Chessmaster 9000

PC review by Ehab Ali - Saturday 19th April 2003

Looking for a chess game? Look no further. Chessmaster 9000 is the best to date.

"Yeah, I want a chess game, but I know nothing of chess!"

Don't worry. The game is here to help you. It features very, very in-depth tutorials; which were prepared by famous chess names; for example, Bruce Pandolfini. Some of these lessons reach a whopping sixty to seventy pages long. Yes, it is daunting at first, but they won't waste your time. They begin with how to set the board and move the pieces, and end with complex strategies. See, they are useful for both newbies and veterans alike. If you walk through the tutorials, you'll become a "Shall I go with Ruy Lopez (a famous chess opening) or the King's Gambit (another opening)?" player, rather than an "I'll set my pawns in a zigzag" player. Unbelievable? Believe it!



Moreover, the game features a quite fulfilling analysis of moves you took in a match you're playing. I say 'quite fulfilling' because you can't expect every move you took late in the game to be fully analyzed. The analysis rates your moves, showing which were the better options (if any), and explaining why they are better, so you can correct your mistakes. For that, you can take back any move you thought was wrong, and you won't be punished for it. The computer can also 'think' for you, and give you advice of a move to take in a certain position, with a clear explanation of why.



But the good news is, even with all its newbie-friendliness, Chessmaster provides challenge to veterans of chess. In fact, there's a suitable challenge for everyone. You have practically endless opponents, each with its own rating, ranging from pathetically easy pushovers, to invincible kings of chess. There is also a bunch of well-known grandmasters you can face, with an interesting brief history and explanation about their style. But you probably won't dare to challenge any of those before a long, long time.



A suitable challenge means thrilling battles. Check this: the game starts, "Damn, I wasn't expecting that move", "Go to hell, bishop!", "I bet you weren't waiting that", "Ha ha ha! The king is stuck", then the game comes closer to the end. And when the last move screams to be taken, I would just stare at the screen for a few seconds, then "CHECKMATE"- Ahh, music to my ears. I could almost hear a guillotine cutting through the poor king's throat.



After a series of battles, you'll probably start to feel bored. You'll read some tutorials (which take a while to finish); but you're still bored. But wait! There is more in Chessmaster. There's a bunch of quizzes that will give you a rating after you take them. Don't forget the library of classic games, each with some background and analysis. Another small trick that is really effective is that whenever you enter the game a chessboard pops with a certain position asking you to find the pin, or run from mate, etc. It actually encourages me to enter the game more. And even then, you still have multiplayer on Ubi.com, which I must admit I have yet to use it. You see, the game packs good value, that's for sure.



The game looks good in 3D, the chess sets (some of them are really bizarre) are quite detailed. The sound is good too, the lessons come with full voice; and it's a lively and attractive voice. I do miss the relaxing music from Chessmaster 4000 though, but since the game runs in a window, you can run some music of your own.

One must admit that Chessmaster 9000 serves well and for quite a time, but one can't deny that it's not worth the money if you have a satisfying chess game, say, Chessmaster 7000, because chess remains chess. But those who are looking for their first chess game shouldn't hesitate, this game is the complete package; it teaches them how to play, how to become good players, and how to get their butts kicked. Also, serious players who want to raise their skill to competitive level should check this one out too, as the tutorials combined with the powerful challenge will surely benefit them.

Thunderbolt score: eight out of ten

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