Champion Go -Crazy Stone- Reviews

Meh

Bazilikan

Can't even beat 1kyus. Not worth 8 dollars.

Nice App

Chess Master83

I love this app, especially for the low low price of $1.99. The only thing missing is life and death problems and a nice tutorial would be great;).

The bot is quite great for learning players and allows players to scale the bots strength or handicap for challenging games. Hardest level with no handicap on the 9x9 has yet to lose to my 1 dan friend. Controls are great and customizable, but on the full board, it can be a bit much on an iPhone. The iPad version is more doable. Great to have available on my phone for downtime. Wish list: Universal app Puzzles Jouseki tutor

Best performer hindered (slightly) by look of board

rumpole55

It may never play the exquisite tesuji but this AI fights like a demon in close combat. I've played them all, this is the best in performance, with several unique features. Minus. Not my favorite board design, the stones seem smaller than in Smartgo and other implementations. Internet play isn't offered in this version, which is fine with me, that's really a different direction and there are good client players out there. (Panda is my favorite). But it would be a niche breaker if the authors added Internet server access. Plus. The handicapping and strength tables, however, add a clever method allowing the player to select different approaches of machine play. Computer go gets better every year. This is the current best in performance and near-best in looks.

I wish it were a bit stronger...

kgs 2kyu

I don't care about problems or tutorials... there are other apps you can get for that. I downloaded this specifically for the promise of battling "one of the strongest bots around," specifically CrazyStone, a KGS 4d. I was pretty disappointed on that front. I estimate the strongest level 10 is about kgs 4 kyu in strength (Japanese 1kyu-1dan). As a kgs 1-2kyu, I crushed the computer pretty handily in our first even game (which was after getting a shocking 90+ moku win after initially giving myself a 3 stone handicap). Looking at the other reviews, the bot is probably a lot stronger on 9x9. But really-- who cares? Any number of bots can do well on 9x9, and frankly 9x9 is not "real go," and one can't help but feel cramped. You haven't built a great bot unless it can play well on 19x19. Now I get that the processing power of an ipod/iphone is a different scale from a computer, but the 4d title is touted in the product description, and as far as I can see, no where is there a disclaimer about it's actual strength. A 4kyu opponent is plenty impressive on an ipod, and it'll definitely be fun to use this to kill time but... I really feel that this should have been properly disclaimed, and that the product description is false advertising. I'm looking forward to having fun playing with this app to kill time but-- I can't expect to learn much from playing it like I thought I would. Too bad.

Awesome!

=Cuc=

The gameplay is challenging at every level and the moves of this app are in every way superb. The result is a real go game, without errors and fluke moves. At the weaker levels the engine is a bit more conservative and chooses defensive moves at times. At higher levels the engine shows proficiency in life and death struggles, attack and defense and moyo development. It can also win a ko battle. - Medals can be won in a separate mode, in which taking back is restricted to the last move (this is necessary to correct misplacement). - As a wish, I'd like the game records to include not just the engine's level and number of moves, but also the (estimated) end score. This would make looking up older games easier. - Also, it would be a service to beginners to include the rank ( in kyu or dan) of the engine's strength. I estimate level 4 to be around 1 dan on 13x13, which I can occasionally beat without handicap or komi. - Kudos for this marvel of modern computer power. Awesome to play against. - I haven't tried online games, because it requires in-game purchases. A pity, because there are enough free alternatives.

Just go app on the iPhone

Babs igowin

This is a great app for the iPhone for playing go. The game functions very similarly to the desktop version of crazy stone. The desktop version is quite strong heading up to one or two Kyu. This version is weaker, but still quite a fun game. It is about 14 Kyu at level five or six. The zoom feature functions very well and is quite easy to play with. Overall, the very best go playing app on the iPhone!

Not like Amateur 6d at all

Bobfggj

I read Google research that crazy stone is like amateur 6d. However , I feel it is about 3k. So don't buy this product if you look for 6d.

Good App

Dontfool

It seems to be about 3k in the Normal Game mode. I don't doubt it will be around 6d in the Engine Sever Game mode (at KGS rating). After I surpass the AI in the Normal Game mode, I will try the Engine Server. But, 3k is sufficient for an intermediate level player like me. I am happy with the app.

Good App

Dontfool

It seems to be about 3k in the Normal Game mode. I don't doubt it will be around 6d in the Engine Server game mode (at KGS rating). After I surpass the AI in the Normal Game mode, I am going to try the engine server. But, 3k is sufficient for an intermediate level player like me. I am happy with the app.