Las Vegas Video Poker, ZX Spectrum, Entertainment USA - USAS 0113
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Score - 7/107/10
Summary
I enjoyed playing Las Vegas Video Poker and would say that this gives you a very good game of cards. If you don’t understand the rules of poker, then it’s very easy to learn as the inlay instructions are extremely clear to understand. After a few goes, I’m sure anyone would pick it up rather quickly.
Apart from the game lacking music, there isn’t much else to say other than it’s a winner and wasn’t disappointed with this. To coin an expression, it does exactly as it says on the tin.
Simply put, if you like poker, you’ll enjoy going to enjoy this. As a bonus, apart from the budget price paid to buy the game, you won’t lose any real money!
User Review
( votes)Presentation
The loading screen for is excellent and there is plenty of detail and use of colour here. It clearly gives off the sense that you’re about to play on a computer simulated Las Vegas video poker system.
It shows a player’s hand with the cards being held and this is great. Other good parts are the four aces near the top of and a computer with a cassette tape deck with a drink too!
Five Difficulty Levels
The first question that the game will ask you is which difficulty level you’d like to play, with 1 (easy) through to 5 (hard). What I found strange about this though is that the odds screen didn’t change, which ever level I chose. A bit of a mystery to be honest but I guess that the odds are probably harder (which would make sense).
I did find that when playing the game at the start, it did seem to deal the same cards (3, 5, 5, 5 and 10), no matter what level you chose. After that, depending on what cards you hold or do, it then obviously changes.
I’d Buy That for A Dollar (but not with a Paper Dollar Bill)
Well, not necessarily in this game, as after choosing the difficultly level, you are given the option to choose which coins you’d like to play with. The options are Nickel (5), Dime (10), Quarter (25) and Dollar (100). Your choice just means that the coins are displayed with the different value on them.
Playing The Game
You begin the game with 20 coins and the most you can bet at any time is 10 coins. Once the cards have been dealt, you choose whether you wish to see the odds or how many coins that you wish to stake. The number of coins you have remaining and the amount you have staked for your next go are displayed on both lower areas of the screen.
The controls are keyboard only and are very simple. All you need to press are the Space Bar, Enter or 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 to hold and un-hold the dealt cards. Pressing the number hold keys for each card also results in the respective buttons beneath the chosen card(s) looking pressed down.
Graphics
The playing cards are well drawn with some impressive attention to detail. When you are dealt the cards, you’ll see the cards smoothly move down from the top of the display towards the centre of the main display screen. Each set of cards just takes a couple of seconds and appear from left to right. They then very nicely flip over on a vertical axis and looks great.
When you place your stake, the coins slide from the left-hand side through the slot and into the right-hand side. This is a simple sliding across to the right animation as the coins stack up.
When you win a ‘hand’, you will see the cards changing different colours.
Sound Effects Only
There is some sound during the game, but it is limited to some quick sliding type incremental bleeps (that get higher pitched) or quick noises.
What I feel would have made it slightly better would have been to have a sampled sound of coins entering the machine. When you win coins though, the sound effect is good. There is a type of incrementing zip type effect as the coins move across from one slot to the other.
The lack of a title tune is a shame as that would have been a welcome addition, but alas, there is not one to be found here.
The Inlay Card
The inlay card has been very well done with an excellent job explaining how to win a ‘hand’ playing Las Vegas Video Poker. Explanations of the nine different winning scenarios are explained. Also, there is an illustrated ‘Pay Off’ chart that shows what a possible winning ‘hand’ could consist off. It also mentions the reward you will receive if you win a ‘hand’.
Not matching a winning hand will mean that you will lose the coins which you placed your stake on.
And The Winners Are…..
- A pair of Jacks or better – Stake money returned
- Two pair – 2 for 1.
- Three of a kind – 2 for 1.
- Straight – 4 for 1.
- Flush – 5 for 1.
- Full House – 7 for 1.
- Four of a kind – 20 for 1.
- Straight flush 50 for 1.
- Royal Flush – 250 for 1.
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You know what we think but why not share your thoughts on this game! Let us know what you think of it in the comments below, or add your own score using the slider in the summary box at the top of the review!
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