GAME DESCRIPTION: Stacked is a Texas Hold ’em Poker game designed with participation from poker’s most dynamic and successful professionals. The game features a comprehensive poker school in which the player can receive tips and strategies from Daniel Negreanu (multiple Poker award winner and all-time World Poker Tour money winner). As players progress through the game’s Career mode, they can apply Daniel’s teachings to overcome some of poker’s most renowned stars, including Josh Arieh, Jennifer Harman, Erick Lindgren, Carlos Mortenson, Evelyn Ng, and David Williams. The Poki Artificial Intelligence system adapts its tactics in real-time to exploit the user’s playing style, detecting tendencies and deploying appropriate counter-strategies. Players can also organize online games with friends or engage in multi-table tournaments.
PLAY: In a world of bad poker games this stands tall as the best. That isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
The AI is supposed to be beyond anything we’ve played to date. The AI system Poki is supposed to learn our moves and anticipate them. The AI opponents all have different styles which is a nice touch. There are occasions when the AI can be absolutely frustrating and that seems to be the point. They get you frustrated and take you out of your game. Either that, or the AI is just plain stupid and that’s the issue. We’ll give Stacked the benefit of the doubt.
The best aspect of the game, for those who aren’t well versed, is the poker school by Daniel Negreanu. There are also tips that come up as you play—which comes in handy for amateurs like me. The tips aren’t generic—they are definitely geared towards the situation and not based solely upon your cards.
One major issue with Stacked is the game’s pace. It seems to get slower and slower. If you get into a tournament you better have a few hours. Even then you might have to save the game and take a breather. It can get extremely tedious which lends itself to making mistakes.
GRAPHICS: There are decent character animations and the casinos are good—although limited.
SOUND: Very limited voice-overs.
FRANKLY: With the ability to play career mode and go online there is a nice amount of depth to Stacked. Its fun to hit the online tournaments once you think your game is good enough. I jumped online a few times only to find I wasn’t nearly as good as the AI had me believe.
+ Richie Wright
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