Chessmaster LIVE

 Xbox 360
  • Publisher: Ubisoft
  • Release Date: Jan 30, 2008
Chessmaster LIVE Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 12 Ratings

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  • Summary: [Xbox Live Arcade] Enjoy playing as a real strategist with the Xbox Live version of the most-acclaimed chess franchise. Chessmaster Live allows you to challenge friends and players all over the world in thrilling contests and determine who's the real champ. Choose among several 3-D (or 2-D)[Xbox Live Arcade] Enjoy playing as a real strategist with the Xbox Live version of the most-acclaimed chess franchise. Chessmaster Live allows you to challenge friends and players all over the world in thrilling contests and determine who's the real champ. Choose among several 3-D (or 2-D) sets and play against virtual characters or real opponents over Xbox Live. Solve puzzles and discover exciting variations of this classic board game. Beginners can learn the basics of chess, and veteran players can improve their mastery of the game with the advanced scenario. The game is yours ... it's your move! Compete against advanced A.I. characters or challenge other Xbox Live members to a match. New message chess system: Start a game without any time limit, and play the game at your leisure over the course of days or even weeks. Puzzle over a series of classic challenges such as "find the fork" or "mate in one," and experience new ways of playing chess including Dark Chess, Losing Chess, Extinction Chess, and Progressive Chess. Customizable environments: Choose from six 3-D chess sets and three traditional sets, each with their own distinct sound effects, piece and board design. Interact with opponents: Video options allow you to see your challenger during the course of the game. [Ubisoft]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Official Xbox Magazine
    85
    The beating heart of chess is laid bare with such care that aspiring Kasparovs might yet be lured from the PC dungeon.
  2. Xbox World 360 Magazine UK
    80
    Tough competition will improve your game, but won't convert anyone not already chess crazy. [Mar 2008, p.94]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Console Monster
    80
    A complete and detailed chess package.
  4. X-ONE Magazine UK
    80
    A practically endless set of challenges has also been included. [Issue#30, p.118]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. GamesRadar+
    80
    Chessmaster Live doesn’t look like much. But it delivers exactly what it promises, and there’s not really much to complain about because of it.
  6. TeamXbox
    80
    Whether you’re new to the game or a member of the old high-school chess club, you’ll find the Chessmaster series still holds the crown as “King” of the sixty-four-squared board.
  7. IGN
    64
    Chessmaster Live is a functional board game, but in this day and age we need a bit more to give it the stamp of approval.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 2 out of 5
  1. JosephK.
    Feb 1, 2008
    10
    If you want a great chess program, look no further. If you want to blow stuff up/read an engrossing storyline/look at cutting edge graphics, If you want a great chess program, look no further. If you want to blow stuff up/read an engrossing storyline/look at cutting edge graphics, then why are you even reading this?… Expand
  2. StevenH.
    Feb 2, 2008
    8
    Not the "perfect" chess game, but certainly sufficient. I'd rate it as an 8.
  4. AlesK.
    Feb 5, 2008
    7
    I miss lessons, more 2D boards and more detailed stats. AI thinks too slowly, even at the beginning or the end of game when there are only a I miss lessons, more 2D boards and more detailed stats. AI thinks too slowly, even at the beginning or the end of game when there are only a few options what to do.… Expand
  5. MatC.
    Feb 12, 2008
    4
    I couldn't agree more with Kevin. Why should I have to wait for the CPU to make a move with a rating of 600? I don't mind having I couldn't agree more with Kevin. Why should I have to wait for the CPU to make a move with a rating of 600? I don't mind having the clock run, but if the CPU runs out of time, let me finish! A "force move" would have been not only appropriate, but it was necessary. The "lobby" for finding players is a joke. The 3-d boards are shockingly unreadable in full HD; I'm playing with just the 2-d boards. And finally, there are no un-timed games. Huh? Wouldn't it be nice to walk away, and come back to it after life interrupts for an hour? Nope. Not here. There are some redeeming points, particularly in the persona/ratings. The puzzles are fun for a warmup, but they really are simplistic. Overall, look at this as a 1-player game. If you want that, go for it. Don't look at this as a Live-competitive area. It's just not properly built.… Expand
  6. KevinB.
    Jan 31, 2008
    3
    I was so excited to see ChessMaster in my menu of games that I paid the 800 points for it sight unseen. What a dumb move that was. This game I was so excited to see ChessMaster in my menu of games that I paid the 800 points for it sight unseen. What a dumb move that was. This game rates a solid "WTF?" I was unable to find a live opponent, and the Message Chess plain didn't work, so I had to just play the AI opponents. Unbelievably the game is essentially *unplayable* in this fashion, because after you make your move, you sit and wait and wait and wait, sometimes for 5 minutes on end, for the $%!@ computer player to make its move! I do not understand this. If I were playing its very top AI I could understand it might take some processing power, but I was playing only 1100-1200 rated AI players. But the impatient waiting was not the worst of it! The worst part was that for every single one of the four games I have started, I ended up winning the game because the AI player's clock ran out!! One time it happened after we had each only made about 5 moves! I thought, what the hell did I just waste the last 12 minutes of my life for? This is complete idiocy. Oh and also, the chess "puzzles" are way, way, way too easy for anyone but an absolute beginner.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

66
#66 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2008
69
#69 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2008