By Nate Ahearn
Closing Comments: "At only ten dollars less than the original Xbox release which also featured Xbox Live play it's tough to recommend Chessmaster Live to people. The chess action is solid and the different AI types will please chess aficionados but we can't help but feel like the feature set doesn't quite live up to the rest of the series. Beginners can't just hop in and take a lengthy chess lesson to get themselves acquainted and those looking for something beyond the regular game of chess can only find it online or while playing against a friend. Chessmaster Live is a functional board game, but in this day and age we need a bit more to give it the stamp of approval."
• Presentation: 7.9 - There are some nice touches that separate it from the rest of the XBLA field but there's only so much you can do with chess.
• Graphics: 5.0 - Confusing lighting makes it tough to ascertain which pieces are yours. Art direction could be much better.
• Sound: 6.0 - Odd techno riffs mix in with tunes that will remind you of a piano bar populate the menus. Everything else is lifeless.
• Gameplay: 6.5 - Solid AI variations will please chess diehards. More single-player modes would have helped a lot. The ability to save replays is a nice touch.
• Lasting Appeal: 7.0 - If you're into chess then you'll be busy for some time tackling the different AI types. Not much to keep chess newbies entertained.
• Overall: 6.4 - Passable
Despite no XBOX Live Arcade release today, the XBOX Live Marketplace has still been updated. Here's the full list for Wednesday 30th April 2008:
Name: Chessmaster Live Rayman Raving Rabbids 3D animated chess set
Price: 150 Microsoft Points
Availability: Everywhere
Name: Alone in the Dark Fire Tech Demo
Price: Free
Availability: Everywhere
Turok Gamer Pics Pack 5 - Wolf Pack
Price: 150 Microsoft Points
Availability: Everywhere
Woo-hoo!!! But it's so lonely in here....LOL
3 hours later and still no other comments lol!
Gamesite XGN posts her weekly European Xbox Live Marketplace Roundup. This week there are a great number of new demos released.
Chessmaster Live is your quintessential chess title for the Xbox 360. Featuring a large array of a single player opponents, ranging over every playstyle one could imagine, to global Xbox Live competition using an intelligent rating system that will try to pair you against an equal opponent. If a simple game of chess will take up too much time then you can try out the large selection of chess puzzles on offer, placing you in awkward situations in which you must overcome.
Additional features allow for watching over previous matches to see where you may have gone wrong, a detailed leaderboard to compete with friends and message chess for those who like to stretch a single game over several days. Graphically the game is basic and allows for 2D or 3D views of the board, with additional information such as recent moves optional. If the scene becomes too repetitive you can always purchase more chess sets for 80 Microsoft Points per set...
This is pretty funny.
Chessmaster is a Chess game. Chess, has been played for over 500 years.
Is a "gameplay" and "lasting-appeal" score even relevant?
if you like chess, and play it, its all about the interface and AI.
Chess is always 10/10.