The "Only" Way to Play Real Chess "Alone" (Phantom Force ROBOTIC, SELF-MOVING, SPEAKING, Electronic Chess)
Written: Aug 07 '09 (Updated Aug 08 '09)
Product Rating:
Pros: Play electronic chess"naturally."(No need to decipher cryptic-LCD instructions. Real chess pieces "robotically" move.)
Cons: Although overall size is 15in. x 13in., playing surface measures a moderate-yet-satisfactory 7.25in. x 7.25in.
The Bottom Line: Uniquely combines computerization and robotics with a real, three-dimensional chess set. Voice, sound effects, and too many features to summarize here. (Read review.) Currently available around $100. (I "stole" mine_for_$59.99.)
henry_thoreau's Full Review: Phantom Entertainment Phantom Force Self Moving El...
Prefatory note: In late July I noticed a "Buy.com" link at the top of an Epinions.com page pertaining to this product. What really grabbed my attention was the drastically discounted price of only $59.99 (for an item having a "list" price of $220 and commonly selling for over a hundred bucks.). I shortly placed an order, and I'm glad I did. Not only is Phantom Force even better than I'd expected, but that $59.99 "special" soon vanished, which almost makes me wish I'd ordered two of these things! But even at its typical street price, this innovative, "high-tech" chess set is money well spent--assuming it keeps on working (I hope) for more than a few years.[At least one on-line reviewer has elsewhere reported that his unit continues to work fine after more than one year. Not surprisingly, a vocal minority of customer reviewers has reported disappointing results with this machine, while the majority mostly sings its praises. The consensus appears to be that this "miraculous," "adult" toy is well worth the average consumer's consideration.]
Phantom Force: The "funnest" way to play chess "alone" To say I'm no chess expert is an understatement. It had been decades since I'd last played. But I still recalled the most basic moves (enough to win a so-called "beginner-level" game on the fifth try); and I'd always admired the aesthetic appeal of stylish chess sets, many of which cost more than I cared to spend. And I'd been toying with the idea of including some sort of chess set on a little pedestal table near one corner of an upstairs master bedroom that I'm gradually converting to a billiard/game room.
The notion of an electronic chess set intrigued me for at least the following reasons. First, there's not always a human opponent available when I happen to want one. Second, I appreciate not having repeatedly to wait for a human adversary to contemplate, reconsider, and finally make a move. Third, I won't continually have to blush (upon making a "stupid" move in front of some finger-tapping, quipping, smirking, snorting and/or snickering nemesis--who, perchance, earlier ate a big bowl of beans).
But all of the electronic chess sets I'd seen were underwhelming. Or perhaps I should say overwhelming, given that they continually compel you to decipher the cryptic instructions on a teensy LCD display; and you must continually move not only your own pieces but also those of your computer opponent. That didn't strike me as a satisfactorily "intuitive"--or entertaining--way to play chess.
Imagine, then, my rampant glee upon discovering Excalibur's Phantom Force "auto-motion intelligent response" chess set. This product essentially combines the key elements of "old-fashioned" chess and "electronic" (or "computer") chess and adds "robotic motion"--not to mention synthetic speech and occasional sound effects--to the mix. And, because of its three-dimensionality and hands-on playability, it's more intuitive, fun and, well, real than any "video" version of chess I've encountered.
Thus your computer opponent--the charmingly named "Chessica"--is endowed with not only the power of coherent speech but also the means to move her own (and, in special situations, your) pieces reliably and accurately across the chessboard (via a "magnetically sensitive," robotic apparatus discreetly hidden beneath the surface).
With this set it's easy to make a move. You simply grasp a chessman (e.g., between your thumb and forefinger) and press gently downward on the pressure-sensitive chessboard square you're moving from; then you move that piece to any legal "target" square and press downward again. In other words, you move each piece exactly as you'd do in an old-fashioned chess match (except for the "pressing down" part, which is so simple you'll be habitually doing it almost from the get-go).
The bottoms of the ultralight chessmen are magnetic. This lets Chessica robotically maneuver her pieces--sometimes straight along a row of squares, and sometimes diagonally. She can likewise guide "captured" pieces to their designated spots within the "side" areas that smoothly adjoin the board.
