Three Card Stud Review

By David Rasmussen
21st Mar 08

Three Card Stud Review of…
Solitaire Poker, Poker Face Paul’s Poker and Poker Face Paul’s Gin

Once again we’re back to Game Gear reviews, this week’s theme being entirely set on sports or gambling related things (I.e. everything you can do or bet on during your next trip to Vegas or some other gambling mecca which believes in betting on American sports (like Baseball or Sports Trivia Football). This week’s shout out goes to Doug (which is often as he supplies 19 out of the first 25 reviews we’re going through these first weeks of Game Gear reviews!)

Gambling. Every game system you can think of has gambling on it’s system.
Even going back to the GameBoy you can find some gambling related gaming on that system! Right up to now with the Next Gens ((I’ve seen it for the Wii and I’m sure it’s for the XBox360 and PS3 by now as well) there’s always been some game of chance for any of the systems, the SEGA Game Gear being no exception.

Only problem is while gambling games are on all systems? Good luck finding one worth talking about. Let’s see… the best card game I played on a game system to date has been… the Pirate’s Poker game on Pirates of the Caribbean : At World’s End for the PSP! And that’s not even an actual gambling game either, it’s a tie-in movie game for a Disney movie… ouch.

Fear not… or fear, depending on the reviews… we got three comparisons to rack up for you between games of chance (or just games with cards) for the SEGA Game Gear. So, without further ado (and before somebody begins to place their wagers on which is the better or worst of the three) let’s start reviewing.

Solitaire Poker
3 full houses out of 5

The only one of the three reviews that is NOT either a “Poker Face Paul” game, or from the people at Adrenalin (who also was responsible for Sports Trivia for SEGA SPORTS if memory serves me correctly), Solitaire Poker takes the two concepts of Solitaire and Poker and combines them to form -- an infuriatingly difficult game.

Mind you if you like a meaty challenge that taxes the brain cells then this is going to be fun for you… if you like an addictive yet simple to pick up (hard to master) game… then, you know, play something else. This isn’t it.

So then how do you combine the two games of Solitaire and Poker anyway.
Good question. Here’s the answer (short and simple).
Instead of the usual grid you know associated with Solitaire (I.e. Solitaire on your PC for instance) you are given a 5x5 grid to work with. Now here’s where the Poker aspect comes in, instead of working stacks of cards so you eventually pile them all up into four neat piles (one for each suit of a standard deck of cards) the goal is to make combinations of Poker hands in vertical, horizontial AND two diagionals! This means instead of lining the cards up numerically (unless you’re looking for a flush or royal flush) you want to rack them up by card hands. Single pair, double pair, full house, three of a kind, etc.

Now here’s where it becomes difficult.
You can’t think in one dimension on this one.
Cards must form patterns in BOTH up/down and side-by-side directions! And then there’s the diagional sets you have to work with. AND then even if you match up all the cards and make all the connections without a single X then you might still fail as you will need to make a set score points wise in order to make it to the next level!

It’s bad enough to have to juggle it one way, but then to do all this and still fail? That sucks. Otherwise this is the game. And this is all there is to the game.
Of course I you like a mind bender and like the challenge set forth by this game it’s going to be on your must have list… if you, you know, own a Game Gear.
Hmm… this is actually passable. That’s good.

Poker Face Paul’s Poker
2 bad hands out of 5

It is what it sounds like, Poker.
Single player and “multi” with AI opponents is offered here.
I can’t remember if it has multiplayer but even if it did there’s going to be practically no way you’ll find both a fellow Game Gear player AND one who owns this game.
Hmm… don’t let the Age Rating fool you, though.
This game is a MA 13+… what? Since when is MA (Mature Audience) considered 13+?!? Isn’t that Teen??… oh, wait, it is.

Simulated gambling, that is the only “Mature” thing about it, and it’s as well done.
In fact this lackluster gambling game actually makes me miss STACKED (PSP), and lord knows I never thought I’d actually miss STACKED (PSP)!

Single player game is a game best known by people who play the few gambling games set in certain businesses or certain arcades… video poker. Think of it though, you’ll be able to play this without having to throw away good money to play a bad game.

“Multi”player game is a game with “people” if you can call these things “people”.
The “people” in this game make STACKED’s “people” look real (and I was certain only the undead could make the “people” of STACKED looked real… since the “people” in Stacked did kinda resemble the undead).

Two boring poker games that will make you appreciate the “invention” of Texas Hold Em’ just that much more. 2 bad hands out of 5.

Poker Face Paul’s Gin
4 people for a game of gin… out of 5(?)

Hmm… this is actually fun, if you’re a Gin player.
If not don’t worry, this game will teach you to be a better Gin player.
A solid game configuration mode, full instructions to teach you how to play Gin, three levels of game difficulty, solid well detailed menu system, lots of playing options and a solid game of gin that really looks well done.

Basically it’s a card game that really plays well, teaches you how to play well, and gives you enough of a challenge to make you want to keep playing.
Too bad it’s not a gambling game because the genre doesn’t get enough good games these days to praise. Still, of the three games it’s the best of the three.

4 players out of 5 hands of gin.

So what did we learn from this versus mode? Let’s count the ways.
1-Combining Solitaire and Poker can be fun, if only the bar set for playing the game wasn’t set so high (or low if you’re doing the lambada).
2-A game where you play Poker (single player or “multi”) is as boring as it sounds.
3-You’d be surprised that the game about Gin is actually the best developed of the three games. Surprised? I was.

If we ever do this again, and I won’t say if we’ll do this again, maybe I’ll find better card games… no Texas Hold Em’ though since I am sure that’s an invention that wasn’t made into video game format until past 1996 (the end of the Game Gear era).

-- David Rasmussen 21st Mar 08