Online Chess Kingdoms

Online Chess Kingdoms isn't perfect, but it's one of the best video Chess games I've played to date. While the move library isn't as diverse as, say, Chessmaster, it is still intelligent enough to put up one hell of a fight.

It plays a solid game of chess and while it doesn't really bring anything new to the party, the theming and overall presentation make it a decent and brain-taxing title. [Mar 2007, p.81]

The overall integrity of the game has remained intact. So if you're jealous of your DS-toting friends walking around with those giant swollen craniums of theirs due to all of that brain-boosting gaming they're doing, do yourself a favor and give your own melon a workout with a healthy dose of classic chess.

Online Chess Kingdoms is predictably unsuccessful in its attempts to change or enhance the timeless classic, but thankfully it does let you play classic chess online or off.

If you are looking for something more - if you already have chess for a PDA or GBA and are hoping for solid play over the Internet or a great story mode then look elsewhere, because as anything other than a decent chess engine, Online Chess Kingdoms fails to deliver a compelling experience.

Newcomers to the game will enjoy better introductions elsewhere despite the handy suggest-a-move trappings, and veterans don't get any chess puzzles to tickle their fancy, but at least you won't have to worry about losing pieces in the depths of your carry-on luggage.

The stylistic, themed pieces (aquatic, chaos, etc.) all look the same unless you squint, and the lacklustre animations have no purpose other than slowing down play. [Apr 2007, p.118]