Metacritic Games

World Series of Poker (Playstation 2)

World Series of Poker features the likenesses of poker professionals participating in the 2005 WSOP Tournament. The game offers players a truly unique experience unlike any other poker video game on the market today. For the first time ever, the 2005 WSOP Tournament will be held at Harrah's Rio Suites in Las Vegas, the same location simulated in the video game and the location of the 2005 Lifestyle Show. All the sanctioned poker various of the World Series of Poker are available, including Texas Hold 'Em, 7 Card Stud, Omaha, and 5 Card Draw. With the flexible character creator, the player can create his or her own poker face, wear Vegas-style threads and upgrade looks/clothes as he or she gains money. [Activision]

Activision
Card Games
Players: Multi
E10+ (Everyone 10 and Older)
Developer: Activision
Released August 31, 2005

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

46 / 100

Critic Reviews

84 Next Level Gaming
If you have the PS2 and the EyeToy, you and your opponents can actually set your cameras up so you can see each other while you play; just like you were sitting at the table at Hannah's Casino. That is very cool.
68 GameSpot
With a license as big as the World Series, you'd hope for something more than a merely competent poker title.
65 GameZone
I wasn’t expecting a revolution from a poker game, but it would’ve been nice to have at least one unique and/or standout feature outside of the create-a-player mode.
64 Game Chronicles
A decent online poker game.
60 PSX Extreme
World Series of Poker, while delivering solid table action, just doesn't deliver the superstars and televised gloss that people are going to want out of a game carrying the WSOP license.
50 DarkStation
Who says you can't play poker all by yourself. The game allows you do do just that, but one misses out on one key ingredient to the poker game - the bluff.
50 PSM Magazine
The graphics are pretty awful. This is cheap, but not cheap enough. [Dec 2005, p.110]
50 Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
Another attempt to cash in on poker's current online renaissance. But with no cash and terrible graphics it's a bum-deal. [Apr 2006, p.108]
40 Sydney Morning Herald
This is a very random game of poker that wouldn't stand up to any real scrutiny. Thankfully, you can play human opponents online.
40 Cheat Code Central
It looks terrible with its blocky graphics and herky jerky animation. The poker gameplay is about as average as you can get. There are better, more realistic poker games available on the net for free.
35 IGN
Aside from the World Series of Poker name and Lon's voice, this game has nothing to do with poker's ultimate event and even fails to compete with poker products of comparable or lesser price. Nuts!
30 PSW Magazine UK
Many of the games feel very unfair and almost calculated in the way they contrive to make you lose. Trying to outwit opponents by bluffing is a big no-no too, since there always seems to be one character that doesn't want to play ball and fold a hand. It just never feels like you're playing real poker against real people.
30 Thunderbolt
The great license and the professional players just can’t make for an entertaining title thanks to a weak graphics engine and poor AI.
25 Game Revolution
A better option is to stay in that comfy office chair and check out the thousands of free poker games on the Internet, most of which have a slicker presentation and interface, anyway.
20 Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Great for players who have absolutely no desire to experience what real poker is like. [Dec 2005, p.132]

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