User Reviews (11 - 21 of 31)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Great Way To Practice Texas Hold'em!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: February 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

If you put Poker & High Stakes rooms in your casinos you can host BlackJack, Five Card Draw, and Texas Hold'em tournaments whenever you like. Sometimes the game will ask you to participate in a tournament and if you win then the money gets added to the house and ups your spending dough!

We've finished all the casino goals but find this is a great way to practice our poker skills thus, extending the life of this game.

Tons of Chips

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: July 25, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Casino Empire is a great simulation game. It's easy to use and a lot of fun to play.

Basically you're in charge of building a casino from one of several different spots on the map. You have to unlock these venues through the scenarios and once you do you can freely build in them in sandbox mode. Start off with slots, upgrade to craps, poker, etc... Add restaurants and all the other extras needed for a full blown casino experience.

Some positive and negative aspects:
+ Graphics and Sound: I found the graphics to be excellent. It's all isometric 2D and it looks great. The people are detailed enough to be believable and the casino environment is very well done. The sound is fitting and when your casino gets bigger it really does sound like you're there with all the bleeping, banging, and noise that goes with it.
+ Performance: the game runs great. For really big casinos with thousands of guests you may experience some sluggishness but it's not too bad. If your system meets the requirements for the game you'll be fine - disable any background stuff like virus scanners if you experience problems.
+ Entertainment: this game is just plain fun. Watching people play the games and get mad at losing or happy at winning is amusing. The best part - in my opinion - is clicking on individual people. You get a portrait, where they're from, their likes and dislikes, and you can comp them if desired. There's celebrities, average Joes, Bums, businessmen, etc that can frequent your casino. After you build a bar it gets really interesting....
- Replayability: this is perhaps the weakest part of the game. After you finish the scenarios and have unlocked all the buildings you may not desire to play the same exact buildings over and over again. Even though you can vary the placement of gambling items and establishments it is repetitious. Unfortunately once you've exhausted the scenarios there aren't any more gambling items or new buildings to put up so it wears thin at that point.

Take care

Too Easy

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 8 / 21
Date: October 19, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I have never been a great PC gamer but this game was just too Easy. I beat every level (except the last one) on one try. The last one only took me two tries. It plays more like a Tutorial than an "Empire". It is amusing but way too predictable I would recomend this one when it hits the bargain bin at your local computer store.

User-friendly...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: September 09, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Hoyle's Casino Empire is a user-friendly version of the "Tycoon" games. While not as complex, you should be able to advance with little reference to the manual -- something you can't do with the "Tycoon" games. One criticism I do have is that it's fairly simple -- could have been more complex in what YOU control; and would have liked to see more different options in restaurants, etc. that could be added. But, for an afternoon of casino fun; it will suffice. Would like to see Sierra try a few other venues with a little more complex game. Look for a good bargain on the price; and you probably won't be disappointed.

Unexpected pleasure

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: August 11, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I bought this as an afterthought for my husband's birthday. He wanted Hoyle Casino and Empire was on sale so I grabbed it too. He is thoroughly addicted, as are my 9 and 10 year old children. As with any game, it takes some getting used to, but once one casino is conquered, the secrets unravel a bit, but not too much. We are about halfway through the Strip as the casinos are getting harder to complete, but the game allows you to improve the casinos even if you can meet the goals. Makes me want to go to Vegas.

Gets old....fast...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: June 29, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The only probably with this game, is it's too short. There are 8, relatively easy levels to beat. And once you've done that, the game is pretty much down. Do yourself a favor, check for a 'used' copy first...then sell it as used once you're done with it.

Decent, but limitted playability

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: August 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

As Tycoon games go, this one is probably a bit above the average of late. Most seem to be junk re-hashes of the same game with different graphics. This one is pretty decent (not to the level of a SimCity or RailRoad Tycoon), but much better than things like Underwater Tycoon, that appear targetted at rather young <13 players.

There is a progression that you go up in getting bigger casino's to develop and goals set for you. But I think there were only about 6-7 casino's total and once you did them all, it wasn't really any fun to go back and play the old ones.

Bottom line: Looking to kill some time? This will keep you occupied for an afternoon if you like the "Casino" theme. If you are looking for something to keep you going for days or is complex, keep looking.

Overall Good Game

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 02, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game in a 2 pack with hoyle slots. I like this game. I don't like the fact that you cannot change the casino itself. This game is very entertaining but sometimes a little difficult, but who wants it to be easy. The casino sounds are good and so are the graphics. So all in all worth the money.

Casino Empire

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 15, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Fun game can get a little slow at times, make sure you read some strategies online before playing.

Hoyle Casino Empire

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: March 09, 2007
Author: Amazon User

If you like casino games or casinos, you've got to try this one. Here you build your own casinos and run them. Hoyle Casino Empire provides hours of fun and entertainment. I have had this game for a long time and I never get tired of playing it. The graphics are very good and you will find plenty of options in the game. A must buy.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 Next 

Actions