The overall dimensions of this Phantom Force unit are 15 (W) by 13 (D) by 2.5 (H) inches. The central playing surface (comprising the squares on which the chessmen actually move) measures 7.25 x 7.25 inches. The latter numbers might not sound impressive, but when you're actually standing above, or sitting before, this unit, its chessboard and pieces don't appear "small," much less "miniature;" they appear quite acceptably "medium-sized."
I might add that, by my own inspection, the main unit weighs 3 pounds, 15.5 ounces. (That's not including the modest, 9-volt AC adaptor, six "C" batteries, or any of the featherweight chessmen.)
Before initially using the unit, you'll need to invert it and slide the "LOCK" switch (which protects the internal mechanism during shipment) to its "UNLOCK" position. [The very presence of that switch suggests that you won't want to drop or otherwise abuse this rather durable, but not indestructible, high-tech product. Accordingly, I'd keep this more or less adult "toy" consistently out of rambunctious children's reach.]
While you've initially inverted the unit to move its "LOCK" switch, you can also remove the various chessmen from their nearby, conspicuously marked storage compartment.
The included 9-volt AC power adaptor's black cord measures six feet long. The black power "brick" measures 2.5 (L) x 1 & 5/8 (W) x 1.5 *(D) inches. The cord plugs into a jack on the unit's right edge, just in front of the sliding, "ON/OFF" power switch. If you opt to use DC (instead of AC) power, you'll need to invert the unit, open a door (remove two Philips screws) and insert six "C" batteries. However, I never figured that the continually moving robotic unit would work very long or fully reliably on mere battery power. (And customer reviewers elsewhere have confirmed my suspicions.) Hence, I myself have been using only the AC adaptor, with consistently excellent results.
The conventionally configured plastic chessmen are slightly smaller than what you'd encounter in a typical, traditional chess set; for example, the king's height is about 1 & 9/16 inches, and each pawn's height is 13/16 inches. (The various other pieces' heights are more or less intermediate between those of the king and pawns.)
In sum, while the dimensions of the playing surface and chessmen are perhaps slightly smaller than ideal, they're altogether quite acceptably--even agreeably--sized. For the vast majority of users, "size" will not seem a noteworthy issue once they're actually using this uniquely captivating chess set.
Moreover, the colors of the opposing chessmen--silver (in lieu of white) and black--excellently harmonize with the charcoal-and-silvery, "high-tech" hues of the unit overall.
The size of the unit's nicely legible (albeit not backlit) monochrome LCD display is 1.5 by 10/16 inches--altogether sufficient for the vast majority of consumers.
Although a hearing person generally won't have to rely on the LCD while playing chess (and that fact puts this user-friendly unit light-years ahead of all competing, "electronic-chess" products), there are certain basic functions for which the LCD is helpful or occasionally virtually necessary. Not surprisingly, whenever the textual counterpart to Chessica's audible greeting ("Hello, I am Chessica, your computer opponent") is displayed, a bit of horizontal scrolling is employed. But I seriously doubt that most users will be deriving such (simultaneously audible) information via the LCD anyway. Instead, they'll only very occasionally glance at that display to double-check certain brief messages requiring no horizontal scrolling.
For example, whenever you switch on the unit, it silently asks if the language you wish to use is "English;" that single word (followed by a question mark) appears on the LCD, and you must press the "Yes" button to accept that automatically proffered option. [Alternatively, you could repeatedly press the "No" key until your preferred language is shown (English, French and German--but, at least with my particular unit, not Spanish--are available); then you'd press the "Yes" key.] Frankly, I wish I didn't have to press that darned "Yes" key (to accept the "English" default) every time I switch on the unit. I can surmise that that approach somewhat simplified the design of the unit for an international base of users; nevertheless, I think that any future version of this product should be slightly redesigned such that the user could initially set up his "default" language and thereafter not have to repeatedly specify it. That said, this is scarcely a deal breaker, for it's easy enough to habitually press "Yes" immediately after switching the unit on.
