Game entry

Chessmaster

2003 · Card & Board, Strategy · PlayStation 2, Xbox · Ubi Soft Entertainment

Chessmaster is listed in the GameForever catalogue but not in the duel pool: this game is never offered for a vote, its 1,500 points are never at stake and it does not appear in the world ranking. Its entry and its debate stay open.

World rank

–

ELO score

1,500

Wins

–

Duels played

0

The duel pool gathers the best-known titles of the catalogue, cover included, so that every match-up stays meaningful. It is recalculated with every catalogue update: this game may join it later. How a game enters the duels →

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About Chessmaster

Chessmaster includes plenty of features to improve your chess skills, no matter what level you are. In Chess School, you can learn basic and advanced tactics before challenging computer-controlled opponents in single-player or multiplayer modes. The game includes a variety of gameplay modes, such as Quick Game, Rated Play, Handicap, Setup Position, and Puzzle. Watch as each piece attacks each other on the checkered battlefield.

The iteration of the Chessmaster series on the PlayStation 2 contains most of the features available in the corresponding PC game - which, in this case, is Chessmaster 9000. You can play training games (with all the hints and analysis tools available), rated games (your rating changes after each play), puzzles (chess ones, not the "build the picture" type), learn chess by browsing through the hundreds of tutorials available in the Pandolfini's Chess School or watch famous games.

There are, however, some new features in the PS2 version; the most useful one is the Online mode. Other is the "living world" of the Chessmaster Championships, where the AI's rating changes, too, as they play each other. The last one is more spectacular - a fantasy-themed - orcs vs. humans - game mode with animated chess sets and a 3D environment. You get to play chess in a forest, inside a castle and in the desert.