	Majestic Chess
	Developer: Fluent Entertainment Publisher: JoWood Release Date: Out Now Players: 1, online multiplayer	Words By:
Chess is one of those games you think you can play, right? You may even think of yourself as a bit of a Master, even. Well, if you’re one of those people (like me), you might try a nostalgic holiday away from all those racey, pacey, adrenalin-jerking simulations, shooters, adventures, etc and find out what playing all that stuff has done to your brain. I used to beat those little portable chess computers, you know, the ones with a rather small board that took ages to work out a move. Felt rather good about it too, but not so with this game. The response is usually quite snappy, due presumably to a lot of chess knowledge programmed in there, and it doesn’t seem to fall for any common traps. Majestic Chess gives you a tough, technically precise game that will test your best gambits. Fortunately for the likes of me, you have the option of taking back a poorly-considered or fanciful move, getting advice or even switching sides and taking over your opponent’s game! Before your ego gets a dent from this rather smartypants programme you might want to brush up with a few puzzles or tutorials - All included as well as historic games, and many more options including difficulty settings & design your own opponent’s style and skill. Importantly, more for the novice or the kids maybe, the program includes an interesting 8-chapter map/adventure-style learning system that I found rather compelling myself. You even get a choice of solemn music tracks to play should you wish. The only problem I have with computer chess is that it fails to demonstrate any humanlike flamboyance, by which I really mean it doesn’t take silly chances that I can take advantage of. I can’t spot any weaknesses in its programming, whereas it immediately spots failings in my moves. Of course I could play at an easier level, but there’s that ego thing I have. And I used to be such a good chess player. Maybe I should start with the Adventure and work up through the Tutorials to the Puzzles, then study the Historic games before I next challenge the Expert... My spec: 1200Mh AMD Athlon ATI Radeon 9000/64Mb 512Mb DDRam Win 98 SE

Best Bits
- Neat adventure teaching method for kids and nice puzzle mode.

Worst Bits
- Could injure your ego at expert level.


by: J.R.B Coyote