{{Short description|2004 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Kessen III | image = KessenIII.jpg | caption = North American box art | developer = Koei | publisher = Koei | director = Kazuhiro Fujishige | designer = Osamu Mieda | series = ''Kessen'' | engine = | released = '''PlayStation 2'''{{vgrelease|JP|December 22, 2004|NA|February 22, 2005|PAL|May 13, 2005}}'''PlayStation Network'''{{vgrelease|NA|August 20, 2013|PAL|January 30, 2013}} | genre = Real-time tactics | modes = Single-player, multiplayer | platforms = PlayStation 2, PlayStation Network }}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Kessen III'''''|決戦III|Kessen Suri}} is the third and final ''Kessen'' title by Koei for PlayStation 2. The game is based on the life of Oda Nobunaga.<ref name=GSpot>{{cite web |last=Massimilla |first=Bethany |date=February 28, 2005 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/kessen-iii-review/1900-6119346/ |title=Kessen III Review |website=GameSpot |accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref>
==Historical background== The game's time frame is roughly between the years 1550 to 1590. Contrary to many stories and portrayals that depict him as a villain or demon, Nobunaga is depicted in a more virtuous and ultimately tragic light, making ''Kessen III'' rather unusual in relation to other video games based in the same era. It is a heavily fantasized and romanticized depiction of his life, although unlike games such as the ''Samurai Warriors'' series it goes into more specific historical details. For example, the existence of the Ashikaga shogunate and Nobunaga's relationship is covered herein but completely omitted from the ''Samurai Warriors'' games.
The game paints a positive picture on Nobunaga's life, and then enters a "what if" scenario showing what might have happened if he had survived the betrayal by Akechi Mitsuhide. It describes Nobunaga regaining his power base, and then defeating shogunate forces led by the Akechi Clan and other clans of Western Japan on the shores of Kyūshū, with Nobunaga presumably becoming the new leader.
Tokugawa Ieyasu is in this game, presented as Nobunaga's mild-mannered and dedicated ally, but is shown flying into a rage when he learns that Nobunaga survives his betrayal, believing that he was going to carry out Nobunaga's destiny. Toyotomi Hideyoshi is also shown, under the name of Hideyoshi Hashiba. His unlikely charisma inspires his troops after he is wrongly told of Nobunaga's death.
The game also allows battles against other notable ''daimyōs'', such as Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen.
There is a certain level of inaccuracy, due not only to the fantasy element, but also due to the appearance of Miyamoto Musashi, who had not yet been born when Nobunaga committed ''seppuku''.
==Gameplay mechanics== ''Kessen III'' refines the mechanics of the previous games even further while introducing new core elements. The flow of the game begins with the player selecting a mission from those available on the map. After being briefed on the mission's details, the player then selects which units to bring into the battle before issuing basic marching orders. During the battle itself, the player is in control of an individual unit and can switch between friendly units at any time, while the other units are controlled by artificial intelligence. Battle commences when friendly and enemy units encounter one another and unit health is measured by the number of troops remaining in the unit. Troops also have specific skills related to their particular type (cavalry, spearmen, ninja, etc.) and officers can learn powerful special skills and abilities such as defensive strategies or attack magic that can turn the tide of battle.
All officers have access to a special skill called "rampage". When used, the action zooms in around that officer, and the player enters a short, timed mini-battle against troops from an enemy unit. During a rampage, the player can earn bonus experience, gold, and restore lost troops to the unit by picking up the proper items dropped by defeated soldiers. After 100 soldiers are defeated, the enemy unit's officer appears, and if the player can defeat them, the officer under the player's control may receive even further bonuses.
Battles end when the primary objective has been achieved. These objectives may include wiping out all enemy units, destroying a specific target, escorting a unit to a particular location, or making an escape. Grades on performance in battle are given at the end of each stage, and are based on how many enemy officers were defeated, the number of friendly officers were kept in battle, and the effective use of troop skills. Better grades yield items that can be used to outfit friendly officers, or gold to buy such items from merchants between battles. Battles are typically lost when Nobunaga's unit is defeated, time runs out, or a special mission requirement could not be completed.