The "user's manual" booklet is mercifully brief (yet surprisingly thorough): only 17 pages (comprising rather small text and the occasional black-and-white illustration) pertain to the use of the unit. However, I'm speaking only of the initial, English portion of the booklet. Including all ensuing, analogous sections in Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Spanish, the booklet seems far fatter than it realistically is. Actually, you'll only scarcely need to read beyond the first two pages to begin playing, enjoying, and (if you're very lucky or already skilled) winning your first few games. But don't misplace the booklet; sooner or later you'll want to consult it, for the aforementioned 17 pages comprise information covering essentially anything (including the topics mentioned in this review plus much more) that any user will ever need to know about this multifaceted product's impressive array of features (and staggering multiplicity of optional settings).
Basically, there are four difficulty levels for "play" (and two for "analysis"); however, within any of those levels, you can tweak the computer's "time-allowed" settings such that, altogether, there are, ostensibly, 136 skill levels (120 for play, and 16 for analysis).
According to Excalibur's web site, this unit "offers a tournament-strength program that can beat 99 percent of all players." Well, I'll tentatively take their word on that [though I've elsewhere read that "average tournament" (significantly advanced) players deem Phantom Force altogether too easy--a mere "toy"]. Playing (and occasionally winning) a game at the unit's easiest (default) setting has been--thus far--plenty satisfying for moi. And (impatient as I sometimes am) I appreciated that my electronic foe didn't require more than a fraction of a second to decide each of her answering moves, which she immediately, audibly announced (and simultaneously displayed on the LCD) and rather promptly kinetically executed.
This surprisingly affordable, technologically advanced, enthrallingly robotic "toy" is made in China. Nonetheless, it generally evinces reasonable quality, not bottom-end cheapness.
For example, the main unit, which is largely fashioned of satisfactorily thick and durable plastic, has a two-tone (silvery-and-charcoal) color scheme--and an overall style--that should harmonize in not only the humblest bedroom but also the average "game" or "billiard" room (though it might appear toylike and inelegant in more upscale venues). The rather scratch-resistant playing surface features an attractively "flat" finish on which fingerprints are scarcely visible. And the unit's outer ends and frontmost, oval, function-key panel are agreeably silvery (i.e., those areas feature a sort of "brushed-aluminum" look). Generally, the unit sports a tastefully flat, not garishly glossy, exterior and looks somewhat sleeker and chicer in reality than the wee image atop this webpage suggests. I can't imagine this sensibly configured product looking embarrassingly obsolete any time soon.
Then again, perhaps the shiny (some might say "chintzy"), silvery plating on the somewhat diminutive "white," lightweight-plastic chessmen will eventually begin to tarnish, crackle or abrade in coming years. But I'd wager that such superficial wear, if any, will be trivial or tolerable. As for the analogous black plastic chessmen, I doubt their glossy exteriors will ever show perceptible wear, assuming reasonable use. Basically, these unpretentious plastic pieces hardly evince the cachet of ebony, ivory, jade or polished hardwood; but I scarcely notice this--or care a hoot--whenever they "magically" move across the board!
Whenever a chess piece is being robotically moved, there's a modest amount of noise, like a somewhat muted version of the sound made by a miniature power tool. Unless you want to use this unit at night with another person trying to sleep in the same room, that easily tolerable noise shouldn't pose a problem. I myself don't find it objectionable--not that I wouldn't love for this game to be virtually silent, excepting, of course, Chessica's intermittent talking and the occasional sound effects (e.g., you may sometimes hear "swords clashing" when one of Chessica's pieces attacks and captures one of your pieces). Bottom line, given the modern miracle that this robotic product represents at an affordable price, I'd say the intermittent, modest, machine noise amounts to a non-issue. [I suggest that you listen to any of several "Phantom Force chess" videos at youtube.com to see, er, hear what I mean.]
Within the large, silvery oval at the front and center of the unit's upper surface, there's an array of 17 function keys that are succinctly yet thoroughly described on pages 6 through 9 of the user's manual. I'll note some of them directly below.
The "NEW GAME" key, unsurprisingly, starts a new game. [Alternatively, you could slide the "OFF/ON" power switch (or briefly unplug then reconnect the AC-power cord from the jack) near the right-front edge of the unit.]
