| Wii Chess | |
| Developer: | Nintendo SPD |
| Publisher: | Nintendo |
| Director: | Makoto Yoshida Azusa Tajima Kazuki Yoshihara |
| Producer: | Hitoshi Yamagami |
| Composer: | Kenichiro Iwasaki |
| Series: | Wii |
| Released: | Wii WiiWare |
| Modes: | Single-player, Multiplayer, Online |
| Platforms: | Wii |
Wii Chess is a chess video game for the Wii console. It was developed by Nintendo and was released on January 18, 2008, in Europe as a budget-priced retail title.[1] [2] Under the name, it was released as a downloadable WiiWare title in Japan on September 30, 2008.[3] The game was never released in North America or Australia, making it the only game in the Wii series that was not released in those continents. It is also the only game in the series that does not have playable Mii characters.
Wii Chess uses the Loop Express chess engine.[4]
The game is played using the Wii Remote. However, instead of the pointer function, chess pieces are moved across the board using the D-pad on the controller.
The game features an option that gives players new to chess instructions on how each piece should move across the board. Players are also able to record and replay their games at a later time. Players could also play online against other players courtesy of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, with Wii Chess players being able to compete against players of World Chess and vice versa.[5]
Official Nintendo Magazine UK gave the game 78%. They praised the great online multiplayer and how the game plays a "perfect game". Their main criticisms were the bland visuals and the fact it will not capture the imaginations of people who do not like chess. Eurogamer gave the game 7/10, citing that it features a number of "sensible options", but notes that it misses features that would more than justify the price of the game.