Review NaN of 1
Price Paid:
$12.00
from Bookman's Summary:
High Roller Casino is an ambitious casino simulation that delivers in some areas and falls flat in others.
In the span of just a couple of years, the games available for play in a real world casino can and do change significantly, and HRC makes that evident in the impressive list of games available on the disk. There are many variations of Poker, and the old standbys Blackjack, Roulette, Slot Machines and Craps are there, plus a large assortment of newer, more exotic casino games like Sic Bo (a dice game), Let It Ride (a poker variant), Triple 7 (a Blackjack variant) and many more. And, yes, Texas Hold'em is here.
When I eBay'd my Dreamcast stuff last year, one game I hated to part with was Caesar's Palace 2000. It was a game-only simulation, not a casino simulation per se. It was a true class act, but now, just five years after it's release, it is outdated by the new offerings to be found in the gambling houses. And those new offerings are well represented in HRC.
HRC is a true casino simulation. The developers have tried hard to simulate the ambience of a busy casino, and in many ways they have succeeded. And in other ways, they definately have not. The fact is, if you are into casino gaming, this game is worth a look. If not, pass it by. It offers very little to the non-gambling gamer.
In HRC you begin by defining your onscreen character. You can pick his/her clothing and hair style, as well as modify the size of the character. Sort of like Phantasy Star Online in a leisure suit. You are then placed just inside the casino entrance, and you are free to walk around and explore. As you approach a table or gaming machine, you are asked by the game if you'd like to play it. Press X and you're in, or you can just keep going.
HRC has some very cool positives. For instance, you can go to the bar and query the bartender for instructions for a particular game. And for each casino game offering, there is a nicely done tutorial. For me, this is the very best feature of this game. If you have ever wanted to know the intricacies of Pai Gow Poker or Mini Baccarat, the tutorials in HRC will help you out greatly. They are first class.
On the other hand, load times are very long. And, this is a single player game only, which kills it's usefulness as a party game. There are NPC players for the games, once you've selected one for play, but they are represented via onscreen windows, and beyond the spoken complaints about losing or wisecracks, they serve no real purpose. And, unfortunately, you cannot turn them off. It does not take too long before they become an annoyance.
But for me, the biggest let down is that you cannot talk to the characters milling around the casino. There are lots of them, and there is lots of variety in their appearance. But, sadly, they are there for show only.
This game was worth the $12 that I paid for it used, but it's not worth much more than that. However, if you are into casino gaming, you may want to pick it up. It does have many of the newer casino games, and the tutorials are fantastic. If you are not into casino gaming, you'll fall asleep playing it. Report this review >>
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