Hoyle Casino (2002 version)

Published by Vivendi UIP
Platform: PC CD/ROM & Mac (also includes Video Poker for Palm OS)
Price £14.99
Released: Out Now

After looking at various titles in the excellent Hoyle range it is now time for us to look at the 2002 version of Hoyle Casino. Unlike the other Hoyle titles such as Board Games, Hoyle Casino contains games that many of us will not be too familiar with (such as Baccarat and Caribbean Stud Poker) so the question is does this compilation make such games easy to learn and enjoy?

Hoyle Casino attempts to recreate the casino experience. Indeed the main screen has been laid out in such a way as you can see all the game tables in front of you.

You can even click directly on the tables to play the games if you want to (or you can use the menus like in other Hoyle games) which is a good idea. The presentation is as immaculate as in the rest of the Hoyle range and the interface, again, is excellent.

There are 14 different games. These are Baccarat, Video Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Poker, Slots and Video Slots, Horse Racing, Keno, Pai Gow Poker and Slot Machines. In fairness to the compilation there are so many variations with some of the games that the actual number of different games is far higher. With Slot Machines there are 30 different games whilst Poker has 7 variations and Video Poker has 9 variations so you can see that the game has masses of variety and value. Some of you may have noticed that we at Deaf Gamers reviewed Hoyle Blackjack & Craps some time ago and you may be wandering if Blackjack and Craps (included in the Casino compilation) is in anyway missing certain features that the standalone game has? Well amazingly the games are identical and offer exactly the same features which just goes to show how good value the Casino pack is.

So does Hoyle Casino make games that you are unfamiliar with fun to learn and play? The answer to this is a resounding yes. Like other games in the Hoyle range an intelligent tutorial system is used. This system offers you step by step advice so you never feel lost. If you need more help then the help menu's will give you the extra info you need.

As with the other Hoyle titles there are character comments made between your opponents that are unsubtitled but to be honest these comments are only there to add colour to the characters and have nothing to do with the gameplay. In fact when you first load up the game you are presented with the opportunity to disable the character speech.

Hoyle Casino is the best-selling casino game available on the PC and it is not difficult to see why. Clear and accurate presentation, an intelligent tutorial system and amazing value for money make Hoyle Casino the ultimate choice for fans of the Casino.

Overall Game Rating: 9/10 The ultimate Casino compilation.

Quality of text: 8/10 Only the character chatter is not subtitled and that can be turned off.

Graphics: 8/10 Graphics are perfectly suited to the game.

Interface:10/10 Instantly usable.

Gameplay:10/10 Hoyle Casino is fantastic. The games are wonderfully easy to learn and the sheer variety on offer is staggering.