The International House of Mojo

For me, I'd seen Texas Hold'em played on many of those televised poker tournament shows (basically all the shows out there use the Texas Hold'em variant of poker) before I got my hands on Telltale's take on the game. So, though I had a basic idea on how to play the game, I hadn't actually played it beforehand, and found it challenging enough. I must say, though, that this game is fairly easy to master, even with my lack of poker knowledge, and I was mopping the floor with the opponents after a few games.

You can't say that Telltale packaged this game without any charm. The opponents you face engage in the usual poker smack talk, and Telltale makes it possible to read their reactions and dialogue to help you guess at how they will play their hand. Once you play for awhile you'll start hear the same lines again, but I really wasn't bothered. It's not like you don't hear the same dialogue once, then and again (and again, and again) in an adventure game, but there's really no need to talk about that in too much depth.

Ultimately, Telltale Texas Hold'em is good for some laughs, and is worth the price. It's not fancy, and may not satisfy the poker pros. However, the game is executed effectively, and it's fun to boot. I think that it's a great look into what Telltale Games can bring to their future titles down the road, and not a whole lot more than that.

Why you are wrong, and I am right
A second opinion by Remi Olsen.

Dude, a Texas Hold 'em game from Telltale? Not what I had expected, but it's not a bad idea, really. Telltale is obviously trying to build a community around their characters, and throwing out a quick character-driven poker game is really a smart way to market the company while doing what they do best. (Making games that is.) I guess it's kind of like the Double Fine Action Comics, just a bit more extreme, and hopefully revenue generating also.

I've always been into poker, and the game offers that just fine. What might win over somebody who has never played a card game in his or her life is the fact that this game is highly character driven, while the AI puts the skill level on par with what you'd expect from casual players. The banter between the participants is amusing, and also adds to the strategic part of the game - in many aspects it feels like a Sam & Max mini-game. This might very well be a good and fun way to learn Texas Hold 'em.

There are a few problems with the game; the voice samples often cut off with a little click, and are of varying quality. Also, if you have absolutely no interest in poker, or if you're really good at the game, you probably have little reason to shell out $15 for the game. Me? I certainly have a casual interest in poker, and the character banter in Telltale Texas Hold'em just sweetens the deal. Giving Telltale a little love while having the chance to feel like David Cross on Celebrity Poker is a good thing, and the ex-LucasArts crew's offering is certainly superior to Mercenaries in the fun factor.

Pros: Easy to learn. Strong character development, for a card game. Simple and fun!

Cons: Somewhat repetitive. Limited gameplay options. Pretty easy to dominate.

3 out of 5 skulls