Game Review: Las Vegas Video Poker (Commodore 16 and Plus/4, Entertainment USA)

Las Vegas Video Poker on the original Commodore 64 version claimed to be a replication of the video poker machines often found in Las Vegas, where you gamble big stakes to see the turn of a computerised card, and depending on the hand that you have at the end, determines whether you win any money or not.  With the main format released, Mastertronic looked to convert this game to many other formats for the Entertainment USA label, and step forward Robert Henderson, who had previously programmed Zodiac and Dark Tower for the Commodore 16 and Plus/4.

The Sound of Silence

Once the game has loaded you will note one thing straight away – no sound, whatsoever.  That does take away some of the bright lights, big city sound effects that you would want to hear.  However, there is a sensible reason behind this, and will become apparent during play.  Like the original version, you will choose which coins you want to use, either nickel, dime, quarters, or dollars, and then once done you can press F7 to start the game.  You start with twenty coins which go in to your bank, and can gamble up to five coins at once, pressing RETURN to add a coin and then space when done to play – but if you do load all five coins play will automatically start.   It is noticeable that adding the coins and commencing play is less animation but considerably quicker.

The Art of the Deal

The five cards are dealt simultaneously, so it does feel a fair bit faster still, and you can evaluate what you have.  Any cards you wish to hold can be selected by the number keys 1 to 5, and you can press the same number again if you make a mistake and wish to correct it.  You can then press space to trade the cards and the remaining cards will be dealt, again with only a briefest of pause to show the reverse of the card before showing on screen.  If you have a winning hand, then winner flashes at the left and right-hand side of the cards, with the text detailing what you have won with, and how much the prize is worth – with the same effect as the Commodore 64 version.  Nice touch all round with that.

The Odds Are Against

Exactly like the Commodore 64 version, for each hand that you win with, there are odds that come with it, and the odds are the same – so for example a full house is 7-1 odds. The better the hand, the higher the odds and more winnings for you if that does happen.  Getting a full house (three of one card, two of another) did seem a little more regular here which does mean you may be able to play for a bit longer with some good winnings.  I also got a straight (five cards in ascending numerical order) which during hours of play I never got on the Commodore 64 version either – so maybe the odds seem a little fairer to win.

You Don’t Get Anything for a Pair Below Jacks (Not in this Game)

Having no animation or sound effect as the cards are dealt actually speeds up the gameplay considerably.  You put the coins in, the cards come out, and you can choose to hold the ones you need, then press space to see the remaining cards, and determine if you win.  You can play one round in full by the time the Commodore 64 version has dealt the opening hand, so without those sound effects slowing things down, the pace of the game feels better and this is much more how the original should have worked.   And as per the original, a single pair that is lower than a jack does not win, so do bear that in mind when you hold the cards hoping for three of a kind.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics in Las Vegas Video Poker are functional. The cards are nicely drawn with the jack, king, and queen recognisable, although the suit of clubs looks a little bit off for me.  The buttons 1 to 5 when you press to hold or not hold work just as well here as in the original version.  Everything else is there compared to the Commodore 64 version, even the “winner” in the left and right hand side when you do win.  It may have been nice to have some music or sound effects if it did not detriment the gameplay, but understandable if memory was an issue.

Final Thoughts

Las Vegas Video Poker does try to be like a poker machine, but the elements of those are more painfully exposed here when you cannot win any real money.  However, because of the fact that the game itself does play considerably quicker, with the cards being dealt speedily and not having to wait for the animation of the coins and the cards with the relevant sound effects, it does get a little less tedious over time.  Whilst nowhere near the finest Commodore 16 and Plus/4 release (and the only Entertainment USA conversion) it does at least take all the main faults out that were present in the original, and a solid conversion job at that.

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