Omega Chess – PC – Preview

One thing that we as
reviewers always get to see is new versions of old classic games. Stuff like
Pac-Man, Mario, and Metroid have dominated store shelves for many adults, and
many times we have heard “I loved that growing up, I can’t wait to play the new
version”. In addition, old classic board games like Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit,
and even my daughter’s favorite Candy Land have been brought to life through
video games. One classic game that has been around since before the time of
Christ himself is of course chess, and no doubt gamers all over the world have
seen thousands of programs and difficulties, tutors, teaching software, and tons
of colorful piece variances added to this ancient and strategic game of wits.
One thing that always rings true in each version that comes out though is that
it’s ALWAYS the same game and rules, no matter what it looks like, so why buy
new software only to get some colorful new graphics to look at? Well, I had a
chance to sit down and play Omega Chess, a new standard in chess developed by a
gentleman named Dan Macdonald. While Omega Chess retains the same rules as the
known and loved classic chess game, it adds some new features that could really
help to bring new life into what could probably be called the most long lasting
and popular strategy game of all time.

To visualize how Omega
Chess works, picture a regular chess board, and add all of the pieces on and
know that they can all do the same moves that they are supposed to (Knights are
still 3-space jumpers, Bishops still can move X squares diagonally, etc). OK,
now add another column to each side of the board, then add a new row at the top
and bottom and slide all of the pieces back one row. Got it? Cool. Now, add a
single space off of each of the four corners, and you have the board design for
Omega Chess. The question you probably have now is “OK, but what goes in the
empty corner spaces hanging off of the board and in that empty space next to the
rooks and the pawns on the end”? Glad you asked …

Screen Shot for Omega Chess

The real draw to Omega
Chess is the addition of two new pieces onto the playing field … the Champion
and the Wizard. The Champions are placed next to the rooks in the back row, with
a new pawn in front of them, and the Wizards occupy the single spaces off to the
corner … now giving the chess board 44 total pieces to work with instead of the
normal 32 (hence the need for a bigger board). This of course offers old players
a little something new to work with and learn, and adds new possibilities to the
overall playing of the game while keeping the standard chess rules in place.
Think of possible strategies with a bigger board and more spaces and traps to
set with Knights and the Queen (or your own combination). Think about moving
your King into a corner space and building defenses around him. Basically, you
now have a lot of new opportunities and strategies to develop.

Screen Shot for Omega Chess      
Champion Move

  

Screen Shot for Omega Chess
Wizard Move

One thing that many chess
fanatics notice whenever playing the game is that opening moves and lead ins are
normally done through memorization of sometimes hundreds of possibilities and
counters to possible opponent openings. The addition of the two new pieces will
now force players to think about new combinations and openings, since using one
designed to protect or move against 16 opponent pieces does not take into
account an extra 6 to worry about, plus with the extra row added in pawns can
now move up to three spaces in the opening versus only two. The other thing that
helps in this area is that the Champion and the Wizard are both jumpers, and are
not hindered by other pieces being in their way. The Champion can move one or
two spaces both vertically and horizontally, or jump two spaces diagonally,
while the Wizard becomes a new weapon for the Knight savvy players by moving in
a modified Knight pattern (three spaces vertically or horizontally and one space
over, staying on it’s starting color) or simply moving one space diagonally. As
you can see, they can not only jump, but have a couple of different move options
as well forcing you to have to keep an eye of them from two different possible
threats.

I got the chance to sit
down and play a beta version of the game (you can check it out on the official
website,

www.omegachess.com
) and I can say that as a chess player, although not a
great one by any means, I was impressed at the balance that the new pieces had
being introduced into a classic and well known title. My main concern here was
that they wouldn’t work well or would totally throw the whole game off as I knew
it. While it does take some getting used to, two or three games and I now have
to try and figure out some new openings and strategies, the new pieces blended
in very well to the classic pieces and rules of chess and made it a simple new
addition to make the game a little newer and fresher. The real test was letting
my younger brother (who is a daily chess player and takes the game VERY
seriously) have a crack at it. After three games, he stated that he really liked
it, the format and the idea behind it and it is something that he would like to
play more of … even though he did have the same “I have to get used to it”
comment. But almost any new game takes a few tries to get used to it. My
ten-year-old son (also a chess player and fan) played it as well, and he really
liked it, especially the new pieces … since he is into the whole Wizards and
Warriors thing (like his Dad of course).

Screen Shot for Omega Chess

Now, before you hop into
the car or send a bunch of e-mails asking when this will be released, there is
no definite release date to it at this time. Also, know that Omega Chess may
not be packaged by itself up front, but rather as an addition to classic chess
software, giving players a good opportunity to pick up a kind of “two for one”
deal. Play Omega Chess, but also have the option of playing the regular version
if you are simply a chess purist, or switch back and forth to mix it up a bit.
Some of the top chess players in the world have played the game, enjoyed it, and
are ready to endorse it as a new chess standard as I understand it, and since
approximately 40% of the chess world is ready for something a little newer in
the game, this could be what they are looking for. If this write up peaks your
interest, head on over to the official website (again,

www.omegachess.com
) and check it out and send your thoughts to

[email protected]
… and Mr. McDonald also would like to request to please
send feedback to him at this address as well.
If you enjoy playing chess, you will enjoy playing Omega Chess. I recommend
giving it a run.