Dexter's Laboratory: Chess Challenge
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(GameBoy Advance - PAL, Action & Adventure)
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Developed_By:
Virtucraft Studios Ltd.
Published_By:
BAM! Entertainment Ltd.
Released On:
01 Jan 2002
Dexter's Laboratory: Chess Challenge is a game based on the popular cartoon TV show of the same name. This chess game is mainly aimed at children who aren't normally interested in chess or board games and would be more easily convinced into learning how to play by playing a video game starring characters from the hit show.
Players can choose from 4 selectable characters from the cartoon series and there are also 4 different gameplay types to choose from: Tournament Mode , Versus Mode , Quick Play , and Puzzle mode .
Tournament Mode
In this mode, the player begins as a character and has to fight the other three characters in a chess match. It's pretty simple to figure out, since it's just normal chess.
Versus Mode
Versus Mode is a two-player mode which can be played with one Game Boy Advance or two GBAs using the Link Cable. Players can choose their character and play chess.
Quick Play
This plays just like tournament mode except players only face one person. Players choose their own character and play a single game of chess against the computer.
Puzzle Mode
The most complex game mode. The player has to clear the chess board by using his or her wits and different combinations of moves. This is the main part of the game, with many different levels where the player has to find the correct solution.
Dexter's Laboratory: Chess Challenge was released in 2002 for the Game Boy Advance console.
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
Dexter's Laboratory™ Chess Challenge is a strategy game that reimagines the classic battle board through the energetic lens of the Dexter's Laboratory universe. Players engage in tactical chess matches against iconic characters like Dexter, Dee Dee, and Mandark, aiming to checkmate their opponent's king to prove their intellectual superiority. Designed to be accessible to novices while offering depth for experts, the game challenges players to master devastating moves and secure victory on the board.
Story
Introduction
Welcome to Dexter's Laboratory™ Chess Challenge! This game takes the ancient world of the battle board and brings it to life in true Dexter style. Your mission is to win through a collection of devastating tactical moves and take command of the opponent's king to prove who is the true genius.
Don't worry if you are a complete novice, as the game has been designed to help you get it right. If you're already brilliant at Chess, you'll find enough challenges to keep you entertained for hours. So join Dexter, Dee Dee, Mandark, and Major Glory on the board and let the game begin!
Enemies & Characters
Dexter
The super-boy genius who created the most ingenious chess pieces using various incarnations of himself and his brilliant creations.
Grabulator 2000
One of Dexter's brilliant creations devised with his superior brain, serving as the Queen in his chess set.
Old Man Dexter
A future or alternate incarnation of Dexter, serving as the Bishop in his chess set.
Action Dexter
An action-oriented incarnation of Dexter, serving as the Knight in his chess set.
Dexter Employee
A worker character created by Dexter, serving as the Rook in his chess set.
Monkey
A monkey, serving as the Pawn in Dexter's chess set.
Mandark
Dexter's rival who summoned his super-genius selves and amazing inventions to match Dexter's chess pieces.
Mandroid 3000
One of Mandark's amazing inventions, far superior to Dexter's, serving as the Queen in his chess set.
Executive Mandark
An incarnation of Mandark, serving as the Bishop in his chess set.
Overlord Mandark
An incarnation of Mandark, serving as the Knight in his chess set.
Ultimate Mandark
An incarnation of Mandark, serving as the Rook in his chess set.
Duck
A duck, serving as the Pawn in Mandark's chess set.
Major Glory
A hero who called together the various heroes of Dexter's world to create the mightiest and all-American of chess teams.
Dee Dee
Dexter's sister who created chess pieces based on things she loves, including her friends and pets.
Agent Honeydewe
A hero from Dexter's world, serving as the Queen in Major Glory's chess team.
Val Hallen
A hero from Dexter's world, serving as the Bishop in Major Glory's chess team.
Action Hank
A hero from Dexter's world, serving as the Knight in Major Glory's chess team.
Krunk
A hero from Dexter's world, serving as the Rook in Major Glory's chess team.
Monkey the Superhero
A superhero version of a monkey, serving as the Pawn in Major Glory's chess team.
Koosie
A toy or creature that Dee Dee loves, serving as the King in her chess set.
Lee Lee
One of Dee Dee's best friends, serving as the Bishop in her chess set.
Pony Puff
A pony that Dee Dee loves, serving as the Knight in her chess set.
Mee Mee
One of Dee Dee's best friends, serving as the Rook in her chess set.
Cooties
A concept or entity Dee Dee loves, serving as the Pawn in her chess set.
How to Play
Chess Rules
The object in chess is to checkmate your opponent's king. Checkmate, or just "mate," occurs when the king cannot escape capture on the next move.
Chess is played by two players. In Dexter's Laboratory Chess Challenge, a player's pieces are differentiated by Character Set or by color (black and white).
White is always first to move, and players take turns alternately moving one piece at a time. Each type of piece has its own way of moving, as described later.
