Let’s Play Poker Smash!

Anyone remember that movie ‘The Gambler’ with country and western singer Kenny Rogers? Well the impression he left on his adoring fans was immortalized by his words, ‘You gotta know when to hold and when to fold!’ His words rang true then and they certainly ring true now. Luckily poker fans will not be starved for choice as the inimitable Xbox craze goes into high gear. As one of the gaming market’s leading home entertainment providers, Xbox’s Live Arcade has nailed another winner with a combination game that’s got poker fundis in a spin

Lots more about Poker Smash

Tetris reigned supreme for a long time. This classic video game featured an exciting array of shapes of all sizes that could be manipulated into the right form in order to complete winning patterns. As Tetris lost its shine – as high-powered animation took root- fans of Tetris got thinking. The game was more than a novelty and a market for a Tetris-type game still existed. Enter the world’s most popular casino card game – Poker. Now the tables have turned because the combination of Tetris and Poker and the inclusion of games like Bejeweled made for an exciting synergism. The goal of Poker Smash is to clear as many rows and columns as possible from the rising blocks of doom. The difference in this game however is that players are flipping over cards on the screen – not the typical Tetris lines. The goal of course is accomplished by moving cards around from 10 thru Ace across Hearts, Spades, Diamonds and Clubs. The minimum hand strength is 3-of-a-kind or better. These hands can be created up or down and as rows and columns are completed, they are cleared.

(Credit goes to BoringMonkey)

But there’s more to it because there are bonus rounds where players are presented with card combinations that they can match within a constrained time limit. All in all, the game is an exciting spectacle replete with dazzling aesthetics, bright lights and audio clarity. Indeed the beauty of Poker Smash has been described as a factor detracting from the overall enjoyment of it – with so many splendid distractions the game gets lost in effects. A comforting factor in this endeavor comes in the form of a multiplayer component that brings the social networking component into play. The winner is decided by the player who wins all the chips from other the other players. This is Vegas in your Xbox and it’s piping hot poker action!

Buy the game or download the demo at Xbox LIVE marketplace.

Tags: Xbox 360