Texas Hold'em Poker Review

 Review of Texas Hold'em Poker

This one has been purchased by many of you. Gameloft's Texas Hold'em Poker is a WiiWare-based adaptation of the popular gambling card game. The Wii Shop received it a few months back. It has been quite successful since then. It regularly appears in the Top 20 downloads and sometimes even climbs up and rests as high as the Top 5.

It might not say much about the game's relative quality. Other games that continue to be in the top spots on the same list include the terrible Reel Fishing Challenge, and the subpar My Aquarium. The masses may be seeing the light -- Texas Hold'em Poker isn't terrible.

While you can't expect anything else than the standard version of common poker here, most people are more comfortable with Texas Hold'em than regular poker thanks to the popularity and influence of celebrities and ESPN2 -- which has made it possible to broadcast real-world tournaments easier and more interesting. High stakes games can be viewed on virtually any night of the week. It's big.

Here's a quick overview for those unfamiliar with the game. Texas Hold'em Poker, a card game that can be played with up to nine players, is a form of casino poker. Each player receives two cards from the same deck and must keep them. Texas Hold'em is a game that allows players to draw new cards and exchanging cards.

After the initial deal with two cards each, there is a round for betting. Three cards are then "flopped" onto a table. These cards are shared cards that everyone uses. Next, there's more betting and then a fourth is put on the table. There's more betting and then there's a fifth card. Final bet: The remaining two players will turn up their cards. The best five-card combination (using a combination from their original two and five cards on the table) will win the pot of cash.

However, not all rounds are as successful. Texas Hold'em, a game that involves intuition and deception, is not for everyone. People will "fold" at any stage in the progression of rounds, giving up their chances of winning. If you're dealt two or more bad cards, you might fold. Or, you could keep them and convince your opponent that you have something better -- fooling them into folding. For such a simple game it becomes incredibly complex. Even a three-paragraph explanation isn't enough to capture the many rules and nuances of play in real life. To catch the rest, just turn on ESPN2 late tonight -- there will be poker.

Texas Hold'em Poker is a WiiWare game that adapts the many subtleties and characteristics of this human game into video. Video games will always struggle to replicate the dynamics of a game that is so dependent on human interaction, face recognition, and other such things. However, this game can be fun to look at what it has achieved.

The single-player mode allows you to progress through the various hold'em events around the world. You will be able to take control of either a cartoonish or personal Mii character and you'll visit high stakes games in exclusive clubs halfway around the globe and Las Vegas. You'll be facing a range of virtual opponents. Some are based on real-world poker players. These high-profile opponents will be given certain personalities which you will have to defeat, such as an increased aggressiveness when betting. To defeat them all and win virtual millions, you will need to sharpen your skills.

Online multiplayer is possible through Nintendo's WiFi Connection. WiiWare WiiWare WiiWare WiiWare WiiWare WiiWare WiiWare WiiWare Wi-Fi games are often unsuccessful due to lack of players looking for them. Texas Hold'em Poker, however, does quite well -- it's been a Top 20 downloaded for two months. Many people have it already, and there are many online players who want to challenge you.

WiFi matches let you choose between a cartoon avatar and your own Mii character. They are casual affairs that perfectly match the laidback, laid-back nature of Wii's "expanded audiences." You'll play through hands very slowly and communicate with others using standard phrases, such as "Nice catch!" "Ooh! You really got me that way!" A pop-up menu shows all available sentences.

Again, this isn’t real-world Hold’em. The bluffing element plays out differently. It’s subdued and games aren’t too intense. Players will be unhappy about the relaxed atmosphere and desire a more realistic experience, similar to real-money poker. You can find that information on these Internet poker sites. WiiWare's different, but not better, or worse, is what you need.

You can ignore the "Quick Play", which isn’t that fast, but completes the package. It's a nice presentation, and you can see the extra effort that went into it. The visuals are attractive and the characters have personality. Gameloft even went the extra mile to support Mii -- they added a few subtle details I haven't seen anywhere else.

For example, my Mii wears glasses. When he was at the poker table, he would reach up to adjust his glasses. Miis without them wouldn’t do that. This little extra is a sign that the developers didn't want to just make quick cash. They wanted to make a great, clean, and fun poker experience, specifically for the Wii. They did an excellent job.

Verdict

Gameloft's Texas Hold'em Poker may not be the best poker simulation game. It doesn't solve the problem of translating the difficult elements of the game, such as the subtleties of bluffing or table talk. The quality of what you'll find here is good if that's your problem. It's a casual, easy-to-learn, very enjoyable version of this wildly popular game. Thousands have already downloaded it, and are available via the WiFi Connection. You might not want to play as hard-core poker enthusiasts, but for those who enjoy playing poker more casually, the six-dollar download is a good choice. For poker lovers, Here's Texas Hold 'em for Poker Lovers