I love chess. I have been playing it for years. I started when I was young, and was "giddy" with joy when I saw that Radio Shack offered a man vs. computer version. No more begging my older sisters to play! I never bought one of those, but once home computers started releasing various chess games, I gobbled them up with a passion. I remember the joy of beating Expert Software's version in "Master" mode. It even let you print out a certificate! Then, the humbling reality of playing the Chessmaster series for the first time. I was no longer impressed with beating a lesser offering. Chessmaster was here, and it was going to be The bar the the others had to meet. Hard-core aficionados of the genre will migrate towards other versions, but for the rest of us, Chessmaster is King. Despite the turned-up noses of the chess elite, over five million people trust CM above all other releases. Money talks, and the people have spoken with their wallets.

Now, for Microsoft's Xbox, we are able to play it away from the desktop monitor. From the comfort of my recliner, in full stereo, I am able to get whipped by the reliable champ of chess. Ubisoft has delivered a very nice, lavish Chessmaster for the Xbox platform, and I could not be happier about it.  OK, if you only use the Xbox for frag-fests and semi-nude volleyball, this game is not going to do much for you. But, some of us like a different pace now and then, and since this game makes great use of the Xbox's strengths, it's fun to play as a platform game.

It is almost identical to the newly released CM:X for the PC. Same packaging, same improvements and extras. Some things are missing (like the 3D glasses that made it unique), but it is mostly the same game, so the comments will likewise be similar. Some of the most notable features of this release are various teaching offerings, customizable tournaments, "blunder" alerts to warn of (potentially) dangerous moves, watching older games reenacted and personal player creation based on skill level.

The first thing I noticed is the lush, soulful music that welcomes you when the first screens come up. Brahms, I believe? It makes you want to don a smoking jacket and call your buddy Hef to come over for a game. With all of the fraggin', galaxy-saving and questing that has adorned my XBOX, it was nice to hear something so different. The first action you must take is to create a user profile which starts simply enough with entering your name. You are somewhat limited in characters, so you can't use your extra-long D&D name from high school. Sorry. Once the profile is complete, you can jump into a quick game or begin your journey into Grandmaster status.

Be honest with yourself. How you describe yourself will dictate your opponents-- at home and/or on XBOX Live. The game will not let you make a (moving) mistake. If you try to make your Knight move in a way that it cannot, it will refuse the move and a voice (if that option is "On") will explain, very nicely, how the Knight must move. It's like having the computer from Star Trek helping you play chess. So, if you are interested but still unsure of how to play, you are helped as much as you need. If you need help setting up your ranking stats, you can take a quiz of sorts that will make you reveal your knowledge and ability, then rate you accordingly.

You can also improve your game by attending the Chess Academy. There, Josh Waitzkin and Larry Christianson will help you be a better player. Lest you think you know it all, don't dismiss this section completely. These guys are International Masters, and it's great to have that kind of advise in your corner. They will teach you how to think, not just how to move a pawn. It is an enriching enhancement to the experience. Who'd have ever thought I would use the word "enriching" for a Xbox game?

The newest PC version has several options that are not in the Xbox version, but nothing that makes it any less of an experience. Sure, there are no 3D glasses, and the chess set selections are more limited, but none of these things hurt the game at all. They were fluff that did not diminish the challenge at all. In addition to the tutoring and fancy sets to look at, you can also watch very old games played-- move by move. These games go back to the early 1600s, and end in 2004. On a 2D board, you can watch as ancient Masters play out their games. This was very interesting, and it's impressive to see that kind of detail added to a game. This is, of course, for the ultra-nerds among us, but nonetheless nifty to experience. I watched a couple of matches with Bobby Fischer from decades ago. Fascinating. There are more than 800 such games to watch!

The main interface is clean and easy to navigate. At any time, you can see your records-- wins, losses, etc. Also, your rating based on success in playing tournaments and select matches. During games (depending on which kind), you can even switch sides and play the other color. That's kind of fun, but cheating if it's done to win. However, it is a great learning tool in the right hands. You can switch and try to follow the same thought-path of your AI opponent. If done correctly, it really teaches you to think harder than you can imagine. I would set a kitchen timer and play. When the timer went off, regardless of where I was, I would switch sides and resume. Very challenging.