A piece may be moved to another position or may capture an opponent's piece. This is done by landing on the appropriate square with the moving piece and removing the defending piece from play.
Pawn Movement
A Pawn can only move forwards one square at a time. However, if it is the Pawn's first move, it can move two squares.
The Pawn captures differently from how it moves. It captures diagonally only one square ahead.
If a Pawn gets all the way across the board to reach the opponent's edge, it will be promoted and may become a different piece.
Setting Up
1. Turn OFF the power switch on your Nintendo Game Boy Advance. Never insert or remove a Game Pak when the power is on.
2. Insert the Game Pak of Dexter's Laboratory Chess Challenge into the slot on the Game Boy Advance. To lock the Game Pak in place, press firmly.
3. Turn ON the POWER switch.
View Options
For all play modes, there are two different views: Cartoon and Standard. The Cartoon View displays the chess board from the side, showing the pieces as your favorite characters.
The board can be turned around when playing a match in this view. Pressing the L Button and the R Button will flip the board around 180°, making it easier to see the pieces and positions you can move to.
The game can also be viewed in Standard View by pressing SELECT. This gives a top-down view of the board with standard pieces and board coordinates.
Pressing the L Button or the R Button in Standard View will switch between the game and the Options Menu.
Tournament Mode
Tournament Mode allows you to choose to play as one of the four characters: Dexter, Mandark, Dee Dee, or Major Glory. Once you have chosen the difficulty setting and your character, you will face the other three characters.
Once the 'HARD' difficulty setting has been won, you will open up the 'BOY GENIUS' setting where only the smartest will survive.
To quit the tournament, you must exit the game from the Pause Screen. See the PAUSE section for more details.
In-Game Controls
To select a piece, move around the board using the Control Pad and then press the A Button to select the highlighted piece. Move to the square of choice and press the A Button again to move the piece.
By pressing the B Button, you can cancel the move.
Move Highlights
When a square is highlighted, it will change color to indicate its status.
In Cartoon View, the colors are:
•
Yellow: Shows the current highlighted square.
•
Blue: Shows a selected piece.
•
Green: Shows a destination square you are free to move to.
•
Red: Shows a destination square you cannot move to.
In Standard View, the colors are:
•
Yellow: Shows the current highlighted square.
•
Purple: Shows a destination square you cannot move to.
•
Green: Shows a destination square you are free to move to.
Movies
If this option is set to ON, each piece taken will result in a mini-animation of that battle being shown on screen.
If you are playing the game in the Standard View, the mini-animation will not play.
Take Back
With the difficulty level set to EASY, simultaneously pressing the B Button and Left on the Control Pad will result in the last move being undone.
The Take Back option can result in the game being 'taken back' to the beginning if you wish by continuously pressing the buttons.
Passwords
Once a game is finished, you will be shown a Password Screen which stores your current game status for both Tournament and Puzzle Modes.
To enter your password to continue from where you left off, you must choose the 'Password' section in Options.
If a valid password has been entered under the Options Screen, you have the choice of playing the password settings under this mode.
Pause Menu
Pressing START will bring up the Pause Menu. Pressing Left and Right on the Control Pad will switch between 'YES' and 'NO' as a response to quitting the game.
Pressing the A Button or START will confirm your choice, while pressing the B Button will return you to the game.
If you QUIT, you will be returned to the Main Menu.
Puzzle Mode
In Puzzle Mode, you will be placed in a chess scenario and must find the solution to the puzzle you have chosen.
The puzzles change and increase in difficulty as you progress, offering challenges such as 'Achieve checkmate in 5 moves.'
Puzzle Mode is always played in the Standard View and plays in the same way as the regular game.
When each puzzle is completed, you will be closer to unlocking more puzzles. The two pieces behind the puzzle must be completed before you can advance. A completed puzzle piece will turn from green to yellow, and an open puzzle piece will change from red to green.
Each completed puzzle offers a new password allowing you to store your progress. To enter your password to continue from where you left off, choose the 'Password' section in Options.
Versus Mode
You can play against human opponents in
Tips & Maps
Rook Movement
The Rook can move any number of squares in a straight line, horizontally or vertically, but may not jump a piece of either color.
Knight Movement
The Knight is the only piece that can jump over other pieces and always moves three squares in the shape of the letter "L".
Bishop Movement
The Bishop can move any number of squares diagonally, but like the Rook, it may not jump a white or black piece.
The Queen's Movement
The Queen can move as many squares as it wishes in any direction unless there is another piece in the way, and it captures by replacing the opposing piece.
The King's Movement
The King is the most important piece and can only move one square in any direction or capture an opponent's piece if it is on one of those squares.
End Game
The game ends when one player captures the opponent's King, but the objective is to achieve checkmate by ensuring every square where the King could move is covered while it is in check.
Controls
Control Pad
Scroll Up and Down the menu
A Button
Confirm
B Button
Cancel
L Button
Rotate Board in Cartoon View
START
Pause Game & bring up Quit Menu
SELECT
Switch to Standard View in game
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