I have always quite enjoyed the idea of the Chessmaster series, its focus on learning to play Chess well rather than just offering gimmicky boards and sound effects sets it apart from a lot of Chess games. It is aimed at the newcomer but offer a lot the Chess player of any level. The DS version seems to be just about the perfect version of Chessmaster, offering the professional quality of instruction while being all the more accessible and portable. I took this with me on a long journey not long after buying it, by time my battery ran out seven hours in, I had actually significantly upped my game. The core element of Chessmaster is its learning centre. This ...  Read the complete review

Well, this is a good idea if you enjoy chess but don't have someone to play against regularly. But don't get too carried away... this isn't necessarily for beginners! The actually chess function works on a rating system. You get points for winning, and lose points for losing. Now, I'm no expert, but I like to think my chess skills are at least average. Now, I manage to beat the first challenger, then my rating goes up. This means you play a slightly more skillful player. However, the leap in ability is not proportionate to your actually ability. Therefore, you lose the next and start at square one. Frustrating. But, for someone of more skill, it shouldn't be a ...  Read the complete review