Chessmaster

A top quality game that did not short the consumers or insult the seasoned players by dumping a low-end game for the sake of having a chess game for the Xbox. It's a joy to play, and keeps me wanting to come back for more.

If you were looking for a great game of chess, with hundreds of AI opponents and even more online, Chessmaster is definitely recommended.

The real strength of this game is the bounty of narrated, interactive tutorials that effectively demonstrate strategy, tactics, and psychological analysis of your opponent. [Jan 2005, p.82]

Between getting the fundamentals right and offering up a boatload of extra features, this literally is the only chess video game you'll ever need to buy for the forseeable future.

If you love chess, Ubisoft's Chessmaster is an essential selection, as it is a genre defining title that features a high level of polish and satisfying gameplay.

From the graphics to the dry commentary to the awkward controls, Chessmaster could have had a lot more going for it. Since older versions for the PC can be found, and the mouse interface is more intuitive, I'd have to recommend one of those versions over the Xbox version.

If Chessmaster upped its production values, it might be worth a look to casual chess players who just want to get a game in here and there. [Jan 2005, p.90]