Esfera Chess

Esfera is a 3D strategy game inspired by chess. Two armies fight a battle on a spherical world made of a lattice of hexagonal and pentagonal cells.

Category	Price	Seller	Device
Games	Free	Squz Pty Ltd	iPhone, iPad, iPod

It will push your strategic and tactical abilities to the limits. Fans of Chess, Go, Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) and Checkers love Esfera.

Checkmate your opponent by trapping the enemy king or marching your king around the world to claim the enemy king's home.

Features:
* Original and unique game concept inspired by Chess — only much more futuristic.
* Stunning translucent, 3D spherical surface.
* Full HD on iPad
* Tap pieces to see valid moves.
* Spin and twist the sphere by swiping with one or two fingers.
* Intelligent sphere and piece animations
* Two-player or player-vs-computer (AI)
* Automatic piece orientation provides optimal visibility

Rave reviews:

5-stars: "Scintillating idea. Streamlined controls and sublime visuals synthesise to create an almost perfect experience."

5-stars: "Almost THE BEST Brain-game I've seen - This game is fantastic on many levels."

5-stars: "Wonderful implementation - Wow- thankful. I love the way the bishops move in a teleport like fashion across the lines. (try the game to see what I mean). Truly great execution. If this is all original hats off and even if derivative the execution is top notch. I love how the game is not bloated either. It's under 1MB. Love it."

Reviews

Fun!
CCCee

This is a fun , unique, and challenging form of Chess. Controls work great too.

Changes the rules...
Aaron G A

The spherical board really changes how you play this - so, "inspired by chess" is an appropriate way to put it because many of the normal chess tactics wont work as you have to keep watching your sides and back as well as front. Its a very good idea for a game. I would like to see it get some more options - for example, a preference setting for whether the sphere is transparent, ability to zoom in and out, perhaps some choices in how many hexagons comprise the board to make it a bit bigger or smaller... What would be *really* cool is to have an option to play on a partial sphere so that some of the spaces are randomly "knocked out" and you have to play around them (yes, the chess in me wants some kind of barrier to put my back against since I don't have an edge of a board) - this would also make it more interesting to keep playing the game as you could get a different board each time. Maybe even make some spaces disappear throughout the game (again, an option)... Perhaps the ability to change pawns into "wall spaces" one to create some kind of "defensive perimeter"... Just thinking out loud...

Nice 3D Chess
Garudadelic

Oh yes, this is very nice. I've been waiting for someone to come out with a truly interesting version of chess for the iPad, and this is it! 1-2 players, AI is challenging, real chess strategy and thinking needed to win this game, as it should be. Spinning the sphere 360 is a breeze, and moving pieces is easy. You can also play your own ipod music, which is essential since the game is silent. In the future, I would like to see more options added, the other reviewer Aaron made some great suggestions to add optional gameplay modes. Regardless, this a nice 3D take on chess.

Interesting...
Rich Col

Awesome graphics and controls, but gets old fast; I mostly just use it as one of the apps I show people to demonstrate the awesomeness of my iPod.

Very awesome!
Instrumentalmike

This game is really fun to play. Well worth the .99 cents. A few things that I wish they would add in an update is to be able to change the difficulty of the computer and also update it to be able to play friends online. That would be amazing. Otherwise great job. I'm glad I spent the money!

Fun!
Jopplk

It is a fun game!!!

really well done
gfixler

I was searching google for board games that take place on a sphere and found this. I love the smooth control and graphics. Very fun! And free!!

Great Idea
IanFan

The game idea is great! I really admire you create Esfera for inspiration! Your original idea develop traditional chess to a new level! I like it so much!