The "SLEEP" key lets you take a break and put the unit into a low power sleep state, saving the game in progress. [After an unspecified but presumably reasonably lengthy amount of inactivity, the unit will automatically enter this "sleep" mode.]
The "WAKE/CLEAR" key lets you resume a game that was put into the aforementioned low power sleep state.
The adjacent "YES" and "NO" keys let you respond to any audibly posed question that Chessica intermittently asks. For example, occasionally she may graciously ask if you're sure you want to proceed with the (evidently imprudent) move you've just made. If you press "NO," she'll helpfully (robotically) return your pertinent piece to its prior square, whereupon you can reconsider your move.
The "HINT/WHY" key allows you to receive a helpful hint (i.e., a recommended move is displayed on the LCD). You can also use this key whenever the warning indicator ("!PLAY") is displayed to discover the reason for that subtle message.
The "UNDO" key lets you undo your most recently made move(s).
The "AUTOPLAY" key causes the unit to play both sides (i.e., both the "black" and the "white" pieces). This is basically an "exhibition match."
The "SOUND" key toggles Chessica's voice off. (However some warning messages may still be heard.)
The "OPTION" key allows you to control or change numerous features, as explained on pages 8 and 9 of the user manual.
The "RESET" button (which you can only press by using an object like a bent paperclip or a ballpoint pen) restores the unit to its default settings.
Adjacently, there are still other dedicated function keys that time and space don't allow me to discuss here. Bottom line, if you really want to, you can tweak the operation of this Phantom Force machine in seemingly countless ways. However, more than a few users (including certain youngsters or grown-up muddlers) will likely decide to "indefinitely" enjoy the game with its factory settings unchanged.
The unit's internal speaker is located near the front left corner. I detect no distortion; moreover, the clarity of Chessica's soft, synthetic, "female" voice is actually somewhat more articulate than I'd anticipated. Only occasionally is this or that consonant slightly difficult to discern. I was pleased that the voice's tone and volume never began unduly to cloy or grate on my sensibilities. But if you'd rather not hear Chessica, you can press the "SOUND" key to (mostly) shut her up, in which case you can rely on the ever-visible text within the LCD display. Unfortunately, I didn't discover any means to adjust the volume of the voice. Thankfully, though, its fixed level strikes me as "just right" for the average hearing-endowed person using the unit in a reasonably quiet location.
Also note that there's no headphone jack. Given that Chessica speaks only intermittently [mostly merely to announce/explain her imminent move--which you'll shortly see anyway--or to proffer a succinct warning (e.g., "Be careful.")], I doubt that wearing headphones would seem worth the hassle in any case.
Of course, having only owned this (thus far "glitch-free") product for about a week, I can only guess how long it will last. But the fact that Excalibur's comparably priced "747K Grand Master" electronic-chess set reportedly can last six or more years gives me hope that my Phantom Force unit will endure at least that long. (Then again, that other product doesn't implement robotic motion with its concomitant, gradual wear and tear. So, who knows?)
Note: I had also considered buying the aforementioned Excalibur 747K Grand Master ($129.99), not to mention still other electronic-chess products. However, all of those units tiresomely require you continually to monitor a little LCD screen to decipher cryptic instructions regarding where to move your computer opponent's chess pieces.
By contrast, with this Phantom Force set, you need merely move your own presently pertinent piece (again, by gently pressing down on it and then moving it to the "target" square, on which you likewise must press down to complete the move). And whenever it's the computerized Chessica's turn, you don't need to do anything but watch as she "magically" transports her selected piece to this or that square. [Note: If an adjacent piece (such as a pawn) is "in the way" and needs to be moved, Chessica will temporarily scoot it slightly aside before moving the "selected" piece to its target square; and then she'll return the "impeding" piece to its proper position. Similarly, if Chessica's move results in the capture of one of your pieces, she will first move the captured piece from the central playing area to one of the smoothly adjoining "sides" of the board before moving her own piece to the target square.]
I suggest that to save time (not to mention stress on Chessica's robotic innards), you don't routinely instruct the unit to perform an "automatic setup" of all the chessmen. Sure, at first it's truly cool to watch all the pieces "magically" glide--one at a time--from either "side" area onto their respective squares within the playing surface. But after the novelty of that preliminary procedure (quickly) abates, you'll likely agree that it makes better sense to just set up the board yourself--before powering on the unit. [Again, one or more videos posted at youtube.com can quickly satisfy any curiosity you might have about the optional "automatic setup" of the chessmen.]
