Virtual Kasparov just barely succeeds as a video game, and only because it is based on a timeless masterpiece.
But audiovisual stimulation is not at all what this game is about, and to aptly describe the blandness of it weighs too heavily against its strengths. Having a host of opponents readily available to play against appeals to the lonely chess connoisseur, and that’s where this game hits its stride. In all, there are thirty-one opponents to match up against in the game’s main mode, each of whom plays in his or her own distinct fashion. These diverse characters provide a needed shot of personality and put Virtual Kasparov a cut above other chess titles. Whether it’s taking advantage of an amateur’s mistakes in North America, or finally checkmating the mogul from East Asia after weeks of steady defeat, the gameplay satisfies in a way that other chess games simply can't.
Virtual Kasparov revolves around its story mode, where the characters are dispersed among five regions of the world. Each character is given a touch of personality as a brief dossier scrolls up the screen, detailing their personal interests and playing habits. The ultimate goal is to blaze a trail from region to region defeating chess players of differing skill levels until finally facing Kasparov himself. The journey to the top starts off easily enough, since the first few opponents are rather lackadaisical, but the tenacity and expertise of the latter challengers can be outright bewildering. Even experienced players may need a few runs through the tutorial mode in order to sharpen their skills and defeat the high-level opposition.
The tutorial mode is a place where players can learn the basics of chess, discover a bit of chess theory, like the square rule, or unearth advanced tactics for checkmating and trapping such as "boxed mate" and "the fork". Included replays of showdowns between grandmasters of old are sure to pique the interests of devoted chess players, too, despite their underwhelming presentation. Had Virtual Kasparov built on this novel idea by including more than just two historical matches, and maybe even some chess history, it could have been an essential title for some. That the one and only video game endorsed by world-renowned chess legend Garry Kasparov doesn’t include an encyclopedic archive of chess’ rich culture is, without question, its most relevant oversight.
If the motivation behind Virtual Kasparov's development was to fill the world with the desire to study, learn, and play chess, then this game is an utter failure. For that matter, if its developers set out to innovate within the desolate space of video game chess, then they still did not succeed. But if Titus Interactive simply intended to provide a sufficient tagalong title for all the kings' horses and all the kings' men, then they should rejoice. In that provision, Virtual Kasparov is a success that many gamers will pass on, but any chess buff can appreciate.