Over the last few years, Texas Hold’em poker has become a world wide phenomenon. The big bets, high stakes, and competitive nature associated with poker have helped extend the game’s appeal into television, films (Rounders is the greatest movie of all time), and video games. I have played almost every poker videogame and poker site around in hopes that I would fine another viable source to satisfy my poker cravings. Unfortunately, many video games don’t have legitimate AI engines to keep gamers enthralled and poker sites lack the graphical prowess console games are known for. Since it was announced a couple years ago, I have followed the development of STACKED and its numerous delays. The developers tout their innovative Artificial Intelligence system, Poki, and its ability to read players and adapt to their habits. Even with this breakthrough technology, STACKED is a mixed bag of average online play, informative instructional videos, and a slow campaign.

To put it simply, the best part of the game ISN’T a part of the game. There are numerous instructional videos featuring professional poker player Daniel Negreanu where he offers up tips to help players at every skill level including bluffing techniques and betting strategies. Forgetting the fact that Daniel Negreanu has had some bad luck at the tables in the past year, his teachings are very useful and a nice bonus to the game.

Stacked, in all, isn’t a bad game. It offers a good arena to practice your poker skills either against the computer or other people online. Initially, during the solo campaign you can choose your character and make slight modifications including skin color, clothing, and hair. Considering poker titles aren’t very graphic intensive, I was disappointed at the lack of variety in customization. The poker pros look fairly realistic and I’m sure the quality is improved on the Xbox. Once chosen, you can either jump right into a single-player table in quick match mode or sink your teeth into career mode. In either case, you will soon figure out that STACKED is incredibly slow paced. Sure, you can fast forward past a hand you aren’t involved in with a press of a button. But be prepared to sit a while if you’re sitting on a playable hand. Each opponent will say a comment before taking any action, and the one-liners are often repeated and are always lame. This turns a would-be 30-minute game into a match that could last several hours.

As said before, the developers have implemented a “revolutionary” AI system called Poki. Using this technology, they have created different opponents with different styles of play to mix things up at the table. Some players are very conservative and rarely play any hands while others wouldn’t think twice about going all in on a bluff. Stacked does offer the best AI of any poker video game currently available. But even the computer could be fooled with aggressive betting (try going all in multiple times and see how the AI reacts). To help aid your poker decisions, you can call on Daniel Negreanu’s advice on how to play a particular hand. Keep in mind, however, that his “words of wisdom” derive from a computer program that can often be dead wrong (so don’t fold pocket aces just because Danny says so). I did enjoy the game’s well-designed interface with easy-to-use card viewing and controls.

Besides the single-player campaign, STACKED aimed to create a new forum for which to play poker online. Playing with people over the Internet simply feels more real. Although I wasn’t able to connect to a game online, players I talked to admit the difficulty in finding a legitimate table to play in. It simply doesn’t compare to the ease of finding a game on the internet poker sites like Party Poker and Full Tilt Poker.

STACKED is the best poker video game currently out on store shelves. That said, I am a little disappointed that the title didn’t go that extra mile in making itself a hit. At $29.99, poker aficionados will find value in the instructional videos and tables for practice. Otherwise, it’s rentable. 

Gameplay: 6.9
STACKED’s innovative AI engine is unlike any other poker video game but it can be tricked. The “Ask Daniel” feature is an interesting concept that didn’t entirely work out. Each tournament lasts way too long to encourage continuous play time. Players have had a hard time fining online tables to join.

Graphics: 7.0
Good-looking professional poker player models and poker rooms, but character customization is weak.

Sound: 6.0
Annoyingly repetitive voiceovers and a forgettable soundtrack

Difficulty: Easy/Medium

Concept: 7.0
Daniel Negreanu has been careful in lending his name to various projects. Without his efforts, STACKED would have become another forgettable title.

Overall: 7.0
STACKED is the best poker video game currently out on store shelves. That said, I am a little disappointed that the title didn’t go that extra mile in making itself a hit.