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Developer: Beam Software | Publisher: Data East |
| Release Date: 1990 | Available On: NES, Game Gear |
Chess, yep, that’s what we have here. However, though Battle Chess, on the surface, first appears to be a pile of living fecal matter that devours itself, it really ends up being a solid title in the end, at least in terms of the chess elements. They’re rather stellar, but, well, unfortunately the attempt to bring the idea of ‘chess’ to a wider market with “action” just doesn’t really play out in the end. Good try, but not all the way.
Graphically, Battle Chess really doesn’t offer much. Data East wasn’t exactly known for their games’ graphical programming, but what you see here gets the job done. There’s a decent title screen, the options screen has cute little cherubs, and the playing field is easy to understand, even when you switch from 2D to “3D” mode, the latter with figural representations of the pieces. However, the area this game was supposed to excel in was the “action”, where you get to see the cut-scenes of fighting. Really, the animation is pretty weak, slow, and generally monochromatic, so they definitely didn’t do as much as they could. Sure, this is essentially a port of the PC version, but it needed a bit more.
Can’t expect much out of the sound on Battle Chess, either. In fact, there pretty much isn’t any. Musically, this game offers about as much as, well, staring at a chess board with no one in the room. The highpoint are the sound effects, and even they sound about as exciting as the reference just made. There are a few bleeps, some blops, basically really basic sounds to let you know the sound’s functioning on your TV. Again, the big bummer, which will be explained shortly, are the battle scenes. You get some really cool, sampled sword and weapon effects, but generally a void. Another area that needed some work, Battle Chess is battling 0 at the moment.
Battle Chess, well, at its root it’s chess, nothing to explain there. If you’re familiar with the game, you’ll be right at home. Good thing is the awesome interface, which can be switched during play if you so desire and has a variety of options such as changing piece color, difficulty, and 2D-3D mode. The one thing about it is that, well, for some reason you can’t access it until play starts. It’s a logical opener screen, but they kind of hide it. If you’re not aware it’s present in the game, you’d think this was pretty bare-bones. A minor complaint, but a complaint nonetheless. Here’s the game in action:
Battle Chess had one main feature intended to grab the kiddies and drive them to desire this sacred game, chess war. That’s the best we can do. Basically, the “3D” mode involves pieces that represent characters instead of abstractions. Thus, the pawns are like little soldiers, and the rook is a castle piece that changes into a stone golem or something. When they engage in taking each other, the game switches to a “battle” screen showing you the two pieces fighting. It’s not like they actually fight or you have control over it, so whichever piece wins the other, that’s the one that wins in the cut-scene and you get to see a short fight between the two pieces. That’s it.
Really, it’s incredibly weak for one reason, this is the slowest GD game in the world. Seriously, the pieces move as fast as an octagenerian playing chess, there’s no way to speed it up, nor can you skip the screens, so if you’re looking to just play, you’re better off just switching to 2D because it moves faster. Otherwise, what could be a ten minute game turns into more like eight hours. Phew.
Battle Chess had a lot of potential, but they blew it on largely superficial “battle” scenes that do nothing to change the gameplay at all. How about allowing the players to control their pieces in battle so the outcome isn’t pre-arranged? That would have been interesting, but as it stands, Battle Chess is a decent chess game that tried to utilize graphics and poor attempts at action to draw in more players, or rather buyers. Don’t think it worked.
Still, aside from flawed concept, or rather application of said concept, Battle Chess is a solid chess game. Even the weakest setting isn’t exactly a cakewalk, and advanced players might find themselves sweating a bit to this one. Switching to 2D mode gives the perfect game, nice length, and rather peaceful. But really, it didn’t add anything and if you go into 3D mode you’re looking at way more time than is necessary for this kind of thing…
Battle Chess is an interesting title. It’s approach to killer, chess action definitely falls short, but at the same time if you’re looking for a decent chess title, this one will deliver the basics and then some. It just doesn’t play out well and in the end you’re probably better off focusing on something like The Chessmaster, which is a much better, higher quality game that knows its roots and where its focus should be. Battle Chess was a cool idea, but it wasn’t taken to the level it could have been.
| Graphics: | 5 |
| Sound: | 4.5 |
| Gameplay: | 8 |
| Creativity: | 5.5 |
| Replay Value/Game Length: | 5 |
| Final: | 5.6 out of 10 |
| Written by Stan Stepanic | Write a User Review |