{{Short description|1992 video game}} {{use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox video game | title = Battle Chess 4000 | image = Battle Chess 4000 cover.jpg | developer = Interplay Productions | publisher = Interplay Productions<ref name="CGW1"/> | producer = | designer = | programmer = | artist = | writer = | composer = | engine = | series = | platforms = MS-DOS | released = 1992<ref>{{cite journal |title=Startup Disk |journal=Battle Chess 4000 |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/3460/battle-chess-4000/cover/group-78343/cover-312613/ |publisher=Interplay Productions |quote=©1992 Interplay Productions}}</ref> | genre = Computer chess | modes = Single-player, multiplayer }}
'''''Battle Chess 4000''''' is a 1992 chess video game developed and published by Interplay Productions for the MS-DOS. It is a sequel to ''Battle Chess II: Chinese Chess'' and the third game in the ''Battle Chess'' series.
==Gameplay== The player is an anonymous chess grandmaster who has traveled through time to the year 4000 aboard a space station that orbits Earth and has a huge chessboard within. The standard chess pieces have been replaced by alien creatures. The game has a rewind feature where the player can rewind or fast forward to any played turn. Elo rating is graded by completing 24 chess puzzles. The multiplayer supports head-to-head and modem play. The game features an opening library of 300,000 moves and SVGA graphics.<ref name="CGW1"/>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | PCG = 84%<ref name="PCG">{{cite magazine |last1=Borovskis |first1=Thomas |title=Review - Battle Chess 4000 |journal=PC Games |date=March 1993 |issue=3/93 |pages=42–43 |url=https://archive.org/details/PC.Games.N006.1993.03-fl0n/page/n41/mode/2up |publisher=Computec Media GmbH |language=German}}</ref> | rev1 = ''PC Joker'' | rev1Score = 60%<ref name="pcjoker">{{cite magazine |last1=Nettelbeck |first1=Joachim |title=Brainstorm - Battle Chess 4000 |journal=PC Joker |date=March 1993 |issue=3/93 |page=38 |url=https://archive.org/details/pcjokermaerz1993images/page/n37/mode/2up |publisher=Joker-Verlag |language=German}}</ref> | rev2 = ''PC Player'' (DE) | rev2Score = 67%<ref name="pcplayer">{{cite magazine |last1=Lenhardt |first1=Heinrich |title=Spiele-Tests - Battle Chess 4000 |journal=PC Player |date=February 1993 |issue=2/93 |page=45 |url=https://archive.org/details/PC-Player-German-Magazine-1993-02/page/n43/mode/2up |language=German}}</ref> | rev3 = ''{{ill|Power Play (Zeitschrift)|lt=Power Play|de}}'' | rev3Score = 70%<ref name="PP">{{cite magazine |last1=Steffen |first1=Sönke |title=Computerspiele Tests - Battlechess 4000 |journal=Power Play |date=March 1993 |issue=3/93 |page=31 |url=https://archive.org/details/powerplaymagazine-1993-03/page/n29/mode/2up |publisher=Markt+Technik |language=German}}</ref> }} ''Computer Gaming World'' concluded: "Battle Chess 4000 has transformed chess from a stuffy, intellectual exercise into a game that is fun to play. It combines great comedy, superb graphics, and a serious chess game without compromising anything along the way."<ref name="CGW1">{{cite magazine |last1=Kee |first1=Jay |title=Review - 4001: A Chess Odyssey |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=June 1993 |issue=107 |pages=56–57 |url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_107.pdf |publisher=Russell Sipe}}</ref> ''PC Games'' called the game extremely funny but said the playing strength is not enough for serious chess players and recommended the game for beginners and advanced players. The tutorials were said to come nowhere close to the ones in ''Chessmaster 3000''.<ref name="PCG"/> ''PC Player'' said ''Chessmaster 3000'' has more conservative graphics but is ahead of ''Battle Chess 4000'' in terms of playing strength and game features.<ref name="pcplayer"/> ''{{ill|Power Play (Zeitschrift)|lt=Power Play|de}}'' said the battle animations are entertaining at first but grow old fast. ''Chessmaster 3000'' was recommended for serious chess players, ''Battle Chess 4000'' was suggested for casual players.<ref name="PP"/> ''PC Joker'' said that after you've seen all the fight combinations, you're left with a below average chess program.<ref name="pcjoker"/>
In a comparison between 13 chess programs, ''{{ill|Amiga Joker|de}}'' rated ''Battle Chess 4000'' the fifth lowest.<ref name="amigajoker">{{cite magazine |title=Knobeln & Schieben - Schach dem Computer |journal=Amiga Joker |date=1993 |issue=5 Sonderheft - Strategie |pages=68–69 |url=https://amr.abime.net/issue_2934_pages |publisher=Joker-Verlag |language=German}}</ref> In a 1995 comparison between 11 chess programs, ''Computer Gaming World'' rated ''Battle Chess 4000'' the sixth highest, noting that "the humor by this point in the series feels a little forced".<ref name="CGW2">{{cite magazine |last1=Coleman |first1=Terry Lee |title=Survey - The Game of Kings |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=November 1995 |issue=136 |pages=278–290 |url=https://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_136.pdf |publisher=Ziff Davis}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{moby game|id=/3460/battle-chess-4000}} *{{Internet Archive game|BattleChess4000Demo|Demo version of Battle Chess 4000}}
Category:1992 video games Category:Video games about chess Category:Claymation video games Category:DOS games Category:DOS-only games Category:Interplay Entertainment games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Multiplayer online games Category:Science fiction video games Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:Video games set in the 4th millennium