System Requirements Pentium II 233 processor 32 MB RAM (16 MB free memory) 16-bit soundblaster compatible sound card 16 x speed CD-ROM drive Grpahics Card Resolution 800x600 (16bit color) Windows Me/XP ESRB Rating: Everyone King Black is up to no good again. This time he stole prize stuffed animals (chess chubbies) from the kings at the fair. It\'s up to Fritz and Bianca to get them back and confront King Black. In order to win Chess Chubbies you have to play and learn different chess moves at the fair booths.

Game Play

Although there are some references from the previous games, you won’t be completely lost if you start off from this title. It doesn’t start from the very beginning like teaching you how each piece moves. It will however correct you if you try to move a piece incorrectly. There is much to learn and Chesster will be there to guide you along the way. Here are some of the lessons you will learn: · Spanish opening and tracing back your moves. · Tactics-learn about diversion to capture better pieces. · Playing against the clock! · Evaluating every move you make. · Types of check (blitz, capture. Endgame training: rook vs. pawn) · Play with invisible pieces! · Key squares. Mating with knight and bishop. After you complete the mini games it\'s time to battle King Black and beat your way out! Chesster will be at your side to offer tips if you need them.

I\'ve beaten King Black now what?

The carnival booths are still accessible after you beat the game in case you need a refresher. You can also play against King Black, King Kaleidoscope, Chesster, the Chess Chubbies or a friend. Chesster can assist you if needed.

Appropriate?

Chess is generally pretty clean but this title has some things worth mentioning. There is some name calling with King Black and an old married couple that doesn’t get along but somehow they still stay together. There’s a ghost train and on that ride you play against ghosts and invisible chess pieces. Finally, one of the booths at the fair is a fortuneteller. Although she’s talking about chess the whole time, there are references to planets and fortune telling cards. Other than those annoyances this game is family friendly.

Final Thoughts

The game pretty much runs off of the CD and doesn\'t require much hard drive space. It’s nice that the game resumes right where you left off. For movement you just need your mouse. There are plenty of mini games to go through and with the options to replay characters and friends there is limitless re-playability. The graphics are 2D and are very colorful and cute. My only complaint with the graphics is that they are 800x600 and if you\'re running a higher resolution, you\'ll have black border around your screen. When you\'re playing chess, there is an option to turn off the cartoon characters and use the standard chess pieces. (This way it doesn\'t look like you\'re playing a kiddie game) Seriously, this game is fun for all ages and it was fun learning more chess tactics. The sound effects and voice acting are good too. You can print out a notation cheat sheet and score card sheet. The game also comes with a free 1 year membership to PlayChess.comwhere you can play people online! For anyone wanting to learn chess I would recommend this series. It\'s fun for all ages and for anyone who likes games that make them think. The Fritz engine is what powers the computers\' playing moves and it\'s pretty darn good. This is a very good deal for $29.99.

Final Ratings

Approrpiateness 43/50 -6 for occult references and magic use -1 for demeaning family respect and authority Game Play 18/20 Graphics 7/10 Sound 7/10 Stability 5/5 Controls 5/5

Final Score 85%