Metascore
54 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 17
  2. Negative: 5 out of 17
  1. Players new to Texas Hold 'Em poker will learn the game, get to play without losing their shirts and have some fun. Experienced poker players also get a half-hour session with a pro.
  2. It's the bracelet-wearing champ of the current crop, at least as over the counter titles are concerned.
  3. Stacked presents itself as a typical game of poker, but thanks to a pretty intriguing artificial intelligence system, it plays things much smarter than your average poker title.
  4. Stacked offers some of the most realistic poker gameplay out there. The game isn't a fast game, and this will bring down the enjoyment level for the majority of gamers.
  5. Stacked could benefit from more polish and deeper player customization (no, we don't want to look fat and balding, even if we are), but its actual gameplay is solid, and the creepy I'm-watching-you-so-I-can-destroy-you vibe can only help your real-world strategy.
  6. Simply isn't recommended for experienced poker players. With its shoddy A.I., limited game styles, and strangely vacuous multiplayer mode, most versed card players will find the offering well below both their expectations and skill level.
  7. Until you've decided and played your hand, the Pokibot is extremely slow. If you're used to Internet Hold'em play, this game seems quite boring.
  8. Two things work against Stacked in the end. One, while the computer AI is great, whoever is dealing the cards needs to be looked into by the gaming commission. And it says "Halo With Chips" on the back, which gives the game higher expectations than it should. Being that I am really enjoying playing Texas Hold'em both in video games and in real life, I wanted to like Stacked. Unfortunately there are just too many other Poker games out there that are better, even with less realistic AI.
  9. If you want to learn Hold 'Em strategies, I recommend one of the many free poker websites over Stacked. [Oct. 2006, p.104]
  10. 50
    Stacked does have one hook (aside from the Negreanu name), but it's not a terribly compelling one. You're in control of a customizable avatar, and you can convey some basic poker information through your character via frowning, smiling, calling tentatively, or raising aggressively. Trying to simulate body language and table presence is a fine idea, but with such limited options it's more a gimmick than a viable gambit.
  11. 50
    Unfortunately, similar products have been around for years now, and unless you're not old enough to play competitive poker on an online gambling site (most of which offer free games as well), it's hard to justify picking this one up.
  12. If you're old enough to play online for nothing, why spend $30 for an ugly interface and weak action?
  13. 48
    The presentation on a whole is either poor and/or awkward, including the raise adjustment, menu navigation, visuals (specifically for the chips), lack of a reasonable create-a-player and more.
  14. Pretty, but frustrating pokery fiddliness wrecks this game. [Aug 2007, p.81]
  15. The tutorial sets the stage for a pleasurable experience, but shoddy game modes, AI, and visuals kill the moment.
  16. Yet another unnecessary and unwarranted poker game. Avoid. [May 2007, p.69]
  17. The menus are too awkward - selecting a betting amount is fiddly beyond reason - and there's too much competition out there for Stacked to distinguish itself as anything other than one of the ugly cliches from its own character selection menu. [June 2007, p.74]
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 8 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. RichardH.
    8
    The game itself if really quite entertaining, from creation of your player to interaction with the AI players... but the real fun starts when you play online. The major flaw there is the poor servers and the total lack of security. In about one short year, the game (online) runs amuck with hackers and cheats, taking the fun out of the picture almost completely. I'm suprised that Daniel Negraneau would want his name attached to anything so flawed and hopefully UNLIKE real online poker rooms where there are checkpoints to allow cheats running amuck. Full Review »
  2. JonC.
    0
    What a dud, the interface and game play is terrible.
  3. KenG.
    9
    Outstanding poker game - online it is truly addictive and fun!