We here at Gaming Review HQ have a soft spot for a good tactical challenge. There’s just something so nostalgic about turn-based strategy games, yet when a game hits all the right notes, it feels as fresh as a daisy. While the core rules of tactical games tend to stay relatively stable, there are usually just enough unique mechanics thrown in to make them stand out. Today, we’re delving into something that’s chess-inspired, although that’s a bit of a misnomer. Intrigued? Let me walk you through it. I’ve been getting my hands on WizardChess, and it’s been quite the ride—mixing moments of sheer enjoyment with a few head-scratching elements, starting with the name itself.
WizardChess borrows the most fundamental chess concepts—units moving and attacking in a somewhat familiar way. However, labeling it chess would be a stretch. Though it clearly nests in the strategy genre, the game has its own distinct rhythm and rules that completely separate it from traditional chess play. Now, that’s not necessarily a downside, but approaching it as "chess-like" might leave some players bewildered or, worse still, a tad frustrated.
As you dive into WizardChess, you’re thrown straight into a dungeon setting, tasked with navigating various encounters and ultimately outsmarting the tutorial boss over a series of rounds. Yes, the tutorial does drag on a bit, but it’s actually necessary to get a true understanding of the rules. There’s a multitude of unlockable characters to manage, each with unique traits that you’ll need to master. My gripe? The tutorial doesn’t save, so when I needed to quit, I had to abandon my progress. Faced with the idea of starting from scratch, I opted for another game mode—Arcade—and suffice it to say, the vibe changed dramatically.
Playing WizardChess’s tutorial feels decidedly turn-based. You deploy your units strategically using cards, taking your sweet time to deliberate each move. You’re only permitted to maneuver one unit per round, so aligning everything as you’d like can get tricky, especially when the enemies have their own agendas. Special abilities are part of the game’s charm, adding a layer of strategy but costing you movement points. Once you get the hang of it, it’s quite pleasurable, albeit forcing a restart was less than ideal.
Arcade Mode, by contrast, flips the script entirely. You start with a predetermined squad on the board, racing against the clock to dispatch as many foes as possible before a boss arrives. Between rounds, you get a chance to enhance your deck or beef up your units’ stats at the shop. But there’s a catch—you earn so little currency that leveling up rapidly is a pipedream. Forced to speed through rounds to save up, the strategy element ended up feeling sidelined, which made shop choices all the more crucial and stressful.
The shop itself is an intriguing feature, where you can opt to upgrade instead of just purchasing new units. But take this from me: initially, expanding your stable is more beneficial than leveling individual units—you have to play it safe before flexing those upgrade muscles.
Units aren’t just about stats; they can also be imbued with elements that dictate their in-game behavior. Fire for aggression, water for defense—it’s a clever way to influence characters you’re not controlling directly. It adds a welcome depth to game mechanics.
Despite my efforts, I couldn’t beat the first boss in Arcade. Each encounter left me feeling ill-prepared. Your hero character acts as a support without offensive capabilities, leaving me powerless when my units perished, which got frustrating fast.
A glaring omission is a campaign mode. While the tutorial introduces characters and a hint of narrative, it doesn’t develop due to the lack of a saveable progress path. It feels like a missed storytelling opportunity. The short-play-session nature is evident—it’s all about seeing how far you can go in one shot, which may limit long-term appeal.
Control-wise, WizardChess is straightforward with point-and-click mechanics, but unit movement restrictions can be exasperating given the real-time strategy and terrain complications. With time running against you, these constraints feel like they work against the gameplay’s real-time flow.
Ultimately, WizardChess is somewhat puzzling for me. I suspect more playtime might acclimate me better to its quirks, but initially, it’s tough to ignore the disconnect between its promising ideas. It’s like a game that’s trying to bridge two worlds—turn-based strategy and real-time strategy—but struggling to integrate them smoothly. There’s potential here for something great, particularly if you’re into games that challenge conventional categories.
In conclusion, WizardChess offers a distinctive vision, something different from the typical gaming fare. Whether it all comes together seamlessly is debatable. Some players might find it just clicks for them, while for others, including myself, something feels amiss mechanically. It’s an effort worth acknowledging, but I find myself looking elsewhere for a strategic fix.
Rating Summary:
- Look and feel: 7/10
- Challenge: 7/10
- Gameplay: 5/10
- Story: 5/10
- Replayability: 7/10
Overall Score: 6.2/10
Verdict: One Too Many Pieces
WizardChess is a fun concept packed with tons of potential. However, it appears to lack a clear direction, struggling between its many creative elements. A niche crowd might adore it, but whether it appeals broadly is debatable.
