Play Chess Academy (Unl) (Famicom) Online

Summary

Chess Academy is a curious blend of Mahjong and Chinese chess, turning the familiar tile‑matching puzzle into a five‑tile showdown with miniature chess pieces as the symbols. The game’s mechanics feel like a stripped‑down Mahjong set, yet each tile bears the distinct look of a pawn, rook, knight, bishop or king, giving the matching process an extra layer of visual charm. Developed by Thin Chen Enterprises and released across Asia in 1991, the title was brought to market by Sachen, a publisher known for budget‑friendly cartridges.

A hidden dip‑switch inside the cartridge lets the console swap the copyright notice between Sachen and Hacker International, a little hardware Easter egg that hints at the era’s gray‑market practices. This switch doesn’t affect gameplay, but it’s a neat reminder of how regional licensing quirks could be toggled with a simple solder‑point, adding a collector’s intrigue to an otherwise straightforward puzzle experience.