Poker Academy Pro 2.0 Review
Share
Digg This
Glink It
At last count, I think I have reviewed about six
other poker games for GameZone. In case you are scoring at home, that is an
impressive run since normally such a specific genre is spread out over several
reviewers. Now don't misread me, there are other reviewers who also review
poker games, but I have been fortunate enough to get several different
titles. I consider myself an avid poker fan and so it fits me to do these
types of reviews. I mean, it's not like any of us can say "I'm an alien
hunter" and get all sorts of shooters that involve killing aliens. But
playing cards? Yup, I've sat at more then a few tables in my life and walked
away a winner far less then I walked away a loser. Either way you slice it, I
like to think I'm the guy that you can ask about quality Poker games.
And so that being said, I was given an opportunity
to review Bio Tools Inc.'s Poker Academy Pro. Bio Tools also has a standard
version of it's Poker Academy, but I chose to go big and play the Pro
version. Since I received an online copy and key I did a little research and
saw what appears to be a $129.99 price tag for either version. $129 bucks!
Seemed like an awful lot to pay for a game, even if it's the Pro version. So
I did some research, and began to read. Seems that Poker academy is the end
product of ten years of Artificial Intelligence study done by the country's
leading experts. Building off of an impressive learning program, Poker
Academy allows players to not only enjoy a quality poker title, but over time
you will learn to become a better player whether you realize it. The
unemotional machine that is currently beating you badly is a result of
carefully comprised statistics and odds that have been factored over and over
in the initial development of the program. The end result is a game that
while seemingly innocent enough, is a real stinker of a challenge. Not that
this is a bad thing, but whew, it can be very difficult.
What the game offers is a easy to use interface
that allows you to even make your decision on what you want to do and select
it even before your turn comes around. Not making any sense? Well, think of
it this way. In Texas Hold em' Poker, you will always be in the same seat at
the bottom of the screen regardless of single or online play, but the dealer
chip rotates around through the players. Well, if you are dealt pocket kings
(two kings), you are pretty much going to want to at least play to see the
flop (the first three community cards). You can select what you would like to
do (fold, raise, check) and then when your turn comes around your selection
automatically activates. Of course, some poker strategists would argue that
anyone who raises or bets very quickly may be holding something good and
therefore might cause them to fold. It's all open to interpretation.
Thankfully though, the game has pop up advice that can and has saved me
several times and I like to think I know what I'm doing.
The thing that I did not like about the game
though, and this is pretty much the only thing, was that the game cannot be
played full screen. It's a fairly large screen, but try as I might, there
simply was no way to make the game full screen. I know, it's a pretty small
thing to gripe about but hey, I have a big monitor so I can see everything
nice and large. So there ya go.
As you play, either single or multiplayer online
there is a bevy of information over on the right side of the screen. It lets
you know what the best possible hand you have (or would have had since it
shows your cards even if you fold) and the percentage strength of it in
reference to what is in the community cards. Your Pair of queens may look
alright after the flop, but the percentage of how good it is may diminish if
there is a flush potential or straight possibility but still, it makes sense
to look at the percentage of the strength of your hand. But just to give you
an idea of the laws of averages, I recently decided to play a 3, 8 offsuit
hand and the flop gave me a full house. Under normal circumstances you
would throw those cards away, but in any game of chance, those long shots do
come around.
What I enjoyed the most was the incredibly easy
online mode. Poker Academy allows you to merely press the online button and
wham, there's the games that you can jump into. It even tells you how many
people are playing in any particular room. Plus, you can make your own room.
It was so darn simple. And since the game is in contact with its home
servers, the updates are loaded on automatically every time you load the game
up (provided you need the updates).
From a graphics standpoint, the game is decent,
not anything bad per se' but nothing like Stacked or World Class Poker since
those games actually show the faces of all the players. This one has clean
lines of play featured on the actual table and all sorts of nifty,
non-distracting windows that pop up. The stats windows and other
informational diagrams are all easy on the eyes and provide the kind of
statistics normally reserved for Major League Baseball. The nicest graphical
feature isn't so much a graphics feature, it's the ability to actually type
messages while in play. The words pop up on the seat you are sitting at and
you can get into the kind of banter you see going on during those Poker TV
shows. It is a genuinely useful tool and I can't believe I haven't seen it
yet.
I could go into a level of depth now that only the
staunchest of fans would appreciate. But it may sound contrived and
unnecessary. The point is, that Poker Academy is a fine title and worth the
price of admission. But be warned, this title is for the real deal poker
players, the A.I. is awesome and the online play is highly competitive.
Gameplay: 8.8
An easy to use interface combined with a whole
bevy of useful statistics. The friendly advanced buttons are all self
explanatory and the pop-up informational windows can and will keep you in the
game when you are ready to self destruct. Good tips and play that will
actually improve your poker game if you want to go out and enter a real live
tournament.
Graphics: 8.0
Although not the best looking of the PC poker
games, these graphics are easy on the eyes and meant to be painless during
long play sessions. Now if they could just allow the game to be full screen.
Sound: 7.5
I didn't say anything about the audio because
there wasn't really anything to say about it. The card shuffle and chip "ploink"
is the only audio I could hear. No light muzak, no people talking in the
background. I guess the thought was because of its nature, there simply was
no need, and the programmers were right.
Difficulty: Hard
There's a reason this is the "Pro" edition. It's
tough. I remember in one particularly long playing session, I had probably 10
three of a kinds, I won, like twice. Normally a trips king is a darn fine
hand, but the computer bots kept pulling straights, flushes and full houses.
Tough stuff here. The same could be said about the online players, you don't
normally get a rube playing a game that retails for $129 bucks, and I didn't.
Although I did figure out more then one players, playing style and knew when
they were bluffing and I made them PAY!
Concept: 8.9
Again, a game designed with the well put together
poker player in mind. I've played a lot of poker games, this one is making me
play better.
Multiplayer: 9.5
The easiest game to go online and play with, with
the stiffest of competition. As I write this review right now, I am also
playing in an online game and losing (badly).
Easily the games most defining quality.
Overall: 9.0
On it's multiplayer experience and the teachings
of the program this game rocks. Again, only for the serious poker player, but
given poker's popularity, I'd say that's quite a lot of people.
Poker Academy Pro 2.0 Comments (0)
GameZone Review Detail
| Gameplay | 8.8 |
| Graphics | 8 |
| Sound | 7.5 |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Concept | 8.9 |
| Multiplayer | 9.5 |
| Overall | 9.0 |
9.0
GZ Rating
If you want to take your poker game up a notch or two, the Pro version of Poker Academy may be able to take you there.
Reviewer: Mike David
Review Date: 10/24/2005
Avg. Web Rating
9.0