''Pure Chess'' is a

chess Chess is a board game for two players. It is an abstract strategy game that involves Perfect information, no hidden information and no elements of game of chance, chance. It is played on a square chessboard, board consisting of 64 squares arran ...

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

by British developer VooFoo Studios.

Release

Pure Chess was released for the

PlayStation Vita The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, then in other international territories on February 22, 2012, and was produced ...

and the

PlayStation 3 The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). It is the successor to the PlayStation 2, and both are part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. The PS3 was first released on ...

. The PS3 version of the game is only available through digital download via the

PlayStation Store PlayStation Store (PS Store) is a digital distribution service for users of Sony's PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 game consoles via PlayStation Network. The store offers a range of downloadable content both ...

. The PS3 version of ''Pure Chess'' was released on April 11, 2012, in Europe and on May 29, 2012, in North America. A

PlayStation 4 The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013, in ...

version was later released on April 15, 2014 in North America and April 16, 2014 in Europe. A physical edition of this version was also published as a budget title by

System 3 System 3, System/3 or System III may refer to: Computing and electronics *Acorn System 3, a home computer produced by Acorn Computers from 1980 *Cromemco System Three, a home computer produced by Cromemco from 1978 *IBM System/3, a low-end business ...

under their Play It label. ''Pure Chess'' was announced for

Wii U The Wii U ( ) is a home video game console developed by Nintendo as the successor to the Wii. Released in late 2012, it is the first eighth-generation video game console and competed with Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4. The W ...

during an August 2013

Nintendo Direct Nintendo Direct is a series of online presentations or live shows produced by Nintendo, where information regarding the company's upcoming content or franchises is presented, such as information about games and consoles. The presentations began ...

for the PAL region. The game's publisher Ripstone later confirmed the game for the

Nintendo 3DS The is a foldable dual-screen handheld game console produced by Nintendo. Announced in March 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS, the console was released originally on February 26, 2011 and went through various revisions in its lifetime, ...

as well. In addition, it was also confirmed that cross-platform play will be supported between both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS versions, as well as with players playing the mobile versions of the game, and possibly even Sony's PlayStation consoles. On September 9, 2016, ''Pure Chess: Grandmaster Edition'' was made available for the

Xbox One The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was first released in North America, parts of Europe, Austra ...

and PC using

Steam Steam is water vapor, often mixed with air or an aerosol of liquid water droplets. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization. Saturated or superheated steam is inv ...

Reception

Commercial

''Pure Chess'' was the 11th best-selling

PlayStation Network PlayStation Network (PSN) is a digital media entertainment service provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Launched in November 2006, PSN was originally conceived for the PlayStation video game consoles, but soon extended to encompass smartp ...

game and the 4th best-selling PS Vita game in June 2012.

Critical

The game's single-player mode received praise from critics, but its multi-player mode was found disappointing by reviewers. ''

IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

''s Colin Moriarty wrote that the game's "single-player offerings challenge gamers with a variety of options that will please chess nuts, especially for its relatively low price, but added that "''Pure Chess'' has completely unacceptable online functionality that's flagrantly clumsy and lazily executed." Mike Rose of ''

Pocket Gamer ''Pocket Gamer'' is a video game website and former print magazine that focuses on mobile, portable and handheld games. It was launched in 2005 by Steel Media Limited. The publication covers portable and mobile gaming formats, including iPhone, ...

'' gave the

PS Vita The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, then in other international territories on February 22, 2012, and was produced ...

version of ''Pure Chess'' 3.5 out 5 stars. Rose opined that "The single-player component of ''Pure Chess'' is solid, though there are peripheral niggles," noting issues with its touch controls and camera movement. Rose was critical of the game's multiplayer mode, listing several flaws, namely its

asynchronous Asynchrony is any dynamic far from synchronization. If and as parts of an asynchronous system become more synchronized, those parts or even the whole system can be said to be in sync. Asynchrony or asynchronous may refer to: Electronics and com ...

nature.

References

{{reflist, 30em 2012 video games Android (operating system) games Chess software IOS games Multiplayer and single-player video games Nintendo 3DS eShop games Nintendo Network games PlayStation 3 games PlayStation 4 games PlayStation Network games PlayStation Vita games Ripstone games System 3 (company) games Video games developed in the United Kingdom Video games with cross-platform play VooFoo Studios games Wii U eShop games

Release

Reception

Commercial

Critical

See also

References