Str: nvChess (by SuperX Studios)

Game: nvChess
Release: 2001
Genre: Strategy
Website: SuperX Studios
System Requirements: DirectX 8.1, 500 MHz; 128 MB RAM; Nvidia GeForce, ATI Radeon, or Matrox G550 class or better video card
Price: $9.95

Screenshots: nvChess Gallery

Chess is the game of strategy for the ages. It has been used to test our most powerful computers and most advanced AI. It is played for fun and for wager across the globe. It is quite fitting as we have entered into an age of computers that allows us to create graphics that were previously never dreamed possible, that the game of chess be re-visited and re-created visually.

nvChess was created to do just that. Working with nVidia, SuperX Studios has created a fascinating game visually, while providing a strategy challenge that you will be hard pressed to beat.

When you begin a game of nvChess you have the option to choose what arena you would like to play in. The arena you choose can be changed at a later time during the game. There are three arenas to choose from, "Sky," "Fire & Ice," and "Holographic." Each of the arenas is detailed in stunning 3D.

In the Sky arena, you are lifted up as on a cloud. The pieces themselves look very much like any chess set you would purchase in the store...that is to say, a very good chess set in the store. What sets this board apart, is that the shadow play down on it. As time progresses, be it while you are moving or thinking about your next move, the light source changes, causing the shadows cast by the pieces to change. It gives one of the feel of days passing while you are playing. In the background of this level, you hear what appears to be children playing, which is quite relaxing to hear when you begin to get frustrated at losing yet again!

The Fire and Ice arena is the one that I was the most initially excited about, but it became the one I was the most frustrated with rather quickly. When you choose to be black or white in this arena, you choose to be Ice or Fire. The Ice pieces all look as if they have been hand-carved from ice. The fire pieces are all fire themed, from the candlestick pawns, to the ancient, fire-god looking idol for the King. What really sets this board apart is the way you take the other pieces. The fire pieces naturally melt the ice pieces in a visual display. The ice pieces crush the fire pieces into a million pieces. Though the graphics were fun and interesting, I found some frustration in playing this board as it was difficult to tell what piece was what, and I several times found myself making mistakes based on my misperception of the pieces. The game does allow you to use scroll and/or rotate the board, which helps immensely at determining what is going on, but in this case, I found the Fire and Ice level to not be my favorite.

The final area available is the Holographic board. Honestly, this board is worth the price of the game. If you've ever wondered how chess might be played in space...then you need to check this level out. The pieces are beautifully rendered in 3D to look just like holograms. You can even see distortion as the hologram is created and as it sits statically. The effect is difficult to describe, but is visually stunning and does appear to be a real hologram. The pieces move by disappearing from the square they are on and appearing where you want them to go. The interesting thing about this is the way it is done. The piece slowly disappears, from top to bottom, and then reappears on the new square starting with the bottom and then building up to the top. Honestly, this level is a must see.

The game of nvChess plays just as you would expect. There are 10 difficulty levels to keep you entertained and challenged for some time. You may also choose to play another human being or to have the computer play itself if you are ancy to see a good match.

Graphics: 9
The in-game graphics have obviously been optimized for a high-end computer. This game ran with a little bit of slow-down on my 2.4 GHz P4 machine...running a GeForce 2 with 32 MB of ram. That being said, the graphics are top-notch, and turning down the features, notably changing the resolution to a lower level should allow it to run very smoothly on older computers.

Sound: 8
The sound effects and music serve to highlight the game. I especially appreciated that the sound in the background was in the background as chess is a game that requires a good amount of concentration. There was nothing extremely notable about the sound, but they are of high quality.

Game Play: 7
I am certainly not the chess master, but I found this game very difficult to play. Considering that the game had 10 difficulty levels, I thought I would easily be able to play through the first level. I was wrong. In 10 matches on the easiest, I won 3, drew 1 and lost 6. It was far from a stellar performance against an “easy” difficulty level. I especially became frustrated as an errant click cost me my Queen in one of my matches. Since the game is on a computer, a provision to resolve such inadvertent errors would have been appreciated. The game does play just as it should and the pieces are easy to move, though I felt the difficulty levels were a little too tough for beginners.

Options: 7
Going right along with the game play, there are a couple of options I would have liked to have seen. Certainly, the ability to undo a move or two would be appreciated. Being able to step back in time is a very effective way to learn how to correct one's mistakes. When I used to play chess weekly with friends, we often would step back several steps after a check mate to see if there was another outcome possible based on the change of a single move. I would also like to have seen a tutorial mode, that helped players learn to play the game better...though in honesty there are plenty of websites that can help people improve their game and/or learn how to play. The graphics and sounds options are plentiful and should allow anyone meeting the minimum game requirements to be able to enjoy the game.

Concept: 8
Chess is an old game, and the thought of changing the pieces and or making it look more dazzling certainly isn't a new idea. However, the Holographic level was extremely well thought-out and executed in this version of the game..

Fun: 7
Though this is rather subjective, I had a hard time really enjoying this version of Chess. Some of this was tied to the inability to play at an easy difficulty setting and win with any matter of consistency. When I did win, it was b/c I'd eliminated all the other pieces, so that the computer had no real chance to win. It was frustrating at times not to be able to change a move, but in real chess...you never get a second shot.

Overall: 8
nvChess is a graphical masterpiece that I definitely suggest you take a look at. The challenge of 10 difficulty levels is exhausting, and the visuals will keep you going as you try to think your way through it all. Added: January 25th 2003
Reviewer: The Mole
Score:
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