Games

Zugzwang
Author: Wretched Resolution: 640x480 at 32-bit color Downloaded: 2900 times (4 Mb) Genres: Fantasy, Comedy, Original Length: MAGS games
Added on: 29 October 2005 Website: http://www.alpha72.com/AGS/AGS.htm Content advisory: None  None  None Ratings: AGS Panel: (what is this?) Player rating: 82% Ever thought learning how to play chess was a bit of an adventure? Well now it really is. Zugzwang gradually leads the player through the basic movements of all the pieces, how to setup the board, capturing, castling, check, checkmate and stalemate, the weird nature of pawns and even the obscure en passant rule. At the same time you get to help two little Pawns, one White and one Black, to reach their ultimate ambitions. To play in a real Battle. Meet and talk to all the Pieces ,Black and White, and solve numerous chess puzzles, some serious and some just silly. Download Now (if the download doesn't work, try Right Click, Save Target As)
User ratings for Zugzwang:
From 15 peoples votes so far: (vote here) Visual: 80% Immersion: 80% Puzzles & Pacing: 82% Overall Enjoyment: 82% You can see a detailed breakdown of the votes.
Zugzwang was brought to you by:
Wretched
Other games by Wretched:
Bog's Adventure in Easy3D (Short games) Bog's Adventures in the Underworld (Full length games) Bunny Quest (Joke games) Crave (Full length games) Magsic (MAGS games) Magsic II (Medium length games) Slug Princess (Short games) Where's M' Hat Ma ? (Full length games)
AGS Panel review for this game:
The AGS Review Panel has left a comment about this game: Fantastic chess-based adventure game that not only teaches you how to play chess but has some light puzzle solving, too. Unfortunately the chess playing sequences are a bit stilted since the enemy pieces move only when threatened or see attacks of opportunity, which makes the lessons unnecessarily difficult (and unrealistic).
User comments about Zugzwang:
Posted by Marion on 2008-11-09 at 19:26 (IP logged): Very original ! I don't really like Chess game, but this game is well done and interesting. Congratulations for the mini-games. Posted by Meg, Scotland on 2007-07-22 at 20:32 (IP logged): There should be some kind of walkthrough. I got fed up, when I could not get passed the woodworm game. No hints I saw were of any help. Trial and Error does not work for some of us. Would have been nice to continue the adventure as I was enjoying it, being a chess player, but it was impossible for me to get passed the woodworm game. Posted by ProgZmax on 2007-07-16 at 03:07 (IP logged): I rarely comment on games in general but I thought it appropriate in this case since the game was released without much fanfare. I was pleasantly surprised by Zugzwang and recommend it to fans of chess, though people who hate chess might want to give it a miss as learning the game is a big part of this game. Also it suffers from some kludgy puzzle design but overall it's a solid, fun adventure that's even more impressive when you recognize it was made within a month. Posted by madmanmunt on 2007-01-27 at 14:40 (IP logged): Zugwang is one of my top ten favourite AGs games of all time and a sadly oft-overlooked masterpiece. It combines elements of the adventure game with chess simulations. Superb for children, or anyone, who wants to learn chess, Zugwang teaches the basics of the game (and some of the more complex elements too) gradually and brilliantly. If you already play chess, you'll enjoy it. If you don't, it's a great learning experience as well as a very inventive and entertaining adventure game. Zugwang is one of the most lovingly crafted and ingeniously concieved adventure games I have ever played. Try it, you won't regret it. Posted by Chistina on 2006-03-26 at 12:16 (IP logged): Very well played out. Teaches as well as entertains and I have to say I love the ending LOL. Posted by mozza on 2005-11-29 at 20:05 (IP logged): This would have to be one of my favourite games made on AGS. Before it I didn't know much about chess and I learnt it while having a great time. Thank-you Wretched! Posted by jane on 2005-11-18 at 03:47 (IP logged): I echo Rosies words...... "This guy is a genius" Posted by SimB on 2005-11-16 at 15:48 (IP logged): Another unique, challenging and rewarding MAGS game - Wretched's done it again. Great game, the chess puzzles can be quite challenging, but even a complete beginner can get through it with some adventure-game-logic. Hell, I'd even recommend it to anyone trying to learn chess, it's thorough and better designed than I could've ever expected. Posted by Rosie on 2005-11-01 at 16:37 (IP logged): As I have said before, "This guy is a genius" Posted by King_Nipper on 2005-11-01 at 07:24 (IP logged): I really liked this game... The way the puzzles were just right, and if you did a little thinking it ran smoothly. And the mini games for each piece were perfect for each section of the game. No one needs to know how to play chess to play this game, it teaches you. Posted by commentator on 2005-10-31 at 01:03 (IP logged): Shouldn't this be in the "Non-Adventure Games category?

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