Reviewed: July 29, 2003
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Publisher
Ubisoft

Developer
Ubisoft

Released: June 3, 2003
Genre: Strategy
Players: 2
ESRB: Everyone

9
6
6
9
8.8

Supported Features:

  • Analog Control
  • Vibration
  • Memory Card (635kb)
  • Online Play

    		•
    I know what you’re probably saying – “Who wants to play chess on a next-gen console?” Chess has been around as long as computers. The very nature of the tactical board game goes hand-in-hand with your typical programming geek (I use the word affectionately). My computer chess experience can be traced back to the early days of Sargon, BattleChess, and of course nearly a dozen installments in the Chessmaster series. Considering the core game of chess hasn’t changed for thousands of years it’s always interesting to see what the game designers can come up with to entice you to keep buying new versions.

    Chessmaster for the PS2 drops the numbered suffix, although it is probably the equivalent of the PC’s Chessmaster 9000, and carves out a nice little niche on the console by offering a great chess experience with plenty of features, training, and even online play.

    Chessmaster features:

    • Unmatched chess engine: The strongest ever for a console game with an option to play at Grandmaster level.
    • Test your skills online: Take on opponents live, via the Internet.
    • Accessible to novice chess players: Comprehensive Chess School feature makes it easy and fun to learn chess.
    • Learn from an International Master: Josh Waitzkin gives advice and easy-to-understand instructions for improving your game.
    • Dynamic playing world: Ratings and gameplay of the AI opponents vary based on their success and will vary over time.
    • New animated battlefield chess: Pieces will animate and attack each other in a specially designed, 3D fantasy chess board.
    Chessmaster is likely to appeal to the younger crowd with an interest in learning and perfecting their game as much as the seasoned chess player. When you break down the title there is more educational content than actual gameplay.

    Bruce Pandolfini is only one of several famous chess personalities that will come to your aid in teaching you the finer points of tactical warfare on an 8x8 battlefield. First-timers can learn the basics for each piece and the rules of the game while experienced players can move ahead to sophisticated defensive and offensive strategies. These tutorials are all excellent quality, no surprise considering the legacy of the franchise, and you are guaranteed to learn at least one new trick if not a hundred.

    For those who enjoy “watching” a good chess game rather than playing one, there are more than 800 famous games that have been recorded, and you can watch these play out before you with fantastic commentary. Add some single-move brainteasers, a few training drills and even some challenging final exams and you’ll be ready to compete in no time.

    Once you have mastered the game (if that is even possible) you can begin to explore the wonderful gameplay modes included in Chessmaster. Head to the virtual park and engage in challenging matches to rise up the ladder or load up a game of 3D chess with animated medieval chess pieces that will have thirty-something gamers reliving the classic era of BattleChess.

    Of course the big draw is support for the PS2 modem and online play. As much fun as it might be to beat a friend or family member in your own living room, nothing beats the satisfaction of beating an anonymous stranger over the Internet.

    Graphics are surprisingly good considering the nature of the game itself. There are only so many variations of a chessboard and the pieces that populate it. Even so, Ubisoft has done an amazing job of delivering as many as they could fit on the PS2 disc. You can choose from a variety of creative board themes that are pleasing to the eye.

    The game really takes off when you play with the animated pieces that all have unique attack and defend animations based on the pieces involved. It’s all been done before in the BattleChess series but it’s nice to see the concept brought back even though it hasn’t really been improved upon.

    The menus and the rest of the presentation are very good. You get the feeling of playing in a dynamic world with frequent newspaper clippings highlighting your progress and other nice touches to round out an otherwise traditional game.

    There is a soothing soundtrack that is more suited to curing insomnia than playing chess. The real gem in this category is the voice work, both quality and quantity. You get full commentary during all of the training, tutorials, and exhibition games, and during normal gameplay all of your moves are announced, or not if you turn the option off. Again, it’s nothing to showcase your PS2 but it’s more than adequate for a chess game.

    It’s chess and it’s endless. Even if you never played a single game you could get your money’s worth just using this as an education tool. It could take you months to work your way through all the tutorials and watch the exhibition games, and once you start playing the game, either solo or online, you will be captivated by the ease of gameplay.

    Chessmaster is a fine port of an established and excellent PC franchise. The fact that it is the only PS2 chess game available, has online support, and is only $20 makes this a no-brainer for anyone with the slightest interest in chess and doesn’t already have another recent chess game lying around. You’ll learn, you’ll play, you’ll have fun, and that’s what gaming is all about.