Chess+ ♟️⚔️

Chess+ is a Python-based reimagining of traditional chess, built with Pygame.
It blends the strategic foundation of chess with RPG-inspired mechanics: health bars, attack stats, and unique special abilities for every piece.
The result is a fast-paced, tactical experience that challenges players to think beyond standard chess moves.

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✨ Features

• Enhanced Chess Gameplay
  • Each piece has HP and ATK values instead of being instantly captured.
  • Battles involve attacks, counterattacks, and attrition.
• Unique Piece Abilities
  • Pawn → Sacrificial Promotion: temporarily promotes before perishing.
  • Rook → Indomitability: temporary invincibility.
  • Knight → Double Charge: two-move turns with weaker follow-up strikes.
  • Bishop → Healing Prayer: heals allies by its attack power.
  • Queen → Charismatic Aura: buffs nearby allies with doubled HP and ATK.
  • King → Tactical Exchange: swap positions with an ally.
• Dynamic Game Systems
  • Timers for each side, like competitive chess.
  • Special gauge that charges from battle outcomes.
  • Custom HP/ATK stat bars with mouseover adjustments in Strategy mode.
  • Turn-based history tracking with debuff expiration.
• Interactive GUI
  • Full Pygame UI with menus, buttons, and background music.
  • Highlighted selections and grid-based rendering.
  • Win screens for timeouts and checkmate conditions.

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🛠️ Requirements

• Python 3.10+
• Libraries:
  • pygame
  • math
  • time

Install dependencies:

pip install pygame

🚀 Usage

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/BrandonKochnari/ChessPlus.git
   cd ChessPlus

2. Run the game:

   python Chess.py

3. Controls: • Mouse → select and move pieces.
   • P → pause music.
   • R → resume music.
   • Spacebar → activate special abilities.

🕹️ Example Gameplay

• Openings feel familiar: pawns advance, knights hop forward.
• A Rook under attack may activate Indomitability to block threats.
• A Bishop heals a wounded Queen mid-match.
• Queens buff armies, creating high-stakes showdowns.
• Games can end by checkmate (taking out all hitpoints of the King) or when the timer expires.

📂 Project Structure

• Code/Python/ → Core chess implementation

  • Chess.py → Main game loop, state handling, and rendering
  • ChessPiece.py → Piece classes with stats and special abilities
  • GameBoard.py → Board state, observation system, and attack tracking
  • MainMenu.py → Menu logic, options, and button rendering

• Code/Unity/ → Unity prototype implementation

• Assets/ → Piece sprites, background images, UI elements, and sound

🔮 Future Improvements

• Finalize transition to Unity Engine (C#)
• AI opponent with adaptive strategy.
• Online multiplayer support.
• Expanded abilities and status effects.
• Addition of animations to taking, abilities, movement etc...
• Save/load system for loacal matches.