If you are not up to playing a full game, you can opt to play some puzzle games. They will drop you into a existing game and explain what the objective is. You must use your honed skills to achieve that goal. This is a quick-drill type of practice that will, again, test your abilities and

The audio is very nice. The previously mentioned classical score as the game begins is truly a warm and well chosen welcome to the game. The speech is good, but you can't really rate that as "voice-acting". It's not Resident Evil, after all. Every sound and score is well placed and appropriate.

The graphics are equally as strong. Those that are not familiar with the various other offerings out there may not appreciate that the visuals in cyber chess are crucial. People are used to playing on real, three dimensional board with real people. There is a critical perspective to recreate in order to make it feel real. Some people never get used to playing virtual chess because of this difference. It's a thinking game, and if you cannot "see" the board with comfort and realism, you will make mistakes and not want to play. For me, this game was good enough to fool my eyes in most cases. There are several nice-looking piece/board options to play with, but most of us "real" players tend to stick with natural, no-frills sets that are realistic. You can have glare, reflections and other subtleties that make it easier to play. I cannot possibly emphasize enough how important the visual element is. While there are not as many sets to choose from than in other games, there are enough to play and be happy doing so.

Chessmaster has again proven why it's long been regarded as the Grandmaster of AI chess playing. I know the other ones that appeal to a certain crowd. I know why they prefer those versions despise Chessmaster as a "toy" or something only kids would like. I understand that, but do not agree. I am an above-average player. I am on par with most people that this is targeted to. There are five million people that agree. Nothing is lost in this version, and thanks to growing technology, the good things have been made better. I hope they continue this trend.

Graphics: 9 
Sleek, yet subtle boards and pieces make this a joy to watch. It feels warm, or cutting edge contemporary-- depending on what you prefer. The avatars for your opponents are real, and make it even nicer to experience. The pieces themselves, in most cases, look totally real; as if you could reach into the TV and pick one up. Shadows, light and reflections all enhance the already stellar look of the sets. The offerings for setup is not as grand as some in the past, but you will find something you like, easily. 

Sound: 8.0
The music and "board sounds" are excellent. There's no need for a thundering subwoofer system here. But, the score and environmental sounds are excellent and do not distract in any way. If they do-- turn them off! It's a game of focus and concentration, so sounds cannot be distracting. I would love to see (in the future) a virtual jukebox of various composers and scores. For instance, I like to play chess while Mozart is on. Maybe you're "new school" and want some generic techno-rave audio to groove by? Many times, I have been defeated by people listening to music that you wouldn't think meshed with a stereotypical chess player. The point is to have a environment that enhances your focus. For some, that's Beethoven, but some may like a country twang to do so. I'd love to see a collection of such music to choose from.  

Concept: 8.0 
Usually the hardest part to evaluate for a chess game. Since this game has been around longer than some countries, it is not "new". The challenge lies within creating a new feel to it-- without distracting you from being comfortable in playing it. Tutorials and related help is not new, either. It's hard to reinvent the wheel and make people interested in it. You can rest comfortably knowing that they took strides to make it as fresh as possible. 

Overall: 9.0
Chessmaster, per the public's preference, is the best chess franchise out there. Bashing CM is just something that certain people do in order to show off other versions that mostly appeal to people that us average users cannot beat. This is the generic standard by which others try to emulate. That is not a bad thing at all. It is a compliment. CM has had some "misses" in their history, but this is not one of them. However, I do not have any other Xbox chess titles to compare it to. It is nice to have a more high-brow game to play on my favorite platform units of all time. Sometimes, I want to sit comfortably and play something that doesn't make me jumpy or scared of my own shadow later on (dang you, Resident Evil!!). Chessmaster was done with a lot of thought, and it shows. I hope they do not rush sequels out for the sake of making a dollar every year. I strongly recommend this one for fellow chess lovers. The Game of Kings meets the King of Software (Bill Gates). As my rating (hopefully) improves as I play, I know I have 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-- regardless of my successes.