Poker Smash

Publisher: Void Star Creations
Developer: Void Star Creations
Genre: Puzzle
Release: February 6, 2008
Platform: Xbox Live

Reviewer: Eric

There are enough puzzle games out on Xbox Live. Puzzle games are a nice game to play if you are looking to kill a few minutes here and there in-between commercials during your favorite television show. With all of these puzzle games out there though how can you tell which ones are good or not?

Poker Smash sounded like a bad idea whenever word about the game came out. How can you add poker aspects to a puzzle game? Simple, match any of the cards in there proper order and gain points. The more combinations you build up the better combo you’ll receive at the end.

This game is a solid puzzle game that will have you pushing the buttons on your Xbox controller like a mad man. Poker Smash adds a couple new features that should get puzzle fans excited. If you see a move you can do below a card or two you can simple blow them up. This adds in a whole new aspect, you can make long combos and sometimes you might not even realize it.

Slowly the card tower will start to build. If it reaches up to the red line at the top of the gambling table the game is over. You are able to speeds thing up if you want to or even slow down time. Little aspects like this make Poker Smash one of the finer puzzles games XBLA has to offer.

The main mode in Poker Smash isn’t the only thing the game has to offer. There is an online mode, time attack, puzzle mode, and practice mode. Puzzle mode is really fun and addictive. The first half dozen puzzles are fairly easy, but at these progress you may have to think a little bit longer to figure out the answer. Time attack is a nice addition as well, this three minute mode is my favorite after multiplayer mode.

Multiplayer is the best part of Poker Smash. There always seems to be somebody waiting to play a game on Xbox Live and there is a reason for that. Out of all the games I played there was never a delay, the only problem I ran into was whenever I paused the game. Remember people you can’t pause an Xbox Live game, don’t be an idiot like me and do this.

For a puzzle game Poker Smash has some beautiful visuals. Whenever you combine any sort of cards you’ll be treated to some nice eye candy. The visuals remind me of the Playstation 2 game Fantavision, the tech demo Sony showed at E3 one year that later turned into a launch title. All of the colors in Poker Smash are bold, you can easily figure out the symbols on any of the cards.

Final Verdict
Poker Smash is one of the best puzzle games on Xbox Live right now. The game play is top notch without any slowing down whenever you play. If you have ten dollars and a gold membership then do yourself a favor and pick up Poker Smash.

Rating
8.50 out of 10

Poker Smash Trailer