10 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
A TOTAL Disappointment.
Date of Review: Sep 2, 2004
The Bottom Line: This is the WORST PC video game I have ever bought. It plays NOTHING like tournament Hold 'em. DON'T BUY IT!
I am really sorry, but do NOT buy this game. Sadly, it isn't worth the $20 I spent on it. Sadly, also, is the NO RETURN policy on open CD's/DVD's/PC games/Video games. Because of the retail store's policy, there really isn't ANY deterrent for companies to ride a trend (hold 'em), put out an inferior product, and try to capitalize. With a NO RETURN policy firmly in place, a sale is a sale. I looked at epinions for a review, and alas, there weren't any for this, or the other hold 'em game. Amazon.com doesn't have any reviews for this either. Here is why.
If you are looking for the kind of action you see on WSOP, you will NOT find it here. Let me describe it to you. You play against a bunch of cartoon characters. The blinds never change. It's at 10/15 I believe. They start you with $5000. It's not really a "tournament" by any means. The AI is so dumb, I don't even have a hand and can bluff them out every time unless they have 4 of a kind, full house, flush, or straight flush. It's just terrible.
This may be only the "learning" level. I don't know. They start you with $5000. That's fine. Maybe they actually have TOURNAMENTS at the other casinos included in the game. Unfortunately, in order to get to the next casino, you need to "WIN" $50,000. At $10/15 that never changes, and the computer folks fold most every time, it'll take you a lifetime. You can't ever really fold a hand either. Then you end up WATCHING the computer players play the hand. And it plays REALLY slow.
Valusoft should be ashamed of itself for putting this game out to ride the Hold 'em groundswell. I feel it's my patriotic duty as an American consumer to post this review on epinions. ALWAYS check epinions before you buy anything. I, unfortunately, did not have any reviews to base my buying decision on, and am now out $20. Anyone want to buy a game? Cheap?
ADDED:
I have gotten some comments on my review and got a few "somewhat helpfuls". I have re-read my review, and I think I expressed my epinion of this game rather well. Writing my review, I am using the assumption that anyone that would buy such a game has seen World Series of Poker on ESPN/ESPN2, and other cable shows such as World Poker Tour, and Celebrity Poker, and decided to try to learn the ins and outs of tournament poker through a PC video game. If my assumption is correct, and this sounds like you, I will restate it, DO NOT BUY THIS GAME. For anyone else that wants a SLOW playing, totally unrealistic poker experience, this game is for you.
For anyone just trying to learn the game, the OTHER Texas Hold'em game on the shelf, from DD Software, has much better AI, AND the computer players play incredibly quick. Check out the reviews on this site and others. You will learn that other game is somewhat easy to beat, but at least it's fast. And it's TOURNAMENT Hold 'em. This game, by Valusoft, claims to be TOURNAMENT No Limit Hold 'em, but it really isn't. It is terribly false marketing.
I stand by my review. I see no way anyone could enjoy any aspect of this game for more than 5 or 10 minutes. At least for Hold 'em. Omaha is included also, and the computer opponents are usually betting in that game. Since everyone has a decent hand in Omaha, due to 4 cards down, mix and match, instead of the two cards in hold 'em, you can't really bluff to take the pot. The Omaha simulation is decent, but again, it isn't in a TOURNAMENT format as claimed on the box. Maybe at the other casinos, but again, you have to win $50,000 to get to the next casino with 10/15 blinds. Good luck.
