Monday, September 12, 2011

NES RATING #10 - Battle Chess


....Battle Chess....
Produced by:  Beam Software
Distributed by: Data East
Released: July 1990

While chess is a great thinking-man's game, Battle Chess on the NES ranges from average to extremely tedious.

Playing the game as intended is a rather slow-paced and frustrating affair.  The animated pieces are slow-moving, there is no option for music, graphics are very poor, and the only saving grace to the game is the challenge of chess itself.  Hit the select button to brings up a drop-down screen that is straight off a DOS computer, as well.  This is indicative of Battle Chess being just a lazy NES port. 

The lackluster graphics (from DOS computers of the day) and sleep-inducing movement of the pieces will have you shaking your head.  You're given the option to play with traditional pieces, as well, but why bother?  This defeats the purpose of a game called Battle Chess.  And as for that particular gimmick of the game?  The pieces actually move, and an animated cut-scene appears each time a piece is taken.  You'll get to see the taken piece being "killed" if you're still awake following the piece's movement.

 

If you lack the friends to play a regular game of chess, then this game likely has some appeal.  Otherwise, avoid at all costs.


Grade:  D-
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