Chess with a twist! (Battle Chess)

Member Name: Burning_Darkness

Product:	Battle Chess
Date:	20/10/09 (14 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Charming graphics, lots of great animation sequences, funny, accessable

Disadvantages: None

Chess is an incredibly complex and absorbing game, but not one that's normally associated with engaging and entertaining visuals. Developer Interplay remedied this back in 1988 however with Battlechess, which embellished the original game by adding colourful cartoonish graphics and some hugely funny and entertaining animations to the mix.

The game itself remains exactly as before, but each piece is represented by anthropomorphic, 2D animated characters, with wizened, white-bearded kings in long robes, spell-casting Queens, sword-wielding pawns and knights wearing suits of armour and with wicked, golem-like stone monsters as Rooks.

Each time one piece takes another the player is treated to a humourous animation that is unique to the two pieces involved; for example Queens cast spells to blow up or vaporise pawns and knights; Knights cut pawns down to size with a whack on the head with their swords; Rooks pick screaming Queens up by their legs and devour them whole; and in what is perhaps my favourite sequence, Kings inexplicably pull out ray-guns out from under their robes and blast their enemies out of existence.

The game can be played either against a human opponent or against a rather impressive AI player, and boasts a simple and straightforward interface and basic-but-endearing crashing/bleeping sound effects in addition to its bright and charming visuals. A funny and inventive take on the game of Chess.

Summary: A great way to play chess!