The New Chessmaster

Are you a chess fan? If so, slipping New Chessmaster into your pocket or into your Game Boy is definitely a good move.

Opening Gambit

This PC portover doesn't feature shoot-em-up action, but it's the most classic strategic game ever, so expect to bust a few brain cells. What's the advantage of New Chessmaster over that chessboard on your living room table? Options! New Chessmaster is loaded with them, and you can't lose any of the pieces.

One or two players (via a Game Link) can ponder their Chessmaster strategies from an overhead perspective. The game's options include difficulty levels, a Learning Mode, and a Teaching Mode. Beginners can use the Teaching Mode to assist them with game play and possible moves. A Thinking Option turns on a window to let you watch the computer strategize and decide the best moves. More advanced players will like the Force Move, which forces their opponent's next move. Other options include a Time Limit Option (limits the amount of time you have to move a piece) and Takeback, (take back one or all of your moves). Last but not least, there's a Save Option for those lengthy games.

It's Your Move

New Chessmaster's smooth and easy controls operate via a simpie interface: grab the piece you'd like to move, then move it. If it's an illegal move, the CPU will tell you.

You'll find that New Chessmaster's graphics are sometimes hard to see, but they're about the best you can expect in a chess game on a monochrome Game Boy screen. On the other hand, the sounds are decent, including digitized speech that comments on key points in the game.

Overall, New Chessmaster's many options make it a great chess game to slip into your pocket, whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner. Check it out, mate!