TopWare Introduces Battle vs Chess

Well, color me pleasantly surprised. You'd figure that since every strategy game is based in one way or another on Chess, we'd have seen something like this hitting consoles sooner. I can still remember playing Archon on the NES and Battle Chess on the 3DO back in the day, so this should be as much addictive fun from a gameplay perspective. Of course, those lovely new graphics are nothing to sneeze at.

Here you go - two screens from TopWare Interactive's upcoming Battle vs. Chess, set for a May 2010 release across "multiple platforms". Hmm... as if the publisher's upcoming epic RPG Two Worlds II isn't going to be keeping folks like me too busy to breathe already! I guess BvC will be a "downtime" game for when I'm not exploring Antaloor's expansive over world and deadly dungeons.

Also below is the official press release. The teaser site lists Xbox 360/Xbox Live, Wii, PC and Mac versions, but I'm hoping this makes it to the PS3 and or PSP at some point. I guess sales will dictate that, right? If anything, the fantasy theme combined with the Fritz Chess-powered gameplay will certainly make Chess a lot more accessible to those who can't quite grasp the board version, that's for sure.

Chess, the unrivalled champion of strategy games has been attracting players of all ages for countless centuries. Battle vs. Chess takes up the mission of adapting the time honoured classic for the 21st century, seeking to breathe new life into the beloved game without abandoning the essential concepts that have made it so enduring. However simply digitalizing it is not nearly enough, as the progressive title aims at developing a unique fusion between vivid 3D environments & characters, professional chess software and upbeat combat visuals & mechanics.

Employing the framework of ChessBase’s world renowned Fritz! chess algorithm software, widely regarded as one of the most sophisticated chess engines in the world, even the most experienced chess experts will be presented with a daunting challenge. All these features paired with an atmospheric soundtrack, several distinct game board environments, special game modes, and a plethora of unlockable bonuses guarantee players long lasting fun with the timeless game of kings!

Battle vs Chess is currently being developed across multiple platforms, and is scheduled for release in May 2010.