u/AppropriateNorth5574

▲ 3 r/OldPCGames+1 crossposts

[PC][2000-2005] 3D Platformer with insects and giant chess pieces

[Platform(s)] PC (Windows). It was included in a categorized, bootleg "300 Popular PC Games" compilation CD from the early 2000s alongside games like Dark Fall: The Journal and Virtua Cop 2.
[Genre] 3D Platformer / Action / Chess-themed puzzle.
[Estimated year of release] Around 2001 - 2004.
[Graphics/art style] It had a dark, mysterious, and slightly eerie/abstract atmosphere. The levels consisted of stone structures or grids forming platforms floating in the middle of empty space (like a void or outer space). The colors were mostly dark and grey, but the very last level had a brighter, daylight sky.
[Notable characters] At the start of the game, there was a minimalist, dark character selection screen where you had to choose between two insects. I remember them being a grasshopper/mantis and a spider (or something similar). They were 3D models spinning on their axis with no other text.
[Notable gameplay mechanics]
The camera view was strictly Third-Person (behind the back of the insect).
The main goal of each level was to jump around and physically push or hit giant 3D chess pieces (like Pawns, Rooks, etc.) to knock them off the edges of the floating platforms into the void.
The chess pieces were alive, moving, and actively attacking you to push you off instead.
Different pieces had different AI and sizes (the Rook/Castle was huge).
In the final level, you had to defeat the King and Queen. The Queen and King had very smart, aggressive AI compared to the other pieces, actively predicting your moves and trying to corner you.
[Other details] It is NOT a popular game. It wasn't a flash game either (like Miniclip), it was a separate executable (.exe) file usually found in the "Platform" or "Strategy" section of shareware game CDs of that era.
Does anyone remember the name of this obscure game? Thanks in advance!

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u/AppropriateNorth5574 — 4 days ago