Poker Smash (XBOX 360)
Critics:
User Score:
[Xbox Live Arcade] Poker Smash is an action-packed puzzle game with a poker twist. Poker Smash expands on the traditional match-three puzzle mechanic with elements of one of the world's most popular card games: poker. Make vertical and horizontal matches by forming poker hands, and play in seven different game modes, including multiplayer. Fast and fluid controls paired with radical features such as super-slow motion and card-blasting bombs make this game a whole new puzzle experience! Match-three gameplay with a twist. Create poker hands and form chains to rack up the big score. Seven game modes: Intense game modes include action, timed, puzzle levels (55 of them), practice, custom playlist, split screen head-to-head, and multiplayer tournaments. In addition to the traditional leaderboards, Poker Smash features never-before-seen rivalry tracking and even movie recording with shared playback. The next-gen 3-D graphics feature eleven different highly detailed environments and background themes, coupled with thirteen new original soundtracks for play. [Microsoft]
| Developer | Void Star Creations |
| Publisher | Microsoft Game Studios |
| Genre | Puzzle, Action, Card Games |
| Publish Date | February 6, 2008 |
Critics Reviews
1UP
From the cleverly designed puzzles to the ability to speed up or slow down the scrolling of the cards at will, every part of this game feels painstakingly adjusted for maximum enjoyment.
full reviewGamePro
One of the better games to come out on XBLA in the last few months.
full reviewGames Radar
Poker Smash is one of the best puzzle games you’ll find on Live Arcade, and for a mere 800 points, you just can’t go wrong.
full reviewGameDaily
This is the best puzzle game of the year thus far, a perfectly blended mix of Tetris Attack-ish strategy and poker.
full reviewOfficial Xbox Magazine
Unless you absolutely loathe poker or puzzlers, buy this game. [Feb 2008, p.75]
full reviewTeam Xbox
Every once in a while, a game comes along that really stands out in its genre, and Poker Smash is one of those games. By taking a generic formula and giving it a Vegas-like spin, Void Star Creations has put together a truly unique and entertaining experience that earns it a spot right next to the big boys in the puzzle genre.
full reviewThunderbolt
If you’re ready for some fun multiplayer action and don’t mind a single-player side not as robust as some other puzzlers, Poker Smash is ready for you.
full reviewPALGN
If you've already amassed a large collection of puzzle games on XBLA, you'll probably find nothing really significant to add Poker Smash to your collection. But if you're a sucker for Tetris styled games with a twist, you can't go past the slick presentation and fast-paced fun of Poker Smash.
full reviewIGN
If you're a sucker for eye candy and you're looking for a twist on the line-'em-up-and-clear-'em genre, Poker Smash is a well-crafted game with a good variety of modes and options.
full reviewGameSpot
Poker Smash is an exciting and fast-paced puzzle game that puts an interesting twist on a fairly standard gameplay formula.
full reviewPlanet Xbox 360
The presentation and graphics are actually damn good. The general graphics of the board, backgrounds, and cards are all pleasing to the eye, and the card clearing effects look great.
full reviewOfficial Xbox Magazine UK
The core puzzling itself is horribly addictive. Poker Smash isn't going to make you want to eat ice cream-topped pizza but it is the perfect way to kill a few hours.
full reviewEuroGamer
Poker Smash doesn't really work. Borrowing familiar poker hands is a nice idea on paper, but the need to include colours, winking icons and bombs ought to have been clue enough to leave it there alongside the spider-web doodles.
full reviewXbox World 360 Magazine UK
Lacks the appeal of a "Hexic" or a "Lumines," but a surprisingly solid puzzler nonetheless. [Apr 2008, p.96]