{{short description|2012 video game}} {{Infobox video game |title=Pure Chess |image=Pure Chess Cover Art.png |caption= |developer=VooFoo Studios |publisher=Ripstone<br>Play It |series= |platforms=Microsoft Windows<br> PlayStation 3<br> PlayStation 4<br> PlayStation Vita<br> Nintendo 3DS<br> Wii U<br> IOS<br> Android<br> Xbox One |released={{vgrelease|EU|April 11, 2012|NA|May 29, 2012}}'''Wii U''' & '''3DS'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/games/pure-chess/vita-123220|title=Pure Chess|website=IGN|accessdate=March 27, 2013}}</ref>{{vgrelease|WW|March 20, 2014}}'''PlayStation 4'''{{vgrelease|EU|April 16, 2014|NA|April 15, 2014}} |genre= Digital tabletop |modes= Single-player, Online |designer= |composer= }}
'''''Pure Chess''''' is a chess video game by British developer VooFoo Studios.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/212916/PURE_CHESS_RELEASE_DATE_CONFIRMED_FOR_NINTENDO_3DS_AND_WiiU.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408220613/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/212916/PURE_CHESS_RELEASE_DATE_CONFIRMED_FOR_NINTENDO_3DS_AND_WiiU.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2014|title=Wii U and 3DS release date|website=Gamasutra|accessdate=March 12, 2014}}</ref>
== Release == Pure Chess was released for the PlayStation Vita and the PlayStation 3. The PS3 version of the game is only available through digital download via the PlayStation Store. The PS3 version of ''Pure Chess'' was released on April 11, 2012, in Europe<ref>{{cite web|author=Tam|url=http://www.voofoostudios.com/?p=451|title=Pure Chess Released for PlayStation 3!|publisher=VooFoo Studios|date=April 11, 2012|accessdate=March 27, 2013|archive-date=September 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929031054/http://www.voofoostudios.com/?p=451|url-status=live}}</ref> and on May 29, 2012, in North America.<ref>{{cite web|author=Tam|url=http://www.voofoostudios.com/?p=486|title=American Rejoice! Pure Chess out now in North America|publisher=VooFoo Studios|date=May 30, 2012|accessdate=March 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929083845/http://www.voofoostudios.com/?p=486|archive-date=September 29, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> A PlayStation 4 version was later released on April 15, 2014, in North America and April 16, 2014, in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|last=Yin-Poole|first=Wesley|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-07-pure-chess-launches-on-ps4-this-month|title=Pure Chess launches on PS4 this month|website=Eurogamer|date=April 7, 2014|accessdate=November 16, 2014}}</ref> A physical edition of this version was also published as a budget title by System 3 under their Play It label.
''Pure Chess'' was announced for Wii U during an August 2013 Nintendo Direct for the PAL region.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendoenthusiast.com/ripstone-shows-their-support-for-the-nintendo-eshop-with-pure-chess-knytt-underground/|title=Ripstone Shows Their Support for the Nintendo eShop with Pure Chess & Knytt Underground|publisher=Nintendo Enthusiast|access-date=2021-05-29|archive-date=2021-06-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212437/https://www.nintendoenthusiast.com/ripstone-shows-their-support-for-the-nintendo-eshop-with-pure-chess-knytt-underground/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The game's publisher Ripstone later confirmed the game for the Nintendo 3DS as well.<ref name="RipstoneConfirms">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/08/ripstone_confirms_details_for_knytt_underground_and_pure_chess_on_the_wii_u_eshop |title=Ripstone Confirms Details for Knytt Underground and Pure Chess on the Wii U eShop |first=Thomas |last=Whitehead |website=Nintendo Life |date=August 13, 2013|accessdate=August 28, 2013}}</ref> 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,<ref name="cross-platform-play">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/08/exclusive_pure_chess_eshop_releases_to_feature_cross_platform_multiplayer |title=Exclusive: Pure Chess eShop Releases To Feature Cross-Platform Multiplayer |first=Thomas |last=Whitehead |website=Nintendo Life |date=August 14, 2013 |accessdate=August 28, 2013}}</ref> and possibly even Sony's PlayStation consoles.<ref name="cross-platform-play-with-Sony">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/10/ripstone_confirms_plans_to_include_sony_systems_in_wii_u_and_3ds_pure_chess_online_multiplayer |title=Ripstone Confirms Plans to Include Sony Systems in Wii U and 3DS Pure Chess Online Multiplayer |first=Thomas |last=Whitehead |website=Nintendo Life |date=October 9, 2013|accessdate=October 9, 2013}}</ref>
