Hilarious chess sim for newcomers
If normal chess isn't challenging or entertaining enough for you, or if you've ever watched Star Wars and thought that the sci-fi version looked like more fun, then Battle Chess 4000 could be the game for you. The original Battle Chess took the basic game of chess and added in several battle animations to make the complex game of strategy a bit more enjoyable, with several references to notable fights from famous movies. This follow-up sticks to pretty much the same formula but changes the theme to sci-fi, with references to movies like 2001 in the battle animations to be spotted by eagle-eyed fans. The game also uses a distinctive clay-mation visual style for its pieces, similar to Clayfighters, which again makes it stand out from the crowd but apart from these two main novelties, Battle Chess 4000 is pretty much the same as every other chess game. There is however, an impressive library of moves to test the skill of players and although the AI level isn't that high, and certainly won't challenge seasoned veterans of the game, the game is really intended for newcomers to the game. The animations for the various pieces are superb and highly entertaining and really bring things to life. There are plenty of slick effects and elaborate animation sequences to enjoy and the game scores highly for its sheer unusual value. Graphically, Battle Chess 4000 is quite charming, with each piece full of personality and it is undeniably hilarious to watch their various expressions as they get attacked by the opposing piece. However, once the novelty wears off, what remains is a standard chess game that lacks the difficulty in the AI opponents that seasoned players demand, so if you are a serious player, this might get old quickly. For newcomers though, it is supremely entertaining.
