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A good, solid casino program with a few changes

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 71 / 74
Date: October 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I was initially disappointed with Hoyle Casino; it had none of the Hoyle characters from the other Hoyle games and it didn't have a casino favorite of mine, Red Dog Poker. I gave it a chance, however, and it eventually won me over with its new host of characters and its variety of games.

This new version is just as enjoyable as the previous one. Thanks to Hoyle Casino, I finally understand how to play Craps. Roulette is just as realistic as if you were in an actual casino, showing a beautiful full-screen view of the wheel rather than a portion or a small picture of it when it spins. Hoyle Casino plays great Poker and has a nice selection of poker variations from 5 Card Draw to Texas Hold 'em. Popular games like Blackjack, Let it Ride, Pai Gow Poker, and Carribean Stud Poker make a great selection as one expects in a casino program and the new games Baccarat and Video Blackjack are a welcome addition. The rulebook handles explanation of the casino games' rules very well, even the background and origins of the various games, but leaves out tidbits here and there, for example it explains that Baccarat comes from "baccara", Italian for zero for the face cards and tens, but doesn't state that a hand value of zero is called a "Baccarat". Graphics are very good but still a bit fuzzy in some areas. I love the jumbo index cards for the card games.

The Baccarat in the casino is actually Mini-Baccarat, which plays faster than the original, but is just as fun. Video Blackjack is a lot of fun, offering two versions: Standard and a special version that allows you to win with various hands totalling 21; triple 7's, etc., at the expense of fewer options, i.e. no "surrender" available. The Video Poker machines are okay, but could have been improved a bit graphics-wise. Poker Tournament is touted as a new feature; this and other tournaments existed in the previous version, but is now a section in the "back room", and still selectable from the toolbar and the map. Hoyle Casino also includes a Video Poker for Palm OS Handlelds. The rulebook included gives a great deal of helpful strategies with the game rules, but for some reason, it is much smaller.

The tutorial is still the best I've seen in a casino program, and I've played many. You would do well to play how you want to though; sometimes the tutorial advice will cause you to lose. The Help file is handy for jumping to different rules for a game and the glossary is great, but wasn't completely updated for the new games. There are new slots and slots with three and five paylines; probably due to those who complained about too many one-payline machines. For variety, this is a plus, but the sound effects of the spinning reels are still too annoying and unrealistic for me, so I set a faster speed to make it more tolerable. Keno is still the most boring of the games, which I feel is the game's weakest point (and I LIKE Keno!). The Keno should have been improved; different types of Keno machines would have been nice and a Video Keno machine would have been wonderful. Despite its weak points, Hoyle Casino is still a great addition to your computer game collection, hopefully Sierra will someday make a casino program that has it all!

The Sound Pulls You In

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 28 / 31
Date: February 15, 2002
Author: Amazon User

What makes Hoyle Casino great is that it makes you feel as if you are really in a casino. The sound effects of all the different games can be heard in the background as well as the chatter of other casino patrons. The characters at the tables all have funny personalities and different playing strategies. You can also control how talkative the players and dealers are.

Never played Craps or Texas Hold 'Em? Don't worry about it. Hoyle Casino will teach you everything you need to know. The tutorial mode and instructions for each game makes them easy to learn.

Why buy Hoyle Casino instead of another casino game? The atmosphere. The ambience of Hoyle Casino lifts it above other casino games.

Almost Like Being In Vegas

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 23 / 24
Date: January 24, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game was very easy to install, only taking a few minutes. In all of the many hours I've played it, it hasn't frozen up or crashed once. I especially liked the opening animation, showing a sports car zooming into Las Vegas, then shifting to a roulette wheel and craps table inside a casino as you hear "jackpot, winner," all set to the accompaniment of a rocking tune. You can use the facemaker option to create a player with your name to represent you. The instruction book gives detailed rules and strategies for each casino game. I would expect no less from Hoyle, the name synonymous with books of rules for card games. I've learned the basics and practiced enough of Pai Gow Poker and Baccarat to try them the next time I'm in a casino. Craps is still too fast-paced and complicated for me to try for real, but all of the money I've lost playing this version of it hasn't hurt my bank account one bit! If I really get stuck I can click the tutorial button found at the top left of the screen for playing and betting tips. The animated characters you play against have distinct personalities, adding to the overall game-playing enjoyment. The only thing missing are cocktail waitresses in skimpy outfits serving drinks. I can sum up my feelings for "Hoyle Casino 2002" in 2 words: jackpot, winner!

someone call betty ford...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 19 / 21
Date: December 05, 2001
Author: Amazon User

brcause i'm addicted to this game.

