Chess Classics for iPhone Cicero IL

The classic board games of chess and backgammon are well-represented here, both with 2-D and 3-D graphics options and several different themes to choose from (themes change the color and composition of the board and pieces). When you've turned on the 3-D graphics, you can also adjust camera control to spin or rotate the board and change the angle. It's a neat effect that shows off the iPhone's graphics processing capabilities, but it really doesn't benefit you at all.

The Game of Kings: Chess Classics offers you a choice of graphics options between 2-D and 3-D (shown here).

You can compete against a friend (on the same iPhone or iPod touch) in a two-player mode, and play past tournament games in a Classic mode.

The game makes good use of the multi-touch interface - you can click on and drag pieces around-but I found that I often had to repeatedly drag pieces to where I wanted them to go to get them to the right place. Sure, I can magnify the board a bit in 3-D mode and do it that way, but I found that the graphics in 3-D mode looked poor close up-pixilated and chunky, and they didn't scale at all.

The addition of backgammon is a great diversion, and it increases the value of Chess Classics dramatically. It features many of the same capabilities and extras that you'll find in Chess Classics, including a two-player mode and different challenges that help you test your skill.

Chess Classics is compatible with any iPhone or iPod touch running the iPhone 2.0 software update.

[Peter Cohen is Macworld's Game Room columnist.]