Hoyle Card Games 2003

All that aside, the net play is misleading, to say the least. The games in the package do not allow for net play. Rather, it launches a website that has a selection of games, some very different from those in this set. Furthermore, small print on the back of the box again adds disappointment for Mac users - the web site does not allow Mac users to play.


Just like Super Street Fighter 2: The new characters!   December 9, 2002
 8 out of 14 found this review helpful

This is just like Super Street Fighter 2, the new characters.

I know that that game came out quite a long time ago. But my point is that the game allowed for more features, such as the group battle and the tournament mode.

They also included 4 new players: Thunder Hawk, Dee Jay, Fei Long, and Cammy.

But they took all the balance out. Ken and Ryu, before powerful but survivable, could dominate the entire game with ease. The very concept of defending yourself was tossed out the window, and wouldn't be returned until Street Fighter Alpha created the "Alpha Counter."

It's the same with Hoyle 2003.

The computer ai hasn't been improved much. At least, your partner's ai hasn't.

And they removed the characters I liked, except for Elayne. What they did to Elayne was worse.

I have always been a big fan of Hoyle. I play this game too, though I only play it because they made a single improvement.

It's now possible to play Omnibus hearts (jack of diamonds.) Beyond that, the only really added features are the new characters. And some of the new characters shouldn't even be in it!

Tony is a fireman. How disgusting and commericalistic can one get? Hedda is so cruel that no one wants to use her, and Rhett is pretty much ridiculous.

Also, the programs used to give you nearly complete control over a great many things. Now, you can hardly do anything. Even the facemaker system is ruined, since you can't save your face like you used to.

I wish that they would drop the price. I'd pay about ten dollars less gladly, but it doesn't rate the full price until later on.

If you really want to play Hoyle, you'd do best to buy either 2000 or 2002. (Avoid 2001. It wasn't worth it.)


Program incorrectly reads the WRONG value of Poker Hands   December 7, 2002
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

While playing Omaha Hold'em or Omaha Hold'em Hi-Lo periodically
the program with state the one player has two pairs and the player has only one pair.
(No Good).
Or the program will state
that the player has a straight and the player only has a 4 card
straight. I stop playing this game because you can't gamble with
the program incorrectly stating wrong value of hands. Therefore,
not until Sierra remove the bugs or completely checks out Casino
2003, I advise you to wait for the corrections. Otherwise it
could be a great game.


Not much improvement   November 19, 2002
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Other than different computer people to play with there has been no real improvement. Your team mates still work against you while the opposing team helps you. The revenge button does help but I really want to hit the programmers who apparently don't know how to play cards. You won't get real life-like play like you do online playing with real players or at a card table but it's a decent diversion.


Great fun!   November 13, 2002
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Although this version still has some bugs (in Canasta it allows players to open with the number of wild cards equal to or more than the natural cards) it still is a blast to play! Just pretend that the "table" rules are different when you play and you'll be just fine. I hope I can remember when I'm playing real people. I especially like the "revenge" button! I like this so much, I'm buying another for a friend for Christmas.