This is a wonderful title, very easy and
user friendly to use. It has nearly every
game you could want, a ton of slots if you
are into those, and best of all it helps
you learn the games. As I read one other
reviewer talk about how he finally learned
craps I did as well, plus baccarat (well
more mini-bacarrat but still wanted to
learn for a while) and a ton of other games
without losing an arm and a leg. The only
possible draw back for me were at times the
social interactions with the computer players
were annoying but you can easily turn them off
if you don't want to hear their snappy comments.
A definate must get if you want to gamble and not
lose money

Learn To Play.......Win a Bundle.....Maybe!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 19 / 21
Date: January 11, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I received this game as a gift sent by a friend by way of Amazon. It arrived just in time for Christmas even though it was a late order made just days before Christmas Eve. Good work!! Thanks.

It's a great game. The instructions are well done. I have been able to learn to play some Casino games that have been a mystery before now. One in particular is Craps. Up until now I had no idea how to play the game. The tutorial and hints are helpful along with the detailed rules.

When all else fails, there are always the slot machines. On a lucky day you can build up a healthy bank roll. They are great fun and well done.

You can turn on or off the additional players and the background sound effects. Play as fast or as slow as you like. It is a very well done program.

If you like casino games you will love this CD.

Same game different title

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 12 / 13
Date: July 30, 2002
Author: Amazon User

My wife and I loved the original,and hoped the 2002 version would be even better. It is exactly!the same;even the copywrite date says 2001. What's going on. The description in
the advertising is not true. I also bought Hoyle "Slots &video
poker". These are also the same games no additional or different ones same copywrite date 2001.

Best So Far

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: February 18, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I purchased the Hoyle Casino Games and the Bicycle Casino Games. Both are fun in their own way. What I like best about Hoyle is that you can change the PACE of play and it also offers suggestions on strategy during play if you want advise on the card games. The 'pace' of the other product card games becomes slow as you progress.

top quality product - fun for the whole family

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 12
Date: July 29, 2002
Author: Amazon User

My wife and I just got back from a trip to Vegas. We really enjoyed playing the casino games, and wanted more of the excitment from home, and maybe a chance to practice our techniques. Hoyle Casino 2002 was not a disappointment.

The graphics are really excellent. I really like the feature where you can create your character. You could easily spend an hour doing this, as both my wife and I did :-)

The games themselves are put together really well. Basically every game that you can think of is here. It is fun to try some of the games like Pai Gow Poker that most people don't understand. The roulette is a lot of fun, and probably our favorite part.

The only possible criticism might be the lack of tutorial type of software to make you play better. For example a blackjack module where it would tell you if you played the cards correctly according to "basic strategy". For example if you don't double on 11 versus a dealer's 6 it would optionally tell you that this went against basic strategy. Then you could improve as a player.
Overall this is a great game, and will provide hours of enjoyment!

Overall great game

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: November 13, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The Hoyle Casino 2002 is tops in graphics and sounds.(The muffled background sound is a nice addition that just provides for experience)The variety and quality of games are terrific, and I've found enough variable 'luck' to have good runs and bad runs, just like at any casino.

The worst part about this are the character animations. Great animations, annoying characters. Thankfully, you can edit them to where they don't say anything, but it should be an option right off, not something you have to figure out after you've decided that those characters need to die!!

Also, in regards to characters, I would have liked to have created my own characters. You get tired of playing them after a while, and frankly, the face maker option is kind of fun to play with.

Not a waste of money at all, if you enjoy gaming.

good game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 20
Date: November 25, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Wow what a well done game. Play for MANY games and bid ALOT of money. The fun thing about this game is that you have a credit card, and you can bid lots of money and take the risk of winning it or losing it. Very fun game.

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