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Full House Poker
My, my, my, my, poker face, well my
avatar’s poker face anyway. Full House Poker on Xbox Live Arcade brings
the closet card sharks out to the virtual table in visual style.
Be it against the games AI or against fellow gamers, the game rewards
you whatever way it goes. Win or loose the game is actually fun. Your
gambling success is not only displayed by how many chips you are winning
or have won, but also by the experience level of your character. Oddly
enough, experience points are earned even if you are loosing. The old
saying of know when to fold um and know when to hold um holds true here.
Folding a bad card hand will earn some experience points.
Every new hand gets the player closer to some Avatar gear, new cards or
even furniture. Thankfully, it is not only dependent on how many chips
you have won, but also mainly, it seems by the experience level.
Not a card shark? Never fear, Full House Poker has both video and text
tutorials that will help you along. You may just be winning those
virtual jackpots in no time. Any time during game play a tap of the
bumper shows a list in order of strength of possible hands. The game for
some one that has never really played cards can actually be a bit
intimidating at first glance, after all…how do you know what to bet, or
what to do if you have never played? There are plenty of how to play
tutorials and tips in the game, showing different hands.
The AI seems to be aggressive or that may be just because until it’s the
players turn, everything happens at a break neck pace, cards fly and the
AI reacts with in a second or two, there is no thoughtful pause, or
dramatic stare down as the AI character simulates thinking of what they
will do. It is very evident the player is against the computer, there is
no feeling in single player mode of going against different styles or
personalities. It’s still fun and challenging, so take the pause to have
look at what the opponents are doing or what they are showing in their
hand and then make your play. At first go round with Full House Poker, I
felt compelled to make or at least try to make just as fast choices as
the AI opponents do.
The Pro Take down mode is when the games AI bring out the virtual card
sharks. The player in this mode has to take on and take down nine
different AI characters in competition play. This part of the game tends
to feel the most rewarding, just after multiplayer.
Ranked and unranked games are in the multiplayer experience. Players can
be host of their own game or find a game to join. Going against other
thinking players brings on a different feel since you know your playing
against another actual person. They may be cautious in their style of
play or more aggressive. As games go that incorporate your avatar, Full
House Poker is a blast and the rewards are a real hoot too. The player
comes away feeling some sense of reward, be it from the chips won,
experience points or even cooler still some customization for your
virtual self, from decks of cards to outfits, or even tricks with chips
to show off how awesomely cool you are.
All through the multiplayer experience, messages flash up at the bottom
of the screen letting you know how well your doing, the ambiance in the
game can get rather exciting and it’s fun to get lost in the moment of
your virtual gambling with out the consequences that it can well bring.
Players see other players; you can even hear cheers when someone has won
big. All you have to do is pony up some Microsoft points to get you
started in this slick looking game. While the concept is cool, it almost
makes what the game simulates a pointless affair, since there is no risk
here. Win or loose you get something out of it. Which can be cool,
perhaps in an overly gamer friendly fashion?
Full House Poker is well worth the time or in this case the past time.
Full House Poker is a fun game for its single player mode or its
multiplayer mode and beautiful whimsical graphics and use of our
avatars.
Have fun, play games
Edwin Millheim
United States Editor
Impulse Gamer |
