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Intro  As
one of the longest-running franchises in gaming today, the Chessmaster
series has also proven to be the consummate PC chess experience. Similar to the
Links series and the Virtua Tennis titles, Chessmaster is
a quality title in a small genre, whose its importance isn't defined by its competitors,
but how much of a top-notch title it was from the start. All of these titles are
synonymous with quality and have set marks in their niche markets that very few,
if any, have been able to match or overcome. This latest installment on the Game
Boy Advance is no different as the series handles the translation to the advanced
portable as well as one could have hoped.Gameplay: 9.5/10 As you might have guessed from the Intro, it's fairly evident that I think highly of the Chessmaster series, and with good reason. Every release is simply icing on the cake as the foundation was laid years ago for a solid electronic chess experience and since then, it has just been compiling additional features and goodies to enhance the experience. Sure, chess doesn't need a ton of features, but I am one of the obnoxious breed that raves about the game as one of the best strategy games ever created, despite being horrible at it, and I feel that any extra feature that can help me out is a good feature. I could start off by saying that the A.I. is good, but in truth, it could be that I am just incapable of defeating a bunch of children. You see, no matter how valiant my war cry, or how brave my soldiers stood at the face of the approaching horde, my men could not stop the juggernaut that is the 8 year old Kaley's knight strategy. Yes, their efforts were brave and their hearts true, but in the end, the king was left dead and I was left with the portrait of a kindergartner smirking at me -- nay, taunting me with a smug "go back to chess, pansy!" expression. Needless to say, she was not the last to do so as my ravenous and younger doppelganger had his barbaric way with my unwavering troops. 'Tis a sad day when one's manhood was been kicked and spat upon by bloodthirsty toddlers. Luckily, Chessmaster is chock full of features to help the novice learn both the basic and more intricate aspects of the game. From a brief history of the game, to descriptions and replays of famous matches, this little GBA cart is just oozing with information. It's touted as a means of improving one's game and to a great extent, that is true: there's lists of terminology, complete with replays to watch and hands-on activities to ensure that the player understood what was said, not to mention that there are also in-game hints to show a recommended move and how best to avoid checkmate. There is even the option to learn how to jot down a game in algebraic equations; this comes in easy and advanced flavors as well. There are special move descriptions, with accompanying replays, the ability to rotate the board, set handicaps -- which I did and was delighted to see Kaley's king unable to defeat my entire army, hah…chess indeed -- and also different tile sets to spice things up. In short,
this is one the most comprehensive titles that you can buy and is an absolute
must if you're a fan of chess in any way. Hell, even if you've never played before,
Chessmaster will take you by the hand and show you the ropes. Be warned
though, the game can get a bit daunting, so take baby steps; otherwise, you'll
ruin the experience. Also, it doesn't hurt that the multiplayer feature makes
this an excellent title for long road trips with a friend. Graphics: 6/10 Sound:
8/10 Control:
7.5/10 Overall:
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