Kanomi Pikajuna Reviews Second Life's Most Promising Games
- Title: Khet
- Released: 2008
- Genre: Turn-based strategy
- Age Category: PG
- Summary: Two players play a chess-like game with lasers and mirrors
- Price: 500 Lindens
- Estimated Play Time: 15-30 minutes
- Where to Play: K.R. Engineering
- Developer: K.R. Engineering
Chess meets disco? Is this revenge of the nerds, or has the rhinestone nation trading in their dancing boots for some serious gaming?
Whatever the case, Khet is a little-known two player strategy game that will appeal to Second Life's dedicated strategy game fans -- admittedly a smaller demographic than say, shoe-shoppers or Zyngo players, but a market certainly deserving of more in-world diversions. I'm happy to say I found another one in Khet.
Like En Garde, a game I previously reviewed, Khet is a real life boardgame that is officially licensed for sale in Second Life by its creator from the real world copyright holder.
In my experience, licensed conversions of solid yet fairly obscure (except amongst aficionado) board game designs tend to make better games in Second Life than original creations, the occasional Tringo notwithstanding. Game design and coding are two different disciplines, and the conversions are already starting with a proven, fun, professional game design to build upon.
Khet does lose some of its real-life gee-whiz factor going virtual however, as the mirrors and battery-powered lasers of the real world become just another set of pixels in the virtual -- they don't really compare to the latest NPIRL link or a sunset over Caledon, say. But the look and feel is true to the real world edition, and that's enough to get you playing.
More importantly, beneath the showy exterior there is an actual, complicated strategy game going on, beyond the flashing mirrors and shooting lasers. It plays a little like checkers, in that all pieces move just one square, so you aren't memorizing a bunch of obscure piece movement rules. But there's enough variety in the pieces -- and of course, the mighty laser -- to create a much deeper and more chess-like game.
It starts off with you and your opponents' pieces in pre-determined configurations (several set-up variations are offered). At the end of each player's turn, their laser fires. It will bounce off of any reflective surface. If it is directed off the board, the turn ends harmlessly. If it hits the exposed, non-mirrored side of a piece, that piece is destroyed.
There are four kinds of pieces: Djed, Obelisk, the Pyramid, and Pharaoh. The Djed, or what I call the Mirror, is just that -- a double-sided mirror whose angle can turn the laser. It can also displace other pieces. The Pyramid has a mirror on one side, but is vulnerable on its reverses. The Obelisk is a stackable, defensive piece -- think of pawns you surround you King with.
Finally, the Pharaoh is exactly like a Chess King -- if it is struck by the laser, you lose, so you protect it at all costs. That's the basic gameplay in a nutshell, but as you play and examine the rules, you'll find additional subtlety and challenge in slowly moving your pieces to guide your laser against your opponent's units while protecting your own from his laser.
You can try out Khet for yourself with the demo version set up in the K.R. Engineering shop. Click the SLurl to visit. And since the game will cost you $45 in real life (or more than 10,000 Lindens), playing Khet in SL is a great way to play a free trial of this boardgame without spending your hard-earned real life cash so quick.
The game's SL creator, Karsten Rutledge, also told me hopes to expand the game in the future with one of the expansion packs.
- Strengths: Relatively easy to learn, proven real-world game design, genuinely licensed product; free product upgrades for life
- Weaknesses: Tracking a silver laser over silver mirrors can be hard; planning moves so far in advance is challenging; it can be difficult to find opponents
- Helpful Hints: When you first set up a purchased board, you will get the yellow security box asking if you want the game to access your account this, but this is only for reselling and commissions, you can say no. Also, join the Khet Player's Group (just search for "Khet") in the Groups tab to find players and events.
- Rating: *** out of five
Kanomi Pikajuna is the author of Tiny Dancing, a twisted take on the metaverse. If you have any suggestions for future games to review, please write to kanomi.pikajuna[AT]gmail[DOT]com.
Previous Kanomi Plays reviews:
The Crack Den
En Garde
The Kaaos Effect
Thanks to Botgirl Questi for the 'Kanomi Plays' header graphic!
How many prims is that interesting thingy?
Posted by: dandellion Kimban | Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Hi Dandellion, great question. It's 12 prims when sitting around but nearly 100 when in play and all pieces are out. The creator does want to update the game to reduce the prim count.
Posted by: kanomi | Friday, May 22, 2009 at 02:46 PM