Does Check and Slash redefine the roguelike or is it checkmate for innovation?

When a game attempts to blend established genres, there is always a tangible excitement, a hope that the developers have managed to concoct something truly novel and engaging. Check and Slash attempts this very feat, positioning itself at the intriguing intersection of chess and the action roguelike, a fusion that on paper, promises strategic depth alongside dynamic, real-time combat. The question that immediately springs to mind is whether this ambitious combination truly delivers a refreshing experience, or if it simply struggles to meld its disparate elements into a cohesive whole. Can the venerable, tactical world of chess truly enhance the frantic, unpredictable nature of a roguelike? Read on to find out!

The Grandmaster’s Gauntlet

In Check and Slash, players are thrust into a procedurally generated dungeon where every foe draws inspiration from a chess piece. These “dungeons” are intricately designed as a series of interconnected chessboard-themed play areas, each varying in size and layout.

The core gameplay loop involves navigating these dungeons, battling foes, collecting upgrades, and ultimately trying to survive for as long as possible. There isn’t a deep narrative driving the experience, and after the initial novelty of pitting chess pieces against one another in a literal fight to the death, gameplay can unfortunately start to feel rather repetitive.

The objective is simply to overcome increasingly challenging adversaries, utilising the unique movement and attack patterns of chess pieces against you. This simple premise is effective in setting the stage for the strategic action that follows, and in all honesty, it works!

The Art of War

The central mechanical innovation of Check and Slash lies in its combat system, which directly translates chess piece movements into enemy behaviours. Each chess piece can only move in the traditional way, in that they can only follow their real-world movement patterns across the board whilst they try to kill your piece. For example, Knights move in L-shapes, Bishops diagonally, Rooks horizontally and vertically, and so on.

Understanding and anticipating these movements is paramount to survival, adding a layer of tactical depth not typically found in action roguelikes. In addition to this, battle takes place in real-time, with enemy pieces quickly converging on you sooner than you would probably expect, and it’s up to you to predict where said enemies might go and both move yourself to safety, avoid their attacks, and launch your own attack, all the while trying to stay out of harm’s way. Although the concept takes some getting used to, it didn’t take long at all and I soon found myself looking at a piece, noting where it is able to move, and subsequently positioning my piece accordingly. For example, I like to ensure that if battling a Bishop, I position my piece on squares either vertical or horizontal to it and never on a direct diagonal, as it can shoot projectiles along its typical movement path. This all sounds baffling at first, and to be honest, it takes some getting used to. However, once everything clicks into place, the whole concept becomes completely manageable from that point onwards.

As you progress, you unlock various upgrades and abilities, allowing for diverse build customisation. These upgrades can modify your attacks, defence, or even grant new movement options, providing a sense of progression and replayability. However, with each unlock comes both positives and negatives, meaning that any positive attributes you acquire, such as dealing 25% more damage against Rooks, for example, has a negative counterpart which could be that Bishops’ healing drops are 25% less effective. The combination of real-time action and turn-based strategic thinking is a unique blend that requires players to be constantly aware of their positioning and enemy patterns.

Aesthetic Checkmate

Visually, Check and Slash employs a clean, stylised aesthetic that is easy on the eyes and effectively communicates the different chess pieces. The enemy designs are clearly identifiable, making it simple to recognise their movement patterns at a glance. The environments are variations of the traditional chessboard, and are functional, serving their purpose in providing a backdrop for the action, although despite the different configurations, they all (unsurprisingly) look the same.

The audio design is similarly functional, with clear sound effects for attacks, hits, and enemy movements. The background music is generally atmospheric, providing a suitable accompaniment to the strategic combat without being distracting. The overall presentation is polished and contributes positively to the gameplay experience, ensuring clarity and a consistent visual style.

Endless Gambit

The roguelike nature of Check and Slash inherently provides a strong foundation for replayability. Each run features procedurally generated levels and enemy placements, ensuring that no two playthroughs are alike. The wide variety of upgrades and abilities available encourages experimentation with different build strategies, allowing players to discover new synergies and approaches to combat.

The increasing difficulty as you progress through runs also provides a continuous challenge for those seeking to push their limits, with different enemy types becoming available the further you go. For players who enjoy dissecting and optimising their runs, the game offers a considerable amount of longevity and it is good fun to see just how far you can get with different combinations of abilities.

Conclusion

Check and Slash is a commendable effort to fuse two distinct genres, and for the most part, it succeeds in creating a genuinely unique, engaging, and overall fun experience. The core concept of chess-inspired enemy movements elevates the tactical consideration within a typically fast-paced genre. While the narrative is minimal, and the chessboard-style backgrounds all look the same, the pure gameplay loop is compelling enough to keep players coming back for more. Check and Slash is a game that rewards observation, planning, and quick reflexes in equal measure, and is worth a try for rookies and grandmasters alike!

Grade: 8/10 – Very Good