I’ve done other poker game
reviews, and for the most part I have enjoyed them, since I really enjoy poker
anyway. But the thing about these other poker games is that they have a
certain amount of variance, in one way or another. Meaning that while you can
play the very popular Texas Hold’em style of poker, there is some other form
of poker game also playable, whether it be five card stud or straight poker or
… whatever. The point being that this handheld game is specifically designed
with the Texas hold’em player in mind. So if you are interested in learning
how to play, or just really enjoy Texas Hold’em then this may be
your e-ticket. But then again, maybe it won’t.
With a nice slim feel to it, the
Saitek handheld is one of the better I have played. There is an easy button
configuration with very "specific" buttons matched up to the various plays you
make in poker. "Call", "Raise", "Fold" are some of them. The game also
features a small speaker that you can activate if you so desire (more on the
sounds below) and of course the other usual buttons. But for the 11 buttons
the game has on it, it really does fit nicely in your hand no matter where you
are. My first thought was that this little beauty would be the perfect
companion for a plane trip since it features a removable faceplate cover that
connects on the back. This is a nice feature for a handheld since I’m sure you
all know how easily an LCD screen can get scratched up as it rides inside a
jacket pocket or bag. Also, on the inside of the removable cover, there is a
complete ranking of hands letting you know what the best hands are all the way
down to the worst. Rule of thumb, don’t be fooled into thinking that a simple
handheld doesn’t know how to bluff, it happened more then once.
The game features you playing
against three computer controlled players, the game follows the standard rules
of betting with small and big blinds and being able to call or raise. However,
it doesn’t take you very long to understand the game’s computer players. And
even though there is a supposed difficulty adjustment, I didn’t see much
difference when playing. The game also states that this handheld is for both
beginners and veterans of Texas Hold’em; this simply is not true. My wife, who
is not very familiar with poker had a pretty good challenge on her hands while
playing. Now, I’m not saying I’m particularly awesome at Texas Hold’em, but I
know what I’m doing, and my cash total clearly showed that.
The simple-looking display has no
color, not that you need it, since poker isn’t a graphically demanding game.
The display is well organized and you can clearly see each card value; the
suits, however, are not as easily seen and you will need to be careful while
trying to work a flush. As each player takes their turn, their total amount of
money is displayed in the bottom corner of the screen. Be sure you are paying
attention or else you will think your winnings are someone else’s. As far as
the sound goes, the game only has a few canned sounds and beeps. I found that
they really don’t do the game any favors, so would routinely turn off the
sound. Computer players have a habit of "Sighing".
The game has its strong points and
its weak ones. I liked the fact that Saitek made a Texas hold’em-only poker
game, but the difficulty just is not there, so it’s almost a wash.
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Gameplay: 5.9
It’s pretty easy to pick up even if you only possess the bare minimum of poker
knowledge. I wish the AI was actually tough to a semi-veteran player rather
than predictable. The actual setup of the buttons is smooth and feels good in
your hand even after an hour.
Graphics: 4.2
Like I said, any type of poker
game isn’t difficult to translate to a videogame, but the real pickle is that
you have a hard time seeing what suits you have. The screen is good sized, so
I can’t figure out why they didn’t utilize it more.
Sound: 3.0
Just turn it off, the simple beeps
and other noises get old real fast. Besides, on an airplane or car trip,
others around you would get ticked off at your obvious attempt to drive them
insane.
Difficulty: Easy
Even though they say it, doesn’t
mean it’s true. The difficulty option simply does not exist. After playing for
a while, you will be able to figure out your opponents gambling pattern, and
then exploit the heck out of it.
Concept: 5.5
We have had handheld games like this for years. Sure this is the
first time a Texas hold’em-specific handheld has been developed, but the end
result falls flat.
Overall: 4.8
This is a $9.99 game, but if you actually go buy it, you will pay
much more then that (the Saitek device retails for $49.95). I can’t recommend
this one for anyone except for maybe those wanting to learn Texas Hold’em, but
then you’d still be paying too much.
