Is FPS Chess Just Normal Chess? An In-Depth Investigation
No, FPS chess is far from just being regular chess with a different skin. This creative hybrid introduces first-person shooter gameplay into the classic game of chess, significantly changing core elements like capturing opponent‘s pieces.
While FPS chess initially looks identical to normal chess, utilizing the standard 8×8 checkered board and Chess pieces, gameplay diverges massively once pieces engage in battle. Rather than instantly capturing pieces by removal from the board, players are transported into intense firefights more reminiscent of Call of Duty.
So beyond aesthetic and conceptual similarities, FPS Chess innovates wildly by combining real-time FPS duels with turn-based positioning on the chess board.
Key Gameplay Differences from Classical Chess
I‘ve broken down some of the major variations in gameplay mechanics below:
| Gameplay Element | Normal Chess | FPS Chess |
|---|---|---|
| Board and pieces | Standard 8×8 chess board and pieces | Identical board and pieces |
| Moving pieces | Typical chess movement rules | Same standard chess rules |
| Capturing pieces | Instantly remove opponent‘s pieces | Enter FPS arena duel to capture pieces |
| Capturing mechanism | No action component | FPS weapons and abilities used |
| Skill emphasis | Strategy and tactics | Strategy plus FPS skill |
| Game length | Variable based on game events | Longer due to FPS battles |
Detailed Breakdown of FPS Mode
The key innovation of FPS Chess comes when attacking an opponent‘s piece. Rather than instantly claiming it like in regular chess, players enter a special battle arena to fight over possession of the piece in question:
- Select FPS Class – Each player chooses from classes like sniper, gunner and ninja, each with unique abilities and weapons
- Fight in Arena – Health, ammo and powerups randomly spawn as players face off
- Victor Claims Piece – The winner returns to chessboard and takes control of enemy piece
So despite retaining the strategic positioning and movement from classical chess, the standard "take" action transforms into an intense FPS firefight.
This means successfully capturing opponents relies as much on quick reactions and aim as pre-planned tactics. And introduce more factors like properly utilizing classes and navigating arenas under fire.
Created by Indie Studio Meta Fork
FPS Chess was developed by the small independent studio Meta Fork, founded by Alexander Peskov. The team focuses exclusively on creating unusual hybrid games merging disparate genres into fresh new packages.
In combining classic strategic chess with frantic FPS gameplay, FPS Chess delivers a novel game mechanic I haven‘t seen executed before. And based on its ‘Overwhelmingly Positive‘ rating on Steam from almost 300 reviews, many players clearly feel the same!
As creator Alexander Peskov revealed in an interview:
"We loved playing casual games of chess during work breaks. But the pace often felt slow during piece captures. So we thought – what if we transformed capturing into skill-based FPS battles? The initial concept was a joke, but gradually we realized FPS Chess could work as its own unique game!"
So Meta Fork wisely retained the cerebral strategy players love from chess, while injecting action to accelerate gameplay pace. Based on rising Steam player figures and plans for expanded content, it seems to have found the perfect balance!
Tournament Scene Building with $5k Prizes
Official FPS Chess tournaments kicked off last month, with the finals taking place at Ukraine‘s HiddenCon festival in August 2023. Qualifying events have started popping up on sites like Faceit, with average prize pools around $100.
The main HiddenCon event features a $5,000 prize for 1st place however, so competition will be fierce. Current grandmasters like Russia‘s Ivan Popov have also signed on to compete.
But due to the game‘s shooter mechanics skewing importance away from pure chess ability, some surprise names could break through here. It will be intriguing viewing as top-tier FPS gamers face off against strategic masters!
Comparison to Other Chess Hybrids
FPS chess isn‘t the first attempt at merging different games with classic chess – forms like chess boxing have existed for years in small circuits.
Chess boxing alternates rounds of blitz chess with boxing matches, proclaiming "Fight is Right!" as its official motto. Dutch artist Iepe Rubingh claims to have coined the unusual hybrid term, hosting the first event in 2003.
But what separates FPS Chess is its smart integration of the two game formats, rather than crudely switching between them. The shooter elements slot smoothly into chess‘ "taking" actions, rather than interrupting flow as a separate activity.
This means skills and strategy carry over between the two phases rather than requiring mastery of wholly unrelated disciplines. FPS chess feels like one fused experience, rather than an exhibition mash-up.
Accessibility Lowered by New Mechanics
One clear downside however is the increased skill level required to compete here. Novice chess aficionados hoping to play some quick games will likely find themselves demolished by experienced FPS experts.
Whereas standard chess can be learned in days, mastering first-person aiming, map knowledge and other critical shooting gameplay aspects takes serious dedication. Developing skills with individual hero classes also takes time.
This means the classic chess goal of capturing your opponent‘s King is a far tougher challenge here! But for die-hard gamers, that steep learning curve will be part of the appeal.
Final Verdict – An Innovative Twist on Chess Gameplay
While I‘ll always cherish my marble chess set for sentimental reasons, FPS Chess delivers an fresh take, merging action and strategy genres into one cohesive package.
It retains enough cardinal chess DNA to feel comfortingly familiar, while tweaking core areas like capturing pieces to insert skill-demanding FPS gameplay. This forces you to call on reaction times and hand coordination as well tactical prowess.
So if you crave fast-paced hybrid games that marry wildly different elements into functionally original experiences, FPS Chess should tick all the boxes! Just expect an expanded range of skills demanded here that build upon regular chess.
