UBI Soft Chessmaster Puzzle Review

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Price Paid:  $20.00 from Electronics Boutique

Summary:
Chessmaster for PS2 is a scaled down version of the CM series on PC -- and that's not a bad thing. For someone who wants to learn, get better at, or just want to play around with, the game of kings, this is a solid game to own. Virtual opponents are based on real players and rank from novice beginners to famous grandmasters. I suppose real champions could beat the higher rated players, including the wizened old wizard-looking fellow (the Chessmaster) on the box, but outside those selected few, everyone should be able to find someone there to give them a challenge. If there's no one in your home who will play, CM supports the Network Adaptor, along with both broadband and dial-up service.

Overall, a solid, fun game that anyone (kids to adults) can enjoy. It's also a nice break from FPSs, and other popular genre games.

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Price Paid:  $20.00 from Gamestop

Summary:
A good game with beginner-advanced CPU players and a fun, yet short-lived 3D animated chess board is also included. There are plenty of AI players to play against (including a few nice looking ladies!) The music is fairly annoying (at least to me) and trying to find the Options was a bit of a chore. The "play-by-play" announcer does a fine job and is not overbearing. Unfortunately, you can't set the music OFF for regular play and ON for 3D animated play.
The pieces are a bit difficult to differentiate from one another, however, the board can be moved to accomodate that problem.
Overall, a very good game for little money, that teaches as well as challenges (I think I took that part from the box...) and as challenging as any chess player (except for a select few) could ever want.