World Series of Poker (PlayStation Portable, 2005)

I have to admit that even before this game came out, I was looking forward to it. I'm someone who enjoys watching poker on TV and playing casual games, so I got this game the first day it was released.


When I turned on the game, I wasn't disappointed. The first thing that I did was take half an hour to customize my player with a look suitable to someone living in Hawaii. Then I started my first main event tourney... No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em with 6500+ entrants. I lasted about an hour before I got eliminated... but I was hooked.


On to more details: There are 6 different types of poker offered, Hold 'Em, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Low, 7 Card Stud, 7 Card Stud Hi-Low, and Razz. In each of these catagories there are different level tournaments offered each year. For example, in the Hold 'Em catagory, there are 15 limit/no limit tourneys per year. Once you're satisfied with how you did in a year, you can move on to the
next year. Each year, you are given $10,000 to win or go broke with.


The Hold 'em tourneys are especially fun in WSOP, with the main event being the most exciting. It took me hours and hours of playing the main event before I finally finished 1st... and that's a thrill you'll have to experience for yourself. The AI in this game is somewhat poor, although later in the tourneys, it gets somewhat tighter. However, just because the AI is not great, does not mean that the tournaments are easy to win. And therein lies the challenge.


In addition to the elusive goal of winning the main event, there are Collector Chips that you can earn for achieving different things, such as making a full house, taking out 2 players, or making $50,000. Some Collector Chips are in my opinion impossible to get, but are fun to try for. These include $100,000,000, taking out 20 players in a tourney, and getting a royal flush. (Although I got that last one. :)


Now comes the bad stuff: Omaha and OHL are pretty much unplayable because it goes extremely slow. (In the other games, you can speed up gameplay). Also, the exclusion of cash games make WSOP feel like it's lacking something. And your winnings? You really can't do too much with them except play more tournaments. If you get so much money, you'll move into a different hotel room. Whoopee.


It's somewhat difficult to compare WSOP to World Championship Poker, another game out for the PSP. WCP includes more types of games, and is strong in the cash games, but weak in the tournament play. The AI in WCP is also weak, but more varied than WSOP. I would say, if you like the thrill of big time tourneys, go with WSOP, but if you want to learn how to play better poker, get WCP. WSOP is more fun, WCP might make you play better.


All in all though, WSOP is quite an entertaining and challenging game. There is a lot of replayability, and is worth the $30-$40 you might spend on it. So this is a buy recommendation, shuffle up and deal! See you at the final table!