This third installment is a departure from the previous games, as it takes a bit more of the heart of Dynasty Warriors and brings it into company-based combat. Under your command are a number of generals that can be assigned to different troop types: infantry, cavalry, riflemen, or even ninja, each with their own set of moves and tactical benefits. The companies formed by the general/troop pairs are linked together (before the battle begins) into a larger formation consisting of a command company and a maximum of two support companies. For example, spear cavalry could be decided as the command unit, and two archer companies could support, raining down arrows upon anything engaged by the mounted troops.

The main gameplay system here takes you to one of 50 expansive real-time battlefields on missions set in feudal Japan. No matter the size of the deployment, only one company is controlled at a time. Generally you’ll take the helm of a command unit and will have a couple support units accompanying directly. The companies outside of this formation will either wait it out or follow any orders that have been placed through the battlefield map (accessed at any time during the battle). At leisure the player can switch control to a different company, either to alleviate any lulls in the action or to turn the tide through a well-timed flanking maneuver.

As the game progresses, the player takes control of more generals and the missions allow for more companies at a time, increasing the deployment possibilities to go along with the slowly ramping difficulty. As mentioned there are a lot of missions, each with a 30 minute completion timer, but this is actually one of Kessen’s drawbacks. With each company type having a basic four hit combo and a special attack (and each general having a customizable set of limited-use abilities) there may be some options available, but most battles before around the middle of the campaign involve lots of single company engagements. Here you’ll just blast through with a cavalry special and spam the basic attack button until you move on to the next single, weak enemy standing ready to be disposed of by Lord Nobunaga. After around the ten hour point coordinated attacks become the key to victory in most major battles, but playing up to that point can end up being an exercise in tedium, even when consciously trying to mix up the action.

Graphics whores delight, though, as the prerendered cutscenes (especially the ones involving personal combat) fire off at an enthralling caliber, and even the real-time cutscenes are easy on the eyes…when they’re not inciting boredom through the depiction of yet another enemy general’s blind arrogance before the inevitable slaughter, or when they’re not showing the customary, “My lord, your plan is amazingly well-conceived!” after the rudimentary pre-battle planning. To complete the aesthetic package on the audio end, the soundtrack is a little repetitive but well-composed. And it’s not so much that the English voice acting is outright terrible (though not a difficult argument), but that the script for the various character interactions is so laughably melodramatic that your housemates may sincerely confuse Kessen 3 for a General Hospital episode with bearded men riding horses.

The heart of Kessen 3 lies in repetition; in mission layouts, in the simple combo execution, and in the cutscenes and music. The goal here would be to ignore this and focus on the endearing aspects, but most won’t be bothered to dig through that annoying veil and find the strategic sandbox that aches to be revealed from the first play session. The minority of patient gamers will find a second half filled with interesting scenarios, but those that lack the determination to sit through dozens of Final Fantasy style single-button mashing trips should probably steer clear.