Chessmaster

I have 2 say, this is an awesome chess game. What really caught my attention was the vast amount of tutorials. They are voice narrated & very detailed. You will learn a lot from playing this game, & enjoy it while doing so. Also, there are over 800 recorded games dating back 2 the 1600's that you can watch being played out with commentary! This game is a must have 4 any chess enthusiast or anyone looking 2 better their game.

- The ability 2 play your own xbox hard drive music over the games
- Improved graphics, in a stop-motion animated sequence of photos of real pieces moving over a top-view board
- Less words cluttering the playing screen
- Live-action pre & post-game cinematics & animated attack moves by genuine animators. Let's say a short opening scene depicting Chess pieces moving into Italy from the Italian Alps!
- A sense of the global cultures & the exotic playing areas
- A focus on 'star players' like Kasparov & even Deep Blue as characters! Not so many average people.
- Different voices 2 proclaim 'Check', 'Checkmate' or whatever in various instances.
- Sound effects, like a horse braying when it takes an opposing piece, a proud King saying 'You'll never take me alive' or an icey Queen - the voice accent of these pieces would change by selecting which country your side is from. For instance, if you chose France, the pieces would have a French accent. Like the 'Worms' games.
- Stylized culture-based gamepieces 4 major countries, Russia, Germany, France, America, Africa, Britain, Canada... etc.
- For God's sake, support 4 two players on separate controllers

All in all, this is a good game with inventive elements, detailing 500 years worth of games with narration, & it demonstrates in a very immediate way, how 2 improve your game. However, it could have animated & enlivened the game of Chess in a modern, but deeply cultural & historical way, & it hasn't done that. The best chess game out there, but hopefully not 4 long!

First, it's important 2 outline a context 4 my positive review of this game. I run a chess club in an elementary school & have been doing so 4 nearly five years. I have taught students how 2 play & given them basic strategy. However, I am only an average player myself.

This title was tremendously suited 2 my purpose. For one, it has allowed me 2 sharpen my game. The academy & tutorials are not only helpful, but provide me with information that I can bring back 2 my chess club. It also has enhanced my understanding of tournament play. Given the Live feature, students who wish 2 play each other who have this can do so as well (parents likely will not object given its low cost & nonviolent gameplay.)

Most of the criticism stems from the two play & having 2 pass the controller back & forth. Indeed I have also found this frustrating. I have also found frustrating that the computer takes no time off their clock or that the computer will take forever (when playing on an advanced mode.) Clearly those who excel at chess might not find this best suited 2 their needs. However, the graphics, loyalty 2 tournament style, & tutorials (including blunder alerts) make this an excellent game 4 those whose rankings might not be as high.

The biographies of the characters you play with is an added bonus. You feel as though you're playing a real person. This is a highly recommended game if your purpose in any way mirrors the context as I have outlined.

The problem I see with people debating the merits of this game generally revolve around motivation. If your sole motive is 2 use this game just 2 play chess, you will only get a fraction of the value out of it & might even be disappointed with it. The multiplayer function, offline, requires two people 2 pass the controller back & forth. While this is not a problem with me, some tend 2 consider it a hindrance. There are not many people that play online, so the "live" feature lacks attractiveness. This leaves you basically with just a chess game that you are able 2 play on the xbox, but not much else. If you play the game in this fashion, you are really only getting a superficial taste of what this game really has 2 offer.

If you, on the other hand, are a player that would like 2 develop his/her game significantly, then you will marvel at the extensive, nay, nearly overwhelming, tutorial features Chessmaster has 2 offer. This tutorial section, I believe, is the heart of the Chessmaster game. There is an "academy" taught by Josh Waitzkin himself. It is broken into sections covering the basics of movement, strategy, tactics, psychology, & endgame strategy. To show examples of each section, he annotates an incredible amount of games he played that reinforce the principles he is teaching. I have had this game 4 a week going through the academy & have not gotten through half of it. This academy is only a fraction of the tutorial section though. There are also the tutorials from previous Chessmaster installments, drills, & an infinite number(literally) of one move puzzles.

There is so much depth 2 this Chessmaster game that I feel I have not really done it justice in the review. The Josh Waitzkin academy is worth the $20 dollars alone. If you are striving 2 become a better chess player & looking 4 some direction, I couldn't give this game a higher recommendation.

If you want 2 play chess, go grab a real chess board.

1. The two player mode isn't really two players. You have 2 share the same controller. Yes, you literally have 2 pass the controller back & forth 4 every move.

2. No one plays this game on Xbox Live.

3. The AI cheats after a set number of victories.

Chessmaster helps beginners & grandmasters alike, by showing them the fun of Digital chess!