REVIEW: WizardChess for PC – Featured on That VideoGame Blog

I have a soft spot for a good strategic battle. There’s something uniquely satisfying about turn-based strategy games that evokes a sense of nostalgia, yet when executed well, they always feel fresh. Typically, the core rules remain consistent across such games, but the distinctive mechanics often provide a refreshing twist. Today, I’m diving into a game that’s been on my mind—WizardChess. While it shares a fleeting resemblance to chess, don’t let the name mislead you. There’s more beneath the surface, and as we traverse this discussion, you’ll see why my initial impressions are somewhat mixed.

Now, WizardChess draws a faint comparison to the classic game of chess only by how the units move and attack on the board. But mechanically speaking, it stands in a league of its own. It undeniably falls under the strategy genre, yet it deviates so substantially from chess that it becomes a novel experience. This divergence isn’t inherently negative, but if you approach it expecting a chess-like experience, you might find yourself perplexed, if not a tad irritated.

In WizardChess, you find yourself thrust into a dungeon, navigating encounters and ultimately aiming to conquer the tutorial boss over several rounds. The tutorial itself is quite exhaustive, but given the intricate rules, this seems necessary to gain any meaningful understanding. There are a myriad of unlockable units, and figuring out their roles and strategic impact is crucial. However, a notable grievance is the lack of a save feature during the tutorial. Having to abandon my progress mid-tutorial was frustrating, and after a considerable investment of time, I ended up opting for a different game mode, which may not have been the wisest decision.

Switching to Arcade mode was like entering a different realm. Here, all your units are pre-deployed, and the gameplay demands you to race against the clock, defeating as many foes as possible before a boss shows up. Between rounds, you’re given the chance to enhance your deck or upgrade your current units’ stats in the in-game shop. However, the limited currency foils rapid progress, compelling a faster pace that sacrifices traditional strategy. This frenetic tempo curtails the effectiveness of tactical thinking tailored for turn-based scenarios and makes purchasing decisions at the shop crucial yet frantic.

The Shop offers an intriguing twist. You’re not restricted to buying new units; instead, you can bolster the attack and defense stats of existing ones, though it’s advisable to expand your army initially before considering upgrades. Moreover, units can be enhanced with elemental attributes, each affecting their behavior—for instance, fire induces aggression, while water promotes defensive maneuvers. This layered strategy provides greater control over your units’ actions during non-active turns.

Despite numerous attempts, I couldn’t defeat the first boss in Arcade Mode. Repeated failures left me pondering if the challenge stemmed from my skills or the game’s mechanics. My hero character, functioning more as support without offensive capabilities, compounded the struggle when all my units were wiped out. Given that Arcade Mode appears to be the primary mode in WizardChess, this quickly escalated from a challenge to a frustration.

WizardChess, to me, sorely lacks a campaign mode. While the tutorial provides insight into the characters you’ll encounter, its limited scope inhibits any substantial story development. It’s unfortunate, particularly when the existing writing shows promise. I sense the game is designed for short sessions, focusing on progression within a single run rather than over time. This makes it enjoyable in spurts, but I’m unsure how well it holds up for extended plays.

The control mechanics in WizardChess operate smoothly, with straightforward point-and-click functionality. True to chess, units move in designated patterns—vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Yet, this predetermined movement can become cumbersome in the heat of real-time play, especially when terrain restrictions further hinder action. The timed nature of the gameplay juxtaposes these limitations, making strategic placement more challenging and tempo-breaking.

In the end, WizardChess presents a peculiar blend of innovative concepts that don’t quite synchronize seamlessly. It feels like if it leaned entirely into one genre—either focusing on a turn-based dungeon crawler or a real-time battle—it might have found a clearer identity. For now, this mix creates more complications than it should, at least from my perspective.

I see the potential and vision behind WizardChess, and I commend the developers for their ambition. There’s something here that might resonate deeply with certain players, providing them a unique and engaging experience. For me, however, it still feels like a work in progress, and I might need to seek out my strategic thrills elsewhere.

In the end, WizardChess showcases some very cool ideas, but the execution struggles to find a cohesive identity. While this game may cultivate a niche, devoted following, its broader appeal to strategy enthusiasts remains in question.