User Reviews (1 - 11 of 19)

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Canasta, Go Fish, Old Maid, You Name It!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: December 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The Hoyle Card Games are really great! There are many characters you can play against in the different games, with different personalities. The facemaker isn't as great as some other Hoyle Games, but I got used to the difference quickly. The only other negative is that only one person can play the gamesat a time, because otherwise you could see each other's cards. This is a really great game, though! I give it a thumbs up!

it wont run on xp

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: June 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I like the hoyle games i play them on line to, i have an older version of the CD and i now have windows xp and it is installed ok but will not run i cant play it no more or make faces up, and i cant find anywhere in UK that sells the 2003 CD

GREAT FOR THE KIDS

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I got a new computer, and the old games didn't work with it, so bought this. My granddaughter loves to play Go Fish when she comes over, and she was ticked to death to see I bought it for the new computer. I enjoy playing Euchre myself, so these games get a lot of use.

Card Heaven

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 47 / 54
Date: October 10, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is the Third Hoyle 2003 game I have gotten. I like the series because I can learn how to become more competent different games. I don't know many card games. One thing that is nice about this version is that you can slow down the game play when you are unfamiliar with a card game. Then you can learn how to play and become more proficient.
If you like Solitaire; there are lots of different versions to keep you entertained. The basics like Hearts, Spades, Old Maid, and Go Fish are here. Old Maid and Go Fish use whimsical themes. Go Fish takes place under the Sea. Old Maid uses farm animals.
There is a good variety of other card games. However, as the number of games expands on the Hoyle Seies increases; the controls over what the cards look like or the backgrounds on screen have lessened. There have been issues when people play online where the Facemaker; which allows you to personalize how your personal character looks online; hasn't displayed correctly with the online gaming website. The characters within the game are different. Some are funny and some are irrirating. But everyone has their own preference in who they like when playing against the computer.
I think that this is a great series. It is the best there is. I think it is user-friendly. It has a great variety of games and characters to play against.

Hoyle Does Great Games!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 44 / 50
Date: February 18, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Though I have the older version of this game...1999 or 2000, I have used it on Windows 98, 98 Second Edition, Windows ME and now, for a new system, Windows XP Home Edition...and it works on all of them! (It's a bit slow to react on the Windows XP...probably because the XP computer has a 2.4ghz P4 and the Windows XP is a bit different platform than the other Windows OS...plus, this was made before the Pentium 4 processors even came out...but it works fine otherwise.)

The graphics are great, the interaction with the players is loads of fun...especially Marvin, the T-rex...("stick a fork in me, I'm done", when he's losing!) There are different levels of skill for each game, as well, which is super...and the expert-level player is really pretty good!

You have a wide variety of card games to choose from...Solitare has numerous styles, Spades, Hearts, Pinochle, Pitch, Euchre, Bridge, Crazy Eights, Old Maid, Fish, etc...and there are enough different computerized players to always keep it interesting. You can even play against a real person, if you want! You choose the level of skill, amount of animation and how much they talk during play, as well as whether you want background music and what style.

I have honed my card-playing skills on this game for over 3 years and find it to be one of the best investments I made for my computer. You and your family will love this game!

Great fun!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: November 13, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Although this version still has some bugs (in Canasta it allows players to open with the number of wild cards equal to or more than the natural cards) it still is a blast to play! Just pretend that the "table" rules are different when you play and you'll be just fine. I hope I can remember when I'm playing real people. I especially like the "revenge" button! I like this so much, I'm buying another for a friend for Christmas.

Just like Super Street Fighter 2: The new characters!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 14
Date: December 09, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This is just like Super Street Fighter 2, the new characters.

I know that that game came out quite a long time ago. But my point is that the game allowed for more features, such as the group battle and the tournament mode.

They also included 4 new players: Thunder Hawk, Dee Jay, Fei Long, and Cammy.

But they took all the balance out. Ken and Ryu, before powerful but survivable, could dominate the entire game with ease. The very concept of defending yourself was tossed out the window, and wouldn't be returned until Street Fighter Alpha created the "Alpha Counter."

It's the same with Hoyle 2003.

The computer ai hasn't been improved much. At least, your partner's ai hasn't.

And they removed the characters I liked, except for Elayne. What they did to Elayne was worse.

I have always been a big fan of Hoyle. I play this game too, though I only play it because they made a single improvement.

It's now possible to play Omnibus hearts (jack of diamonds.) Beyond that, the only really added features are the new characters. And some of the new characters shouldn't even be in it!

Tony is a fireman. How disgusting and commericalistic can one get? Hedda is so cruel that no one wants to use her, and Rhett is pretty much ridiculous.

Also, the programs used to give you nearly complete control over a great many things. Now, you can hardly do anything. Even the facemaker system is ruined, since you can't save your face like you used to.

I wish that they would drop the price. I'd pay about ten dollars less gladly, but it doesn't rate the full price until later on.

If you really want to play Hoyle, you'd do best to buy either 2000 or 2002. (Avoid 2001. It wasn't worth it.)

Not much improvement

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: November 19, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Other than different computer people to play with there has been no real improvement. Your team mates still work against you while the opposing team helps you. The revenge button does help but I really want to hit the programmers who apparently don't know how to play cards. You won't get real life-like play like you do online playing with real players or at a card table but it's a decent diversion.

Hoyle Card Games 2003

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 11 / 12
Date: November 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I am satisfied with most games except for Bridge, the main reason I made the purchase. The players take far too long to respond and even longer to play their cards. It is so bad that I never even play bridge!
In hearts, the players make inappropriate comments when playing the queen of spades.
In gin rummy, you don't get a good look at the cards when the game is over.
Overall, the older versions are better for both the games and the characters. I look forward to reviews for the 2004 version to see if there is any improvement before I think of buying it!

Hoyle Card Games 2003

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: June 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Euchre:
I basically play euchre when my phone line is tied up. Otherwise I play on Yahoo!

Overall, Hoyle isn't too bad, but I find that even on the "advanced" setting, your partner is too timid, mostly by failing to lead trump on your call or order. However, they often order up from first with 2 bowers and no support, when they could have had 3 or 4 trump by passing for "next".

Also, 1st chair never donates.

Unrealistic loners, the computer often takes trick 1 with trump or off Ace, and properly leads the Right, but then leads offsuit to give the opps a chance to stop the loner. Even when holding JJ9, AK.

Pinochle:

In viewing the meld, you gain additional information that can be used later in the gameplay. The computer never makes use of this. Say your P in double-deck has 3 aces of diamonds (which you only know after the fact) and you make diamonds trump with a run (so the computer should know you have the 4th ace). You lead the Qd. Your P should play the 10 of diamonds and lead back at least 2 ace of diamonds before playing other suits.

Also, in the bidding, if you are in a game to 3550 and both teams have around 3000, you cannot count on your P to bid even if you have no marriage yourself. This is very frustrating because you now have to bid a lot more. I think it is so the player can have the glory, but I want the computer to play with the understanding that you must bid to win.

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