KESSEN III is the first sequel to the series in almost four years and will be notable for several sweeping changes to the widely respected franchise. The series

Out of all of Koei's myriad franchises, this is the one I have the most hope for. If you want Dynasty Warriors hacking with some extra gameplay thrown in, then this series has it. It also has a degree of strategy thrown in, but you don't have to be Napoleon to enjoy Kessen III. However, the game's attempt to pat its head while rubbing its belly isn't without hiccups.
The last Kessen let you 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, etc. of your general and unit can be changed throughout the game, letting you tinker with all kinds of different 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 all the different options available to you.
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 I like how you have to form up your ranks to perform effective attacks, I really wanted to be able to 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 out there, 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.

Concept:
Like the last Kessen, this installment continues to add touches of Dynasty Warriors

Graphics:
: Koei has cleared up most of the fogging and pop-up for the Dynasty Warriors-like portions

Sound:
A few new takes on your typical symphonic score are sprinkled in

Playability:
Commanding and keeping your units together is a mixed bag

Entertainment:
In its genre blending attempts, Kessen III pushes neither action nor strategy to the extreme

Replay:
Moderate

Rated: 7.75 out of 10
Editor: Matthew Kato
Issue: March 2005

2nd Opinion:
In nature, organisms that share identical genetic code are particularly susceptible to disease. Koei's lineup has staved off this fate for a while by diversifying franchises in key areas, but the changes in Kessen III are a sign that they are all slowly converging into the same species. Kessen III provides action along the lines of a group-oriented Dynasty Warriors, while still retaining the strategic elements that set the previous entries apart (plus some cool additions, like support troops). However, even with its blending of styles, it's still the video game equivalent of the History Channel – it grabs your attention and may even teach you something, but it just can't blow your socks off.

Rated: 7.5 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba

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