Not having played chess in many years (and never having been a significantly learned or skillful player), I didn't object--indeed, I was perfectly pleased--when the intermittently talkative Chessica handily beat me the first four times we played. (Looking to the future, I'm glad that this game's "easiest" setting initially struck me as "slightly too challenging" rather than "too easy.") Although I did, now and again, manage to capture this or that enemy piece, by the end of each of my first four games, my computerized opponent had captured still more of my pieces and had never appeared much threatened by any of my (often inept) moves. Admittedly, at first I wasn't trying hard to win; I mostly just wanted to enjoy watching my new toy perform its kinetic tricks.
However, to my surprise, I won our fifth game. I attribute this partly to being a bit less aggressive with my early moves, and partly to being much more aggressive with my final few moves (of my queen, with which I happily checkmated Chessica). I simply swooped my queen forward along the far left row of squares; and then (capturing a piece or two along the way) I swooped directly to the right to confront Chessica's king, whom she'd defensively backed virtually into her left corner. It was with a modicum of mirth that heard my speaking nemesis announce, "Checkmate, I lose." (Those words likewise appeared on the LCD display.)
Considering that I thus managed to beat this game (at least at the easiest of its numerous available "difficulty" settings comprising the "Beginner" level), "anybody" could surely fare as well after a comparable bit of practice. In any case, I'm under no illusion that I'm yet good enough to win "three out of four" at the default difficulty setting; and I anticipate that each of the essentially endless higher settings will prove commensurately more challenging in coming months and years.
Miscellanea:
If you prefer that your chessmen be "black" (instead of the default "white"), that's easily arranged. (See page 10 of the user manual.)
The ghostly Chessica doesn't merely move her own pieces. She'll now and again maneuver yours (with your permission). This can happen, for example, whenever she graciously warns that she's threatening to "take" a particular piece and asks if you're sure you want to confirm your most recent move. If you say you're not sure (by pressing the "NO" key), she'll deftly return your piece to its prior position, allowing you to reconsider your strategy.
An absolute newcomer to chess can read the final three main pages of the Phantom Force user's manual to review the "General Rules of Chess;" you can also press the "WHERE" key, and "all legal moves for each selected piece will be shown one at a time." The manual adds, "You will quickly 'learn by doing' the movements of all pieces."
Just in case you're wondering: Yes, "castling" is easily doable with this game. Just remember to first move the king, and then the rook. (See pages 11, 19 and 20 of the user's manual.)
The unit's 90-day limited warranty covers electrical and mechanical defects. During that period it can be shipped (postage prepaid and insured) to Excalibur Electronics in Miami, Florida.
I was surprised to learn that Phantom Force isn't actually the first chess set of its "robotic" ilk. In fact, it's a descendent of two noteworthy products of the past two decades. The earliest was Milton Bradley's "Phantom Chess" (1983); and the other was Excalibur's own "Mirage Computerized Chess" (1997). You could do a bit of Googling if you'd like to see either of those units; but suffice it to say that they were evidently slightly larger (and much noisier) than, but otherwise pretty comparable to, this most recent "Phantom Force" incarnation by Excalibur.
THE UPSHOT:
While I'm skeptical that extremely advanced chess players would deem Phantom Force a fully satisfying opponent, it will surely continue to challenge and entertain dabblers like me. Assuming this robotic unit continues to function flawlessly for at least several years, I'll remain delighted. Indeed, when it comes to long-term entertainment value, this product may well amount to the best sixty bucks I ever spent. Not only is it a thoroughly captivating game with endlessly adjustable difficulty levels, but it's a rather appealing addition to a hitherto neglected corner of my gradually evolving billiard/game room.
Admittedly, I could have opted for an old-fashioned (non-electronic) chess set--perchance with taller, chicer chessmen and a larger, more elegant board. Inarguably, such a set would be preferable whenever a human adversary's available. Otherwise, there really is no substitute for hearing Chessica softly speak as she obligingly moves her pert little pieces.
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