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WHEN is chess not quite chess? When it is the Artic Death Chess 5000. Purists will shudder to hear that Artic has produced a chess-playing program in which the result of piece taking piece is decided by an arcade action sequence and not by the immutable laws of the game.

The program consists of two main options. The first is to play a normal chess game with the standard rules. Both castling and en passant moves are acceptable. There are seven levels of play.

Pieces are moved by entering the usual number/letter grid references. Invalid moves will not be permitted and if you are confused the computer will suggest a move.

Choose the death chess option and you are in for a shock. In that mode any attempt to take a piece, by either side, shifts the action to an arcade-style battlefield. There are six settings depending on what pieces are involved. Those are over quickly and swift reactions are needed to win.

Richard Price

Memory: 48K Price: £6.95 Joystick: Kempston