My latest attempt at maintaining some semblance of a blog 
Poker Smash
Posted 02-07-2008 at 09:09 AM by Cristiano
One of the things I like most about XBOX Live is there is such a wide variety of games available for it, and unique games are being created for it. Poker Smash is one of those games. It is great to have a game that is not just a remake of a PC puzzle game, but one that takes deep advantage of XBLA and the XBOX 360.
The game is a puzzle game that mixes the basics of Poker with a fast paced unique matching experience. There are five different cards in rows moving upward that you have to move around to make matching card hands to remove them. The more complex the hand, and the more chain reactions you cause, the higher your score. It has a great intro that teaches you how to play, but you should also check out the How to Play directions.
It has several different unique play modes in both single and multiplayer. So far I am addicted to the Arcade and Puzzle modes, I have not yet tried the multiplayer modes. The single player mode also two really creative features called the Store and the Theater.
As you play, you amass winnings based upon your score. You can use those winnings in the store to unlock new board themes, gamer pictures, and video tutorials on how to beat each of the puzzles in Puzzle Mode. Additionally, you can record your games and watch games recorded by others in the Theater. It's a very useful feature actually - I've watched several videos of people playing to learn some new techniques.
Poker Smash is definitely one of the best puzzle games ever released for the XBLA. The graphics are very well done, the music is enjoyable, and it has great particle effects as well. You don't have to like card games to enjoy this one. I know very little about Poker, you just have to understand how to arrange the cards. I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes face paced puzzle games. This one is definitely not easy, but it is not so ridiculously hard that it isn't enjoyable. As with all XBLA games, it is 800 MS points, but well worth it for such a unique and enjoyable title.
The game is a puzzle game that mixes the basics of Poker with a fast paced unique matching experience. There are five different cards in rows moving upward that you have to move around to make matching card hands to remove them. The more complex the hand, and the more chain reactions you cause, the higher your score. It has a great intro that teaches you how to play, but you should also check out the How to Play directions.
It has several different unique play modes in both single and multiplayer. So far I am addicted to the Arcade and Puzzle modes, I have not yet tried the multiplayer modes. The single player mode also two really creative features called the Store and the Theater.
As you play, you amass winnings based upon your score. You can use those winnings in the store to unlock new board themes, gamer pictures, and video tutorials on how to beat each of the puzzles in Puzzle Mode. Additionally, you can record your games and watch games recorded by others in the Theater. It's a very useful feature actually - I've watched several videos of people playing to learn some new techniques.
Poker Smash is definitely one of the best puzzle games ever released for the XBLA. The graphics are very well done, the music is enjoyable, and it has great particle effects as well. You don't have to like card games to enjoy this one. I know very little about Poker, you just have to understand how to arrange the cards. I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes face paced puzzle games. This one is definitely not easy, but it is not so ridiculously hard that it isn't enjoyable. As with all XBLA games, it is 800 MS points, but well worth it for such a unique and enjoyable title.
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