If what
happens in Vegas stayed in Vegas, do you really think people would go? People
visit because they hear tales of what goes on when the sun goes down, thereby
squashing the belief that whatever happens stays there.
Video games
work the same way. Hard Rock Casino, a polygonal take on the big-win casino
lifestyle, lets you jump into the shoes of a daring gambler. Male or female,
ugly or…less ugly, these user-created players will walk through the casino
doors with eyes wider than a kid at Disney World. One thousand smackers are at
your disposal, allowing you to lose a little and stay in the game.
If you win,
chances are your excitement will be regurgitated to everyone you know. But if
you lose, forget about the silly Vegas promo line. Whatever happens at the
Hard Rock Casino will stay there.
Time to
Rock
Most card
and casino games are very plain. Gameplay is usually conducted via bland menus
that distance the player from the experience. Contrary to what some developers
believe, there is more to a game than the X button.
Hard Rock
Casino juices up this tired scenario with 3D interactions before arriving at a
slot machine or card table. Whether taking on the Adventure mode, which doles
out objectives on a per-game basis, or playing the Quick mode, which allows
you to gamble without negatively affecting your Adventure status, Hard Rock
Casino is about more than poker – it’s about the experience of being in a
casino.
Blackjack,
Casino War, Let it Ride, Big Raise Hold ‘Em, Pai Gow, Fortune Pai Gow, Craps,
Roulette, No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em, Omaha Hold ‘Em, 7 Card Stud – these are
some of the games you get with this collection. Several slot machines are
available, and you’ll have the option to place bets on sporting and horse
racing events.
Given the
lineup, Hard Rock Casino is not necessarily for people who have games like
Grand Theft Auto and Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops in their collection. It’s
more for the people with World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker. Casino
War, one of the newest casino offerings, is almost identical to the kiddie
card game of the same name. I had fun playing it many moons ago and enjoyed
the video game adaptation. But the average Liberty City Stories fan is not
likely to find it amusing (or admit it if they do).
I like to
gamble so long as money isn’t being wagered. POGs and Halloween candy are a
great replacement. Since I don’t have to wager anything real while playing
Hard Rock Casino, the game made it easy to take risks. The Adventure mode’s
objectives are often as crazy as, “Win five times in a row.” When tied to
Roulette, a.k.a. the biggest crapshoot in casino gaming, you find yourself in
a bind that could cost you thousands. But it’s not possible to bypass any of
the objectives – they must be completed in order to move on. What to do?
In most
cases, the game goes easy on players when an adventure-altering objective is
involved. I won several hands at Blackjack no problem – scored 21 multiple
times, and caused to the computer AI to bust during several other hands. That
was before the objective was met. Once completed, my luck went AWOL. The cards
started moving in the AI’s favor. My motto is to fight until you’ve won back
the bare minimum dollar amount that you brought to each particular game. It’s
not guaranteed to work out, but again, the game isn’t too difficult.
However, I
do wish they had excluded Roulette from the objectives list. It’s not a bad
game, but it’s very hard to predict where that ball will land. I almost feel
like I would have more control if I were at a real Roulette table. You could
make what seems like the perfect prediction and lose. While the others are
almost too simple, Roulette doesn’t really want you to win.
This is a
tough genre for developers to master when casinos, cards, slot machines, etc.,
really exist, while most other genres are pure fantasy. Having said that, Hard
Rock Casino is presented and implemented more efficiently than any other
casino game collection. The games are simple, random fun; the graphics are
more than eye-catching; and the replay value is higher than any standalone
poker game. If you want the casino experience in virtual form, Hard Rock
Casino is the place to visit.
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Gameplay: 6.8
Slots, Big Raise
Hold ‘Em, Pai Gow Poker, etc. – existing fans will love the virtual
interpretations. The slot machines are just as convoluted as the real thing,
while Big Raise Hold ‘Em is fun in any form, as is Blackjack.
On the down
side, Roulette is super cheap, and the repetition factor on all accounts is
excruciatingly high.
Graphics:
8.0
The attention to
detail is very impressive. Excellent lighting, textures, camera work, etc. All
PSP games should look this good (but with better characters – HRC’s leave a
lot to be desired).
Sound: 4.0
So-so music and
voice acting. The frequent and repetitive quips are insanely annoying.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Hard Rock
Casino’s AI fluctuates based on the required objectives.
Concept: 7.9
A grand-scale
re-creation of a real casino, complete with multiple game rooms and a
wonderful 3D navigation view.
Multiplayer: 4.0
Not your best bet
for a PSP multiplayer experience. Casino games are fun when playing solo, but
why team up with a nearby PSP owner when you could whip out a real deck of
cards?
Overall: 6.6
This is a great
time-killer – the kind of game you can pick up and enjoy for 30 seconds
without feeling the need to make a 10 or 20-minute commitment. But it’s not
without its flaws and technical limitations. Remember that before walking
through the Hard Rock Casino’s doors.
