FPS Chess

I think FPS Chess would be a rough game to run hard to, even though winning a first person duel to take a chess piece sounds like it would keep you awake better than staring at a board. I’d save it for an easy bike spin, or play it sitting down.

Gameplay

The chess idea is funny in a way that actually works. You’re not just moving pieces around and waiting for the other person to make a mistake, because the game turns captures into fast first person fights, and the chess part takes a back seat to winning those duels. I like the contrast. It makes a familiar game feel a little less like sitting through a very quiet argument.

The 1v1 setup also gives every fight a clear reason to happen. You’re trying to take the other player’s pieces and eventually beat their king, so the action has a point beyond running around and shooting at whoever happens to be nearby. I think that’s a smart way to keep the chess idea present without asking you to stop and plan every move for a long time.

But I wouldn’t come here expecting a thoughtful chess match with a bit of shooting attached. The store description says chess takes a back seat, and that sounds like the right expectation. If you enjoy the planning part of chess most, you may wish the board mattered more. I don’t know how much satisfaction you’ll get from the chess side if what you want is a careful game of positioning.

The fast fights should keep you busy, which is useful when you’re trying to exercise and don’t want long stretches of waiting around. At the same time, you’re making decisions about the board and aiming in a shooter, and that’s a fair amount of brain work while your body is already asking why you put it on a treadmill. I’d probably have fun with the odd mix, but I wouldn’t call it a relaxed workout game.

There’s something appealing about a game that takes chess so seriously it turns taking a piece into a duel, while taking the chess part just seriously enough to keep the match moving. It sounds like the kind of idea that could be a mess, but I think the simple goal helps it hold together. I’d be curious whether the balance of chess and shooting feels right to you, since the description makes the shooter side sound like it does most of the work.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

The shooting is what makes this a bad fit for a fast run. A live opponent is trying to beat you while you’re trying to aim, move, and make sense of the board, so even a small wobble could turn a careful shot into a very confident shot at the wrong place. I’d expect my attention to leave the workout pretty quickly.

On a bike, you can keep your upper body steadier, but the aiming still asks for more precision than I want from a game I’m playing while exercising. The 1v1 format means the other person is part of the pace, too. I don’t know whether every match will feel equally hectic, but I wouldn’t count on being able to look away from a duel and pick it back up without giving the other player an opening.

I’d check that a controller works on your setup and that aiming with it feels comfortable before trying to exercise with the game. The store information doesn’t settle that for me, and I’m not going to pretend to know more than I do. Even with a controller, quick aiming is still quick aiming. Your thumbs get a workout whether the rest of you asked for one or not.

If you want to give it a try, I’d start with a gentle bike ride and a friend, rather than trying to jog through the fights. Keep the effort low enough that you can focus, and stop treating it as a workout if you catch yourself leaning around to line up shots. I wouldn’t use it for a hard treadmill run, and I’d skip playing while tired if you care about winning.

Category Score: 1 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum asks for an older dedicated graphics card, so I wouldn’t assume a basic laptop with built in graphics is enough. A recent midrange gaming computer should be fine, and I’d check the graphics card first.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

FPS Chess sounds like a clever, lively game for a friend who wants chess with far less sitting still, and I’d play it when exercise isn’t competing with the aiming. For a treadmill workout, I’d choose something that lets you be a little less precise.

Overall Score: 2 out of 3