Review: World Poker Tour (PS2)
It is unfortunate that the blistering form shown by Visual Concepts during its NFL series came to a shuddering halt after the intervention of Electronic Arts. However, as one door slams shut, another it seems opens, with a new opportunity.
The “sport” of Poker is undergoing something of a transformation, as celebrities are seen to play matches and events attract greater television coverage and viewing figures. Years ago poker was the exclusive domain of professional gamblers or illegal Lock, Stock-type matches; nowadays it has a more favourable image. The arrival of the Internet has also boosted awareness, with many players earning a living from online playing at a wealth of websites.
World Poker Tour is based upon existing tournaments and features the venues and main players from the series. As with many sporting releases, you find yourself at the bottom of the pile, with no reputation or form to speak of. It’s here that Gamestyle notices the lack of options to really bring personality to your virtual reincarnation. All the players are cut from the same cloth: with the same animation and body type (broad shoulders and overly long arms). It’s a tad disappointing, as being a veteran of Visual Concept releases, this is one area where they normally excel. Clothing and accessories can be acquired as you earn cash during the Season mode, but not before.
Where the work has been done – and a decent standard achieved – is the facial expressions and mannerisms that each character produces during a match. Poker relies on odds and computing the risks involved; but there is a fair amount of bluffing that throws such calculations out of the hotel lobby. The match atmosphere is well judged, with the official commentators (Mike Sexton and Vince Van Patten) summing up the emotion, albeit with some repetition.
Gamestyle found itself trying to keep a straight face during matches, trying desperately to bluff the occasional hand and not give the game away. Opponents also bluff to varying degrees of effectiveness. The AI is rash, unpredictable and at times ruthless. This all adds to the fun of the contest and the satisfaction of victory, when it does come.
Where things have gone wrong are in terms of the presentation and lack of modes on offer. There is no training mode to speak of, so rookies to poker are firmly shunted out the door. The game also supports various types of poker rules (14 in total), which go beyond Gamestyle’s knowledge, so it’s a little unfriendly in this regard. A decent training mode could have really opened up the game to players of varied ability. However for those familiar with the sport, there are statistical options and features to illustrate your tendencies and areas in need of improvement.
There are only three modes on offer through World Poker Tour, with these being Quick Draw, Season or Online. Quick Draw was mainly used as a preparation tool, for the various match rules and boosting confidence. The Season mode is the main feature, where you building up cash and world ranking, as you follow the tour around the world. This should have been a glitzy, dramatic affair but the presentation and execution is sadly missing. You’re plunged straight into your table seat (in another bland hotel lobby) and the match begins with no introduction or TV style presentation (even just some different camera angles) that the game badly needs. The officially licensed players should have been utilised far more effectively. With their poker names, like 'Devilfish', they have some interesting personalities amongst their ranks, but you wouldn’t really know. As the first Poker release in what may be a new series, this seems like a timid step and will be one area in need of improvement if the series does continue.
The online mode offers voice and keyboard support. Arguably this is one release where being without a headset offers a potential advantage. All game types are supported but as with most European PS2 releases, the online take-up is almost zero. This is a shame as going online is straightforward and extends the life of the release without the need to navigate endless menus. When matches do appear, they tend to fill up (to the maximum of six players) fairly quickly. It seems most poker players are online, but playing for real money via their PC’s.
World Poker Tour confirms the potential of such a release, as even with long loading times and drab graphics it does provide a captivating and almost addictive experience. Whilst you cannot beat a game of poker for drama, the video game version needs a little more accessorising before it becomes a real experience.
Rating: 6 / 10
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