World Poker Tour (PLAYSTATION2)

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Many different forms of entertainment have managed to be recreated as a video game. I’m not just talking about things like sport or fishing, but amusing pastimes in other formats such as board games. Developers Coresoft have decided to add to that list with a virtual card game for the PS2. The finished product is World Poker Tour, a video game that recreates the hustle and bustle of competitive modern day tournament poker. If you’re a major poker fan, this might actually mean something. For everyone else, World Poker Tour (WPT) is more of a title you might like to play for novelty value.

Apparently WPT is based on a real American tournament poker license, not that I know anything about it. This means that authentic casinos/tournament locations and real pro poker players are in the game. Being a televised event also explains why a live commentary accompanies the tournament. Again this is something that poker devotees will undoubtedly appreciate more than me. At least, I’m hoping this is the case…

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The graphics of WPT are quite primitive for a PS2 title, especially one released so late in its life cycle. The casino environments are fine, but the character models are cartoonish and stiff. This wouldn’t be so much of a problem if the game concentrated on cards, but the visual focus is more on the players and dealer. Character facial expressions are quite good, although this is a deliberate design choice to fit with this title’s player emotion system. WPT does suffer from long loading times, but it seems to match the slow ponderous pace of a poker match so it’s not especially aggravating. The sound is equally basic, as most of the audio concentrates on commentary and music. There are still a few player related sound bytes (“I fold…Umm, I’ll check…Check”) next to the decidedly generic commentary. At a technical level, WPT is just functional.

The controls are simple, using mainly the D-Pad and X button to cycle between menu choices. However, there are a few extra commands. Square and circle display turn and overall game information respectively, the R3 button gives you a first person perspective of the table while the L-Analog stick lets you choose from over a dozen different emotions to influence other players. That’s basically as complex as it gets.

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If you’re new to poker or only barely familiar with the rules, then WPT may not be the game for you. The poker lingo used in this title almost comes across as a different language. Terms such as pot, limit, flop, turn, river and blinds will make perfect sense to some players, while causing everyone else’s head to spin. However, a persistent rookie can actually play WPT and come away with a much better understanding of the game.

Once a poker match is initially loaded, quite a bit of waiting is involved throughout. There are initially five other players on the table and after the dealer has (manually) distributed each hand, everyone has to take their turn. Although only seconds are involved for this process to play out, it may be too much for the more impatient players out there. WPT is no single player arcade game and the rewards are not quite the same as they were in something like Poker Ladies.

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True to modern tournament poker, WPT sticks to variations of the basic five card poker rules. The main form is Texas Hold ‘Em, although there are many others including Tahoe, Super Hold Em, Pineapple, Crazy Pineapple, Omaha, Shanghai, Billabong, 7 Card Stud, Draw Poker and Triple Draw. You can even create your own customised House rules if you know what you’re doing.

One would assume that AI is of vital importance in a poker video game involving multiple players and thankfully the developers do a decent job. Although the CPU shows the ability to vary its reactions to create “unique” styles of play between different characters, it generally lacks the killer instinct of a true competitor. Rival AI is surprisingly passive in most cases, which limits any sense of risk. However, when the CPU does decide to play aggressively the level of difficulty goes up radically. When combined with the ever increasing stakes, a careless player can get cleaned out very quickly. This lack of balance can be off-putting, especially if you’re still learning the game. However, WPT does attempt to adhere to the core ‘science’ of poker and manages to perform adequately despite the various holes.

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One interesting feature is the ability to change your player’s ‘emotions’ by pushing the L-Analog stick in different directions. Not only does this alter your character’s facial expressions in real time (to match the emotion), but one can assume that it helps to bluff CPU players. I say ‘assume’ because it’s unclear whether changing your facial expression actually does anything, since there is no mechanism for feedback. Despite its crude design the emotion system is at least promising. I find that half the fun in real poker is reading other people and bluffing. Because of this, a video game version will never have the same impact as the real thing - but that doesn’t stop this game from at least trying.

There are two main modes in WPT, namely Quick Draw and Season. Quick Draw is a straightforward section where you must eliminate all other competitors with a set amount of money. Season mode is a more elaborate version of the same thing, but set against the ‘genuine’ WPT poker tournament. You simply create a custom character from scratch, compete in satellite matches, earn a place in the top six and then go the final championship round. Of course you have to do this multiple times for the Amateur, Professional and Pro classes to ultimately become the world’s best virtual poker shark.

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Online play is probably the biggest drawcard of WPT. Despite the need to wait longer while each player takes a turn, competing against human opponents is a more rewarding experience. There are a few extras to unlock including new players and custom character accessories. However, this must be done by meeting a specific set of requirements – such as getting certain poker hands – rather than completing poker tournament classes. One final oddity is the inability to do anything useful with the prize money you accumulate. Your chips are treated as an ancillary item that comes with winning tournaments. But what’s poker without the monetary motivation? In game terms your winnings could have been used to unlock extra material, but the developers went with a luck based system instead.

World Poker Tour is a decent game aimed at a niche market. It may be a little too complicated for rookies, except those who are keen to learn more about the game. For poker sharks, it’s probably too crude to retain the interest of all but the most patient of players. Although the sound and graphics are average at best, online play and the cheap price are enough to make World Poker Tour worthwhile. If you enjoy the thought of tournament poker (and I’m sure there is someone out there who may be dreaming of it right now), then World Poker Tour for the PS2 is for you.

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