On September 9, 2016, ''Pure Chess: Grandmaster Edition'' was made available for the Xbox One<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thisisxbox.com/grandmaster-pure-chess-xbox/#71yxat5OTTEV2ArR.99 |title=Be a Grandmaster in Pure Chess on Xbox |access-date=2016-09-02 |archive-date=2016-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160904184733/http://www.thisisxbox.com/grandmaster-pure-chess-xbox/#71yxat5OTTEV2ArR.99 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and PC using Steam.<ref>[https://store.steampowered.com/app/300630/ STEAM: Pure Chess Grandmaster Edition]</ref>
==Reception== ===Commercial=== ''Pure Chess'' was the 11th best-selling PlayStation Network game and the 4th best-selling PS Vita game in June 2012.<ref>{{cite web|author=Colin Moriarty|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/11/junes-best-selling-playstation-network-games|title=June's Best-Selling PlayStation Network Games|website=IGN|date=July 11, 2012|accessdate=March 27, 2013|archive-date=April 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413195333/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/07/11/junes-best-selling-playstation-network-games|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Critical=== {{Video game reviews | MC = 63/100 (Vita)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/pure-chess/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-vita|title=Pure Chess for PlayStation Vita reviews on Metacritic|website=Metacritic|accessdate=March 27, 2013}}</ref><br>61/100 (Wii U)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/pure-chess/critic-reviews/?platform=wii-u|title=Pure Chess for Wii U reviews on Metacritic|website=Metacritic|accessdate=April 21, 2014}}</ref> | IGN = 5.5/10<ref name=IGNreview>{{cite web|author=Colin Moriarty|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/01/pure-chess-review|title=Pure Chess Review|website=IGN|date=June 1, 2012|accessdate=March 27, 2013|archive-date=April 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420144238/http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/01/pure-chess-review|url-status=live}}</ref> | rev1 = ''Pocket Gamer'' | rev1Score = 7/10<ref name=Rose>{{cite web|url= http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/PS+Vita/Pure+Chess/review.asp?c=40404|title= Pure Chess review on Pocket Gamer|last= Rose|first= Mike|work= Pocket Gamer|date= April 27, 2012|accessdate= April 21, 2014|archive-date= June 26, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150626200919/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/PS+Vita/Pure+Chess/review.asp?c=40404|url-status= live}}</ref> }}
The game's single-player mode received praise from critics, but its multi-player mode was found disappointing by reviewers.<ref name=IGNreview/><ref>{{cite web|last=Herrick|first=Langdon|url=http://theadvocate.com/entertainment/games/3099621-123/pure-chess-makes-some-bad|title='Pure Chess' makes some bad moves|work=The Advocate|date=September 24, 2012|accessdate=March 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016043752/https://www.theadvocate.com/entertainment/games/3099621-123/pure-chess-makes-some-bad/|archive-date=October 16, 2012}}</ref> ''IGN''{{'}}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."<ref name=IGNreview/>
Mike Rose of ''Pocket Gamer'' gave the PS Vita 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 nature.<ref name=Rose/>
==See also== *''Chess Ultra'', a 2017 chess game also published by Ripstone
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
Category:2012 video games Category:Android (operating system) games Category:Chess software Category:IOS games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Nintendo 3DS eShop games Category:Nintendo 3DS games Category:Nintendo Network games Category:PlayStation 3 games Category:PlayStation 4 games Category:PlayStation Network games Category:PlayStation Vita games Category:Ripstone games Category:System 3 (company) games Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom Category:Video games with cross-platform play Category:VooFoo Studios games Category:Wii U eShop games