Grandmaster Chess Review

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Grandmaster Chess

Improve Your Chess Game and Expand Your Mind With This Excellent Chess Software!

Avg. Rating: 4.64 / 5

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DFG Exclusive Review Summary

Average, has some problems & recommended with caution.

Pros

  • 3D and 2D views.
  • Multiplayer on the same computer or on a network.
  • Hints are helpful for beginners just learning to play.
  • Different chess board styles so you can pick which one you like.

Cons

  • 3D view can make it tough to see your pieces.
  • Game is prone to crashing.
  • No difficulty settings.

5.5

Mediocre

DFG SCORE

Read Full Grandmaster Chess Review

Game Description

Easy to Use, Grandmaster Chess is a Hit

Easy to learn but hard to master, chess is one of the oldest and most popular board games in the world and now you too can get in on the exciting action!

With Grandmaster Chess, it's just you, your opponent, and the game board. Great for players of all ages and abilities, Grandmaster Chess does away with all the needless fluff and extra stuff included in other chess games and replaces it with a simple, intuitive interface that won't get in the way of your desire to develop your skills!

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  • "From the trial to the full version of this game, it is the most comprehensive computer chess game I have ever played. It has the best graphics, best options, and coolest layout. Also the price can't be beat by anyone. Other games going for $29.99 and more should wish they were half as cool! Thanks a lot for a great product!" - Joshua Almond, Chess Player

Lots of Multiplayer Options for Your Enjoyment

Face off against challenging AI players whenever you want - no need for another human player if you don't want one. With multiple ways to adjust the computer's playing style and experience, Grandmaster Chess makes it easy to find an even match and a great game!

Should you choose to use it, a sophisticated hint system shows you several possible moves at every point in the game.

Tired of dominating single player games? Grab a friend and engage in a one-on-one battle for bragging rights, or even take your game online over a network - challenge those smarty pants office mates to prove their intelligence! School chess clubs can even utilize the program as part of their training or daily chess matches.

Some of the Best Graphics Ever Seen in a Chess Game!

The 3D perspective of Grandmaster Chess allows you to view the game board from any and all angles you want. On the other hand, if you're looking for a more old-school feel to your chess-playing experience, switch to a traditional 2D top-down format. Either way, the visuals look great!

You can also mix and match cool styles of boards, pieces, and colors. Some sets feature authentic figures, such as those of antique Iranian chess, provided by Geogiy Ivanov. This is chess like it's never been seen before!

Listen to Your Own Music as You Play!

A new sound effects algorithm in Grandmaster Chess makes it possible for you to choose what music you want to listen to - as you play the game! Of course, the game also comes with its own music and sound effects, so everything is completely up to you.

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As chess software, Grandmaster Chess includes all the essential features that make for a top-notch representative of its game genre. Whether you'd like to become a better tournament player or just learn to hold your own against friends and family, you can make it happen with Grandmaster Chess.

Grandmaster Chess players are thrilled with all the features in the game including:

  • Flexible settings allow the levels to vary for people with different skills
  • Mulitplayer game play over a network
  • A new sound effects algorithm lets you choose your own mp3 songs
  • Incredible detail on the chess figures
  • 2D and 3D play
  • Some sets feature real figures, such as antique Iranian chess, provided be Geogiy Ivanov.
  • Sophisticated hint system show you several possible moves to help you learn Improve Yourself and Get a Great Brain Workout at the Same Time!

Grandmaster Chess Review

Jim Rosenquist Avatar

Review by Mick

Grandmaster Chess provides an excellent in-depth chess experience. This particular chess game is geared more towards medium level chess players. A lack of difficulty settings may be too challenging for beginners and too easy for experts. The 3D pieces and board combined with the option of a 2D view make this a good game to play if you already have some chess experience and want to improve your skills.

Hints and Appearance Customizations

This game is played with the normal rules of chess. Hints and tips can also be turned on if you need assistance. There are hints as to which move you should make, where any particular piece can move and what pieces are in danger of being captured. You can also adjust the appearance of the chess board and pieces. There are traditional style and pieces that have been glamored up a bit.

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Only 1 Difficulty Setting Limits Options

With only one difficulty setting this game will probably be too difficult for absolute beginners. If you are willing to put in the effort and lose a large number of games it would be possible to learn enough from this game that you could compete with the computer opponent. The other option is to play the multiplayer with a friend. You can either compete on the same computer just taking turns, or you can compete over a network connection on separate computers.

Good Graphics

The graphics in this chess game are excellent. The 3D game board looks real and lets you feel like you really have a chess board in front of you. The sound also contributes to this. Each time you move a piece it sounds like you just set it down on the board. While the sound and graphics aren't top of the line they are definitely above average for the chess genre.

3D Chess View Doesn't Work Well

As you can see the game has a few flaws. The orientation of the camera for the 3D board can make it difficult to see the pieces in play. The smaller pieces can be blocked by larger pieces behind them and it is also very difficult to grab them. To see the location of the pieces you can switch to a 2D board view, you will most likely spend most of your time in the 2D view. This is nice to see the pieces but it would also be nice to be able to rotate the camera.

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Prone to Crashing

Another drawback to this game is that it is prone to crashing. Periodically during multiplayer the game will encounter errors and be shut down. This also happens occasionally during solo play.

Conclusion - Pick Another Chess Game

Grandmaster Chess brings all the strategic elements of chess to your computer. A lack of difficulty levels severely limits this chess game. The only real audience this game would be suited for is a mid level chess player. A few options exist to help you learn, but they are minimal. Several other chess games on the market are a much better choice over this game.

Player Reviews

Gameplay Video

Player created video showing a 3D view of the game board.

 Video of game play for Grandmaster Chess

Screenshots

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Grandmaster Chess - Screen 1 Grandmaster Chess - Screen 2

Fast Facts

  1. The original version of Grandmaster Chess was released all the way back in 1993.
  2. This original version of the game was developed by the now defunct company of IntraCorp. It has since been picked up and updated by Alawar games.
  3. Some of Alawar's other games include Mega World Smash, Action Ball Deluxe, Arizona Rose and the Pirates' Riddles, Farm Frenzy, Vampires vs. Zombies, Astro Fury, and Brave Piglet. As for IntraCorp, its titles included William Shatner's TekWar, Witchaven and Chronomaster.
  4. Grandmaster Chess was originally available for DOS, but it has since been updated to run on modern day Windows systems.
  5. Chess is one of the most widely played games in the world and has been since as far back as the sixth century. During the Renaissance, it was called the 'King's Game' by the aristocracy.
  6. In an articled called 'The Morals of Chess,' Benjamin Franklin said that playing the game could help one develop his or her skills in foresight, circumspection and caution.

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