Transformers Chess
From LoveToKnow BoardGames
Transformers chess is one of the many decorative chess sets you can purchase to play the ancient game. The rules of chess for the Transformers chess set is the same, but the pieces that you move around to create strategies and combinations to checkmate the King are different.
The Board and Pieces
The Transformers chess board is your standard 64 square board, like the one we all know from history, overlaid on the Planet Cybertron, the home of the Transformers. The planet is battleridden due to the extreme battles that robots have done to Cybertron.
The chess pieces are pewter-like, which gives them nice look, but they are plastic. The pieces are heavy enough, which is what you want in a chess piece. The weighted bottoms keep the pieces in place if the board is accidentally bumped or if the pieces get slightly nudged.
Chess Pieces
Each piece represents a character in the Transformer universe. The pawns are the actual Decepticon and Autobot logos. The Decepticon King is Megatron, and the Autobot King is Optimus Prime, so it is a classic battle for the Allspark and the ultimate battle of good versus evil.
The characters that are represented are:
- Autobots: Ironhide, Jazz, Bumblebee, and Rachet
- Decepticons: Starscream, Blackout, and Bonecrusher
On the bottom of each piece is what the character represents from the original chess pieces. Optimus Prime will have a picture of a king on the base of his piece, and Rachet will have a picture of a Rook.
Where to Find the Transformer Chess Game
When the Transformers Chess set was released a couple of years ago, it retailed form $39.99. Now, with some savvy shopping you can probably find a good deal. Internet stores are going to be the best place to find the best deals.
- Amazon.com: Amazon is still the finest online merchant to find deals. You can find new Transformers chess sets on Amazon which might ship from places like Target or Walmart. There are also the Amazon Associates which often sell items as used, which can save you some dollars. If it's not a gift or it's not a huge concern, then you should buy the chess set used.
- Ebay.com: another site where you can find some deals, but because level of fraud is increased, make sure of a few things. One, that all the pieces are there. Two, that the Ebay seller is reputable.
- Major Retailer Websites. Many of the major retailers, like Target and Walmart, still offer the Transformers chess set online and in the store. As of this writing, it sells for $29.99, which is about double from what you can find online.
This licensed chess set is still easy to find, so you should have no trouble tracking one down. The bottom line is to figure out what you want to pay.
Positives
This chess set is a perfect gift for someone who loves Transformers and likes chess. The pieces are easily recognizable as the Transformer counterparts, which will make you think you are actually a Decepticon or an Autobot.
If you have someone interested in or are just learning to play chess, but can't seem to stay concentrated and you know they like the Transformer's universe, then combining the two might spur that person's chess growth because they can relate it to something they are already familiar with.
Negatives
Even though the pieces are easily recognizable, it's not so easy to remember which piece the character represents in terms of a Bishop, Knight, or Rook. If you forget, you need to glance at the base, which could detract from the game. If you are looking for a serious game of chess, then use an actual chess set.
The look of the game is one point, but the pieces do seem a little cheap because of the plastic feel. The coating is just a silver spray-paint. The Transformer chess set may be something that you occasionally use for fun or may just be part of the décor in your Anime-themed room.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 748 times. This page was last modified 18:59, 17 November 2008.
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