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Save your money

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 13 / 15
Date: November 04, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I was eagerly anticipating a good poker game for the Game Boy Advance. After playing this game, I'm still waiting for one.

You have two types of Texas Hold 'Em Poker available in this game--limit poker cash games and a no-limit tournament version. There are zero no limit cash games or limit tournaments. The tournament isn't much of a tournament. If you win 5 consecutive tables, the tournament's done. There are no higher levels for better players.

The computer players in this game are horrible. First, any time I went all in with a legit hand, almost every computer player called. You will never see 8 people at a table go all in unless all eight have very good hole cards. Also, the computer always went all in when it had two pair but it would never bet with a straight or a flush, even if it was the nuts (the best hand possible).

Another downfall is that the game uses very long passwords, between 16 and 20 characters long.

The low price might be tempting. However, you get what you pay for.

Merely average and way too easy

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 13 / 15
Date: November 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I'd give Texas Hold 'Em a little higher of a score than one star, but I have to agree with what the previous reviewer said about the game's computer-controlled players. If you go "All In", most of the other players will too... regardless of what they have in their hand. I beat the Atlantic City scenario (4th out of 5) in less than 15 minutes thanks to a few well-timed All In bets.

Graphically, don't expect much. There are no player faces... just the cards on a table. The interface is easy to use as well. As far as the sound goes, the "announcer" is a neat touch- the first time you play through. After a while, hearing "The Flop Is...", "The Turn Is...", "The River Is..." gets old quickly!

If you're looking for a bargain-priced poker game for GBA, this is pretty much your only option. It is a fun game, but die-hard poker fans will definitely consider looking elsewhere for a better challenge.

Dunno What These Other Guys Are Talking About...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 14 / 17
Date: December 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I have no clue what these guys are talking about. Sure the computer will bet at times when it has a crappy hand, but the computer does fold more often than these other reviewers say it does.
And it is not as easy as they make it sound either. The game is very challenging. Heck I tried their tactic of going all in with a good hand, but the computer hand a better hand and I ended up losing. Don't be fooled by their statements. While the tournament modes are not really tournaments, they do not take a half hour to beat. More like a whole day's worth.
One reviewer said the graphics aren't anything great? Let me tell you this: these are some of the best graphics I have seen on any GBA game since they released some of the classic Mario games.
I am beginning to wonder if these fellas actually bought the same game I did. Because most of what they said isn't true to when I play the game. I don't mean to sound harsh, but I read these guys' reviews and was astonished to read that such a great game was getting bad reviews.
I recommend the game to any poker player. While it isn't an in-depth game by any means, it sure is entertaining.

Great time killer

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: December 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User

This game is only difficult if you've never played Texas Hold'em.
Other than that it's nothing but a time killer. It's hard to be competitive when the computer never folds before the pre flop, regardless what is in their hands. The computer will call you about 85% of the time regardless if their hand is good or bad. Any good hold'em player will fold more hands than they actually play but this isn't the case with the computer. It rarely folds. I've also seen at times when the computer has a great hand instead of raising, they will constantly check. Other times they will raise an absurd amount with only two pair. The game is a good buy for $10, what more can you ask for?

Good to kill time, but that's it

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: February 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Any weathered Texas Hold 'Em player won't find much realism here in this GBA title from Majesco. The computer players will stay in with any hand, which means if your looking to play this to practice your poker skills, you'll find just how unrealistic this is. The fact that Texas Hold 'Em is so cheap in price makes it worth purchasing for GBA owners who enjoy the card game, as it is a good time killer. However, playing this GBA game for extended periods of time will show just how shoddy a job was done designing this game. The graphics are simplistic but colorful and they suit the game, while the sound is simplisticly done as well. The control scheme is easy to get a hold of as well, making the game easy to get into. Despite it's good qualities though, Texas Hold 'Em for the GBA fails to evoke the same kind of fun and strategic qualities that the card game gives you, but if you want a good and cheap time killer for your GBA, look no further.

avoid at all costs

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 11 / 15
Date: November 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I've been playing texas hold'em for almost a year now, and I when I saw this game for $10 on store shelves, I figured "awesome" and gave it try. I kind of knew it wouldn't be top-notch poker game, but wow was that an understatement. It took me less than 30 min. to beat the entire game, and with extreme ease too.

The tournament mode only has 4 tourneys, which is way too short and they suck way too much. The cash games are pretty stupid too because the computer a.i. are virtual idiots and there's no incentive to have a high bankroll. There's not any no limit cash games, just limit which for 99.9% of people is super boring. As for the other modes, ...well...wait...those are all the modes there are.

I feel i have to give a little paragraph on the weak computer a.i.(computer players) just because they are so stupid. Poker is about betting, raising, bluffing, calling, and folding. These aspects are the reason millions of players play the game. The computer a.i. take away all of these, making this game no fun. If you make a bet, no matter how strong, they will call 95% of the time with any random hand. If you raise, they will call you, even if it's all in. They are all calling stations, even when they have a 0% chance to win. And they never fold, even if you go all in on the river they will call with nothing. I started taking it as a science and figuring out why they would risk all of their chips with nothing. If they miss their flush or straight on the river, they still call. The strategy for beating these games is simple. Wait until you have an unbeatable hand, or near one, and go all in. Everyone will call and you win the tourney. This takes all the fun out of the game. I even witnessed many times someone checking the best full house possible all the way to the river. Unbelievable.

Please don't make the same mistake I did and buy this game. With this huge texas hold'em craze going on everywhere right now, you might be tempted to do so, but it isn't even worth $1, let alone the $10. Believe me, look at all the other reviews. If we keep buying games like this, developers will keep coming out with the same crappy games.

Got a spare 10 minutes?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 28, 2004
Author: Amazon User

If you do and you know your way around a Hold 'Em table you can chew them up with this game. Looking for anything more? Look elsewhere.

Game play is simple and brainless. The cardplay from the game appears to have been programmed by chimpanzees. The rest of the programming isn't much better. This the first GBA game I've played that shows small video flaws occasionally during the game. It also suffers from something I thought was gone a lonnnng time ago - passwords to track career progress??? I'm sorry - are we suddenly back in 1993? How about throwing a couple of extra kilobytes of memory on the cartridge and save the progress onboard?

Anyway - it's not like the game costs a small fortune or anything. Play it to pass the time but do NOT under ANY circumstances use this as a way to learn Hold 'Em. Unless, of course, you're playing at a table with me.

Disappointing - unrealistic play

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: December 29, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The graphics on the game are good, and as a basic poker game it passes, but if you're looking to practice your skills with this game, it disappoints. All of the computer players stay in with basically any hand, regardless of the level of play. I've been beaten by too many Two-Eight off suits to mention.

Great Game for the Fish

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: December 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Listen, if you view hold'em as gambling, this game is good. It is easy to play and you have a good chance to win. If you play serious winning poker, this game has a lot to be desired. I only play ring-games, so I quickly beat the tournaments, and began to play the ring games. If you can't beat these, you really need a new hobby. Yes, the computer players are all calling stations, and they do play loose-passive, but go to Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, and that is how they play. An experienced hold'em player should never have a losing session. Therefore it is too easy for poker veterans. Unfortunatly, it is very addictive and I keep stroking my ego by winning.

Save your money...

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: September 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Goodness gracious! My expectations were extremely low when I purchased this game, but still it managed to disappoint me. The play is NOTHING like the real thing. You can go all in, and still every player will call you, every time. The interface is uninspiring, with little to enjoy. Do not recommend this game at any price.

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