!

[Liang Shuo]

Plain old Kessen for me. It was an easy strategy game with a good story. Kessen III was too much like DW, and Kessen II was just weird. I still have nightmares about Yu Jin.....just kidding.

[Sleipner]

I thought Kessen 2 was brilliant then again i don't really worry about the storyline being exact or particvularly deep. I found the gameplay excellent and the battles superb. I replied Kessen 2 about 7 times over the years and each time it was fresh and i could try something new out.

Kessen was the best for strategy fans, a much more accurate histrocial strategy game though i felt the action combat in battles and unit customizations could have been better. As they were in Kessen 3 - which is a very good game though not as good as Kessen 2 purely because of the style, i prefered the light hearted story of Kessen 2 and its humour and settings. Kessen 3 was a bit too action orientated though the unit opinions, rpg trappings and story were very good.

[Scorpion]

Kessen 3 since its the only one I ever played out of this series.
I would like to point out that Koei should keep Kessen based on Japanese history, never ever again go to the ROTK stories. ROTK has already tons of different games for itself, just focus on the Japanese history. From the Heian period to the Meiji period, thats the main focus for Kessen I say, and stick with it.

[IOE]

I dunno. Kessen II made you really feel like you were there because of the giant armies. But K3's battle engine was really impressive.
So i guess its a tie. 

[Lord of Wei]

Kessen 2 had good story and awesome character designs.

My vote goes for Kessen 1 though, because I liked that it concentrated to Ieyasu and Ishida. There were also tons of characters to play as, troops to use and different sides. For example, you didn't have chance to play Battle of Osaka for Toyotomi forces in story mode, but you could in Free mode with completely new forces and you also saw some new FMV sequences. You also had a chance to make your own strategy, choose your officers on battlefield, choose your units and position them almost anywhere where you liked. So this game had much more options to choose than Kessen 2 making it more strategic and challenging.

I haven't tried Kessen 3 yet but I will later

[Öńё Ëŷęđ МõńşŧĕЯ]

i lkie two the best, 1 was too hard and i havent played three yet, so really i dont know

[Lord_Tyrant]

the only thing i didn't like in Kessen 2 was Xiahou Dun and how he looked

[Rootbeer]

If two wasn't an option which would you consider better? Kessen or Kessen III?

Why did Koei make Kessen II about a whole different country during a whole different time period?