Stacked is the latest in the new trend of bringing popular pastimes to the videogame arena. While Stacked is a competently crafted game with decent visuals and a wealth of options available to players during poker matches it also has some downfalls. The gameplay becomes terribly repetitive after a few hours and the emotionless phrases uttered by the computer avatars will make many players cringe. What ultimately hurts Stacked is the fact that poker does not translate well onto the videogame medium. Why play against computers when playing against real life people in person is more fun? Sure there is Xbox Live (which I recommend instead of lifeless computer avatars), but it is only rewarding to a certain degree. Keep poker off the television screen and in the living rooms and actual casinos across the world.
Sweet to the Core
Graphics. The characters and locations are impressive for the Xbox.
Online. Playing against humans is much more fun than playing against the computer.
Going Bad
Gameplay. Lacks anything beyond poker.
Rotten to the Core
Sound. The voices are horrible.
Help. The video tutorials are really not needed.
The Core Score
Overall 6.7
Fun
6.5
Gameplay
6.0
Graphics
8.0
Audio
5.0
Replay
6.5
Kid Safe Score
8 Great
Except for a little cleavage on some of the ladies there really isn't anything that doesn't make Stacked unsafe for kids.