==Cinematics== The storyline of ''Kessen III'' is very detailed and makes frequent use of cinematic sequences rendered using both the game's own graphics engine and full motion video. These sequences are typically played at the start and end of each chapter, before and after battles, and during special events that take place during the course of a fight.
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | GR = 75.04%<ref name=GR>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/578823-kessen-iii/index.html |title=Kessen III for PlayStation 2 |publisher=GameRankings |accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> | MC = 73/100<ref name=MC>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/kessen-iii/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Kessen III for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=Metacritic |accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> | Edge = 7/10<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |url=http://www.edge-online.com/reviews/kessen-iii-review/ |title=Kessen III Review |magazine=Edge |issue=149 |date=May 2005 |page=87 |accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> | EGM = 6.67/10<ref>{{cite magazine|author=EGM staff |url=http://egm.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3138373&did=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308014121/http://egm.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3138373&did=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 8, 2005 |title=Kessen III |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=190 |date=April 2005 |accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> | GI = 7.75/10<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kato |first=Matthew |url=http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/960CCADF-111E-4F84-846B-097235E155AC.htm |title=Kessen III |magazine=Game Informer |issue=143 |date=March 2005 |page=130 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621090228/http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/960CCADF-111E-4F84-846B-097235E155AC.htm |archive-date=June 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 9, 2015}}</ref> | GamePro = 4/5<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Funky Zealot |date=February 22, 2005 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/42250.shtml |title=Kessen III Review for PS2 on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050223151123/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/42250.shtml |archivedate=February 23, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> | GameRev = C+<ref>{{cite web |author=G-Wok |date=April 8, 2005 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/kessen-3 |title=Kessen 3 Review |publisher=Game Revolution |accessdate=January 9, 2015 |archive-date=October 12, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151012040649/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/kessen-3 |url-status=live }}</ref> | GSpot = 7.4/10<ref name=GSpot/> | GameZone = 8.3/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Knutson |first=Michael |date=March 8, 2005 |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/kessen_iii_ps2_review |title=Kessen III - PS2 - Review |publisher=GameZone |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005005902/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r24756.htm |archivedate=October 5, 2008 |url-status=live |accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> | IGN = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Ed |date=February 16, 2005 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/02/17/kessen-iii |title=Kessen III |website=IGN |accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> | OPM = 3/5<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://opm.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3138584&did=3 |title=Kessen III |magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine |date=April 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050305084428/http://opm.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3138584&did=3 |archivedate=March 5, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> | XPlay = 3/5<ref>{{cite web |last=Marriott |first=Scott Alan |date=April 11, 2005 |url=http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/51523/Kessen_III_Review.html |title=Kessen III Review |publisher=X-Play |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050414204300/http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/51523/Kessen_III_Review.html |archivedate=April 14, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=January 9, 2015}}</ref> | rev1 = ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' | rev1Score = 3.5/5<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilcox |first=Mike |date=June 11, 2005 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/Games/Motor-mart-art/2005/06/09/1118123945109.html |title=Motor mart art |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=January 9, 2015 |archive-date=October 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017182810/http://www.smh.com.au/news/Games/Motor-mart-art/2005/06/09/1118123945109.html |url-status=live }}</ref> }}
''Kessen III'' was met with positive to average reception upon release; GameRankings gave it a score of 75.04%,<ref name=GR/> while Metacritic gave it 73 out of 100.<ref name=MC/>
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==See also== * ''Nobunaga's Ambition''
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070207102353/http://koei.com/launch/KessenIII/ Official page] * {{moby game|id=/ps2/kessen-iii}}
{{Kessen}}
Category:2004 video games Category:Cultural depictions of Oda Nobunaga Category:Koei games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:PlayStation 2 games Category:PlayStation Network games Category:Real-time tactics video games Category:Sengoku video games Category:Video games based on real people Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Video games set in feudal Japan