The Deal

I've often thought of poker as the boxing of the new millennium. Boxing used to have it all -- larger than life personalities, celebrity drawing power, rich cash purses, shady characters, and enormous public interest. That changed sometime during the mid-'80s (except for the shady characters part). Now it could be argued that poker has those elements, along with one other key ingredient … widespread public participation.

People are playing poker. They're playing online, at their buddy's house, at work, at school, on their cellphones, and now, on their video-game systems. The question is, however, why spend $20 on a console version of poker that pales in comparison to what's offered on the PC? Well, we never quite answered that one ourselves, but for those of you dead set on dropping a $20, please read on.

The Flop

Poker, or more specifically, No Limit Texas Hold 'Em, is a game that quickly identifies particular playing styles and personalities. Consistently winning requires a tremendous amount of diligence, patience, and careful study of the patterns and peculiarities of those playing around you. Some basic mathematic skills also come into play, as it's never wise to throw an inordinately large bet into a small pot. Table position is another key factor, and we're happy to report that World Poker Tour nails all the basics of what makes poker such an intriguing game. It also succeeds (for the most part) in the most critical area of any poker title -- A.I.


Specifically, can the computer break down patterns, spot inconsistencies, and bet with enough of a "human" flair to throw off real human opponents. Bluffing, calling down bluffs, and betting aggressively are all expert level skills that previous poker titles have had trouble replicating. World Poker Tour surprised us with its uncanny knack for calling down hands, and we even forgot we were playing a computer at times. Of course, there are still some strides to be made. Outrageous pre-flop betting, or over-the-top bets meant to throw off the CPUs odds, still brought about a few too many folds.

The Turn

The World Poker Tour is faithful to its real-life license, and sets an amiable atmosphere for progress through the games levels and events. The real fun and individuality come from, you guessed it, creating your own poker persona. This is one area where the console titles definitely excel versus the generic avatar-drenched versions of the PC poker land. Gamers have hundreds of accessories to choose from, but can only access those items by raking in some cash at the tables. Facial traits, hair, and all the requisite physical attributes can be adjusted to your heart's content.

Temperament settings are available too, as you decide how well-adjusted, outgoing and balanced (or not) you want to be. This goes a long way towards determining how other players will perceive your table actions. As play progresses, you'll have to monitor your agreeability, well-adjusted and extraverted meters to see if you're projecting confidence, worry, or just happy insanity. Filling all three meters will basically just project you as a happy guy (or gal) no matter what personality settings you originally selected, so ultimately it doesn't matter a whole lot.