There’s something undeniably captivating about a classic tactical game. The allure of turn-based strategy games lies in their nostalgic feel, yet when executed well, they remain invigorating. Despite the underlying principles rarely changing drastically across tactics games, the addition of innovative mechanics can set each one apart. We’re diving into a world that’s much like chess today—well, sort of. I’ve been engrossed in WizardChess lately. It’s been quite an adventure, albeit with a few puzzling elements, starting with its name.
While WizardChess loosely resembles chess in its core idea—units maneuvering and attacking—this is where the similarity ends. The game carves out its own identity with unique mechanics and a flowing gameplay style that sets it miles away from traditional chess. It’s unmistakably a strategy game, but if you approach it with a chess-centric mindset, you might find yourself perplexed, or even frustrated.
In the world of WizardChess, you’re immersed in a dungeon setting, tasked with overcoming encounters and, eventually, facing the tutorial boss across a series of rounds. This tutorial is a sprawling segment, necessary for truly grasping the game’s rules. There are various unlockable units to familiarize yourself with, the mastery of which is essential for success. However, the tutorial’s inability to save progress is a downside. Quitting the game means abandoning your progress, and after investing significant time, I opted to jump into a different mode. Reflecting on it, venturing into Arcade mode might not have been the wisest decision, as it shifted the game’s experience entirely.
The tutorial mode in WizardChess is turn-based and strategic. You’ll play your units from collected cards, allowing ample time to devise your strategy. Managing unit placement becomes a tactical challenge since you can move only one unit per round, and the enemy units are also on the go. Some units boast special abilities, but to activate them, you sacrifice movement, making it a delicate balancing act. Once I acclimated, though still having to restart, I found enjoyment in its measured pace.
Switching gears to Arcade mode presented a stark contrast. Here, you’re provided a fixed number of units already on the board, and you must race against the clock to dispatch as many opponents as possible before a boss appears. Between rounds, you can visit the game shop to purchase new cards or upgrade existing ones. However, the limited currency makes improvements sluggish, demanding a pace that seems to undermine deep strategy. Playing quickly for sufficient currency means strategic depth takes a backseat, and each shop decision becomes pivotal due to the modest number of rounds.
The WizardChess shop concept is refreshing. It doesn’t just offer new units; you can choose to upgrade the attack and defense of units in your current lineup instead. Initial gameplay suggests increasing your unit count before considering other attributes, which can be key to forming a robust strategy early on.
Additionally, units can be enhanced with elements, affecting their behavior. For example, a unit imbued with fire becomes more aggressive, while one with water gains defensiveness—this layer of depth lets you better control unplayed units on a given turn.
Admittedly, facing the first boss in Arcade Mode proved too much for me. Despite several attempts, I found myself woefully underprepared each time. With only a sporadic hero offering support, watching my units (all four of them) fall left me deflated. Given Arcade Mode’s prominence in WizardChess, it’s a quickly frustrating experience for an ill-equipped player.
WizardChess shines in its need for a proper campaign mode. The tutorial introduces a charming array of characters, hinting at a deeper narrative potential. Unfortunately, with no campaign to progress, the storytelling aspect seems stifled. It feels designed for short play sessions, the goal being to see how far you can advance in a single run rather than over time. While addictive in shorter spurts, its appeal over extended periods remains uncertain.
In terms of controls, WizardChess handles well, utilizing a simple point-and-click setup. Units boast distinct movements like their chess counterparts, whether horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. However, in a real-time strategy context, these movement constraints, coupled with terrain that obstructs movement, can hinder gameplay fluidity, implying a misalignment with the underlying format.
To sum up, WizardChess presents an intriguing conundrum for me. I might need more time with it, and my incomplete tutorial experience might be coloring my perception. That said, while some ideas are promising, the execution feels scattered, creating a few headaches. A turn-based dungeon crawler format might have fit better, allowing the chess-inspired elements to shine. Conversely, a real-time strategy battle with urgency could appeal differently but effectively. The attempt to fuse these styles results in more complexity than necessary—for me, at least.
Despite these hiccups, I admire what WizardChess aims to be. The developers’ quest for something innovative is commendable, and for some, this game might just resonate perfectly. However, for those like me seeking a coherent strategy experience, it may leave us exploring alternative options.
