This resembles the crazy chess me and my cousin used to play.
We'd use assorted miniaturs as chess-pieces (mostly pokemon, some random toys and figurines) and then when we'd try to take the opponent's piece we'd have to argue they'd actually win.
It was a lot of fun, even if it usually devolved into chaos when we'd start to give the pieces motivations and personal characteristics ('Hitler wouldn't dare attack Misdreavus! He'd run away and try to take over by assasinating Michael Jackson!'), and then we'd forget what piece was what.
But we had a lot of fun.