Astraware Casino is a spectacularly fun bundle of eight games that range from the easy, mindless reels of a slot machine, to the dense strategy of Texas Hold'em Poker. All of the games' layouts, animations, and sound effects are as beautifully programmed as one has any right to expect on a Treo's 2 inch screen.
Casino game simulations have been around as long as computers, and all of AC's games are available from many other developers as single games, of course, but AC is EASILY the best multi-game casino package I've ever seen on PalmOS. For twenty bucks, it's a fantastic value.
While some of its gaming logic is a bit dubious, such as the intelligence of its Texas Hold'em computer opponents, and there are some features I'd like to see added, like a "re-bet same bet" button in Roulette, and more variations of Video Poker, this is one enormously enjoyable program. Astraware really has it nailed as far as PalmOS system-friendly gaming, and their gorgeous high res graphics are beyond reproach.
The Souvenir Case is a cute touch, and the player-friendly game odds will morph you from a $1000.00 walk-in novice to a high roller with keys to the executive suite if you just keep playing. No, you won't win every hand of cards, drop of the Roulette ball, or spin of those slot machine reels, and there's always that generous ATM machine, ready to spit some fresh cash at you, should you get on a horribly unlucky streak and lose your entire stake.
There are tons of game settings everywhere, built-in instructions for all the games, and I never saw this 2mb monster game pack crash. Not once.
Whether you're a casino regular, or just a novice tourist, the MOST you can lose with Astraware Casino is the $19.95 cost of the program itself, and this is a LOT of gaming fun for very little money. Highly recommended.
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Pros |
Eight Vegas-style casino games rolled into one program
Favors the player instead of the house
Spectacular high res graphics, real-life sound effects
Remembers all game bets and settings
Card friendly
Accommodates multiple users
Lots of additional features and surprises
Built-in instructions for every game
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Cons |
Dubious logic of computer opponents
More Video Poker variants would be welcome
Needs a re-bet feature in Roulette |
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