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Conference rusure::nintendo

Title:	Nintendo Game Systems
Notice:	Please enter Super NES notes in Yuppy::Super_NES.
Moderator:	RUSURE::EDP

Created:	Tue Oct 20 1987
Last Modified:	Mon Feb 03 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	847
Total number of notes:	11602

499.0. "Battle Chess" by SPIKED::SWEENEY () Mon Aug 13 1990 13:59

Thanks to a couple of pointers in the "Where the Games Are" note, I was able to 
get this game this weekend.

For those who aren't familar with it, this is a standard chess game with 
animated pieces.  The pieces are animated much in the same way as the game in
the Star Wars movie.  When a piece takes another, they have a fight to determine
the winner.  (Don't worry, the outcome is fixed as per "real" chess rules).

The game plays at 5 different levels with human against computer, or human vs 
human.  You can play the animated version, or to speed play, you can play a 
2d version with "normal" chess pieces.  Other options allow you to set up the 
game board in a way to start from some midpoint of a game, or to try to finish
a game as posted in the newpaper.

The animated version has sword bearing pages for pawns, an castle for a Rook,
Knights of the round table for knights, sorcerers for bishops, a sashaying 
Queen, and a very Regal King.  When a piece takes another, they both go to a 
second screen and duke it out.  Only the winner returns to the chess board.

Good points.

o  Well thought out game.  A lot of fun watching the animated characters move
   and fight.

o  The chess play itself is good.  I used to play chess very well, and am now
   a dabbler.  Yet I didn't beat the first level yet.

o  For speed, the 2d chess looks like a normal "computer" chess and is very
   quick.

Bad points

o  Graphics aren't anywhere as good as the PC version.  The Fight scenes in 
   particular are disappointing.  The characters are rather squarish looking and
   it is often tough to tell exactly what's happening in the fight scene.
   The graphics are equal to the early Nintendo games in this section of the 
   game.  The surprising part is the  main board had much better graphics.  It
   looks like they ran out of room on the chip(s) and sacrificed the fight 
   scenes. 

o  The animated version is entertaining, but a little slow.



Even with the weaker than expected graphics, I'd give this guy a 7.  If you like
chess and don't have one for Nintendo yet, get it.  If you don't like chess but
are curious about the game, rent it for a day and watch the fun.

tom

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
499.1	A fighting castle?	SALEM::RUSSO		`Wed Oct 24 1990 17:27`	7
	This animation sound interesting but how does a castle fight? Also, does anyone know how much this sells for or where it's carried. My son plays chessa little but likes Nintendo a lot so this may be just the thing for him come report card time.
499.2	Fighting Castle...	SPIKED::SWEENEY		`Wed Oct 24 1990 18:07`	17
	re -.1 The castle is the best fighter in my opinion. It transforms into a being that looks like Ben from the Fantastic Four Comics. (You know, the guy that looked like he was made out of stone.) If the Castle wins, he pounds his opponent into the ground with his fist. He has a variety of tricks when he dies, but it usually leans towards crumbling. I've seen it at all the major toy stores in Mass. (Kay-bee, Child World, and Toys-R-Us.). Price has been from $39.99 - 44.99 I like it, though you might want to wait a few months. I've noticed a lot of games dropping in prices lately. You might get lucky with this one also. t
499.3		HPSPWR::DOUCETTE		`Wed Oct 31 1990 20:10`	4
	You should see the king fight.... He looks like he really cheats. With one piece he pulls out a gun and shoots him.... then with other pieces he uses his staff like nunchucks. Joey Doucette
499.4	How does it compare to Archon?	RAB::REILLY	Come see the violence inherent in the system!	`Thu Nov 01 1990 11:11`	3
	How does this game compare with Archon? Archon sounds like a very similar game?
499.5	Well...	BOOKS::ANGELONE	Lean, green, and on the screen !	`Thu Nov 01 1990 11:57`	15
	Battle Chess is a 'chess game'. I believe it has a chess rating og 1850 to 2000. How that number is arrived at I am not sure. Basicially it means the higher the number the tougher it plays. The 'battle' part is predetermined. The attacking piece ALWAYS wins. You can not control the outcome other than do not attack unless you can win. All rules of chess apply. Archon, from what I have seen, use some 'things' similiar to the game of chess BUT you actually fight and win, or lose deoending on your skills etc. Hope this helped, Rick A
499.6	News and a Question.	BOOKS::ANGELONE	Lean, green, and on the screen !	`Wed Jan 09 1991 11:47`	7
	Price at TOY-R-US now down to 24.99. Would you go for this or pay 50.00 for CHESSMASTER 2100 (?) ?? Rick A
499.7	Battle Chess gets the nod	ADDISN::SWEENEY		`Wed Jan 09 1991 12:04`	17
	In my book anyway. Chess Master is rated slightly higher in difficulty. But my level of chess is challenged by either game, so the higher rating of Chess Master didn't induce me to buy it over Battle Chess. Don't quote me on the numbers, but I believe Battle Chess is rated around 1800 while Chess Master is around 2100. Can someone verify that? With Battle Chess you get the animated pieces plus pieces like the ones in Chess Master. Since both give me the same challenge, I went for Battle Chess with the more interesting graphics. When I made my decision, the prices were roughly equal. With Battle Chess being much lower, it would have been a very easy decision. FWIW. I just sold a large chunk of my Nintendo cartridges. Battle Chess was one of the view I hung onto. t
499.8	Take that,knave!	LUDWIG::PHILLIPS	Music of the spheres.	`Tue Mar 19 1991 11:11`	8
	I bought Battle Chess at Toys-R-Us for $24.99 last Saturday. It took me three games before I managed to beat it - on the novice level, yet. Looks like I gotta brush up on my game.... --Eric-- P.S. Love the sound effects!