{{Short description|2017 video game}} {{use dmy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox video game | title = Chess Ultra | image = Chess Ultra cover.jpg | developer = Ripstone | publisher = Ripstone | producer = | designer = | programmer = | artist = | writer = | composer = | engine = Unreal Engine 4<ref name="PS"/> | series = | platforms = PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, Switch | released = 21 June 2017<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Lucas M. |title=Out This Week: Ever Oasis, Dead by Daylight, Cave Story+ |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/19/out-this-week-cave-story-dead-by-daylight-ever-oasis |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=5 August 2023 |date=19 June 2017 |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318031328/https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/19/out-this-week-cave-story-dead-by-daylight-ever-oasis |url-status=live }}</ref><br>2 November 2017 (Switch)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitehead |first1=Thomas |title=Nintendo Download: 2nd November (Europe) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/11/nintendo_download_2nd_november_europe |website=Nintendo Life |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=5 August 2023 |date=2 November 2017}}</ref> | genre = Computer chess | modes = Single-player, multiplayer }}
'''''Chess Ultra''''' is a chess video game developed and published by Ripstone for the PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in June 2017. A Switch port was released a few months later. It is the second chess game by Ripstone after ''Pure Chess'' (2012). ''Chess Ultra'' is the first in-house developed game by Ripstone.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whitehead |first1=Thomas |title=Feature: Ripstone On Making the Right Moves With Chess Ultra on Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/11/feature_ripstone_on_making_the_right_moves_with_chess_ultra_on_nintendo_switch |website=Nintendo Life |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=5 August 2023 |date=3 November 2017 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805171000/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/11/feature_ripstone_on_making_the_right_moves_with_chess_ultra_on_nintendo_switch |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Gameplay== The game features four different graphical locations (fireplace room, living room, museum, dark cave) and four chess piece sets.<ref name="PS"/> In the tutorial mode, there are basic lessons for beginners, 80 checkmate challenges for advanced players, and for the most experienced players there is a mode where the player has to recreate historic games by playing the closing moves. The multiplayer supports either local or online play.<ref name="NLife"/> The online multiplayer supports cross-platform play (except the PS4 version).<ref name="DD2"/> In the portable mode in the Switch version, local multiplayer can be played by placing the console flat on the table to simulate a chessboard. The computer AI has ten difficulty settings. The game calculates the player's Elo rating when playing against the AI or other players online.<ref name="NLife"/> The PlayStation 4 version has a PlayStation VR mode.<ref name="DD1"/>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | NLife = 8/10 (Switch)<ref name="NLife">{{cite web |last1=Whitehead |first1=Thomas |title=Chess Ultra Review (Switch eShop) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/chess_ultra |website=Nintendo Life |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=5 August 2023 |date=3 November 2017 |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318031332/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/chess_ultra |url-status=live }}</ref> | NWR = 8.5/10 (Switch)<ref name="NWR">{{cite web |last1=Gibson |first1=Casey |title=Chess Ultra (Switch) Review |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/45808/chess-ultra-switch-review |website=Nintendo World Report |publisher=NINWR, LLC. |access-date=5 August 2023 |date=8 November 2017 |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318031332/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/45808/chess-ultra-switch-review |url-status=live }}</ref> | rev1 = ''Digitally Downloaded'' | rev1Score = 4.5/5 (PS4, Switch)<ref name="DD1">{{cite web |last1=S. |first1=Matt |title=Review: Chess Ultra (Sony PlayStation 4) |url=http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2017/07/review-chess-ultra-sony-playstation-4.html |website=Digitally Downloaded |access-date=5 August 2023 |date=4 July 2017 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805171003/http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2017/07/review-chess-ultra-sony-playstation-4.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="DD2">{{cite web |last1=S. |first1=Matt |title=Review: Chess Ultra (Nintendo Switch) |url=http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2017/11/review-chess-ultra-nintendo-switch.html |website=Digitally Downloaded |access-date=5 August 2023 |date=8 November 2017 |archive-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805171000/http://www.digitallydownloaded.net/2017/11/review-chess-ultra-nintendo-switch.html |url-status=live }}</ref> | rev2 = ''PlanetSwitch.de'' | rev2Score = 4/5 (Switch)<ref name="PS">{{cite web |last1=Hahn |first1=Nicola |title=Kurztest: Chess Ultra |url=http://www.planetswitch.de/test/107-kurztest-chess-ultra.html |website=PlanetSwitch.de |publisher=4Players |access-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107174415/http://www.planetswitch.de/test/107-kurztest-chess-ultra.html |archive-date=7 November 2017 |language=German |date=3 November 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Windows Central'' | rev3Score = 4/5 (Xbox One)<ref name="WC">{{cite web |last1=Acevedo |first1=Paul |title=Chess Ultra for Xbox One review: A deep chess game with cross-platform multiplayer |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/chess-ultra-review |website=Windows Central |publisher=Future plc |access-date=5 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629193906/https://www.windowscentral.com/chess-ultra-review |archive-date=29 June 2017 |date=29 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> }} ''Chess Ultra'' received generally positive reviews from critics. ''Windows Central'' liked the tutorials and cross-platform multiplayer but disliked the matchmaking system.<ref name="WC"/> ''Digitally Downloaded'' thought the game is an improvement from ''Pure Chess'' in every way.<ref name="DD1"/> They also liked the table mode in the Switch version.<ref name="DD2"/> ''Nintendo Life'' said the game is "[...] a polished and well constructed title. It falls short of true excellence due to controller quirks in local multiplayer and a few missing conveniences in online play, such as a notification system or means by which to communicate more directly."<ref name="NLife"/> ''Nintendo World Report'' liked how accessible the game is and called it "outstanding".<ref name="NWR"/> ''PlanetSwitch.de'' said that despite a few technical inconsistencies, it's a great chess for on the go.<ref name="PS"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official|https://ripstone.com/chess-ultra/}}
Category:2017 video games Category:Video games about chess Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Nintendo Switch games Category:PlayStation 4 games Category:PlayStation VR games Category:Ripstone games Category:Unreal Engine 4 games Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom Category:Windows games Category:Xbox One games