This Wednesday: Poker Smash batters XBLA, Crystal Quest gets polished

by Ross Miller { Feb 4th 2008 at 1:55PM }

Do you like the concept of poker but feel perpetually bored by the not-so-visceral aesthetics of the game? Perhaps the gambling aspect always gets you down in the mouth (and wallet). As announced last week, Void Star Creations' puzzler Poker Smash will be this Wednesday's Xbox Live Arcade title. The game will, erm, smash its way onto the network February 6 at 4:00 a.m. ET for 800 MS points ($10). Unfortunately, that $10 is not an ante, and you can't win that money back with a good play.

Also coming this week is a free update to Crystal Quest that, according to the Gamerscore blog, will "add a crazy multiplier scheme to offer even higher scores."

Gallery: Poker Smash (XBLA)

Tags: crystal-quest, poker-smash, pokersmash, xbla, xblawednesday, xbox-live, xbox-live-arcade

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

TrojanGuy @ Feb 4th 2008 2:03PM

So is it a puzzle game that just has a poker-themed skin?

Seth Brower @ Feb 4th 2008 2:55PM

They talked about it a few weeks ago on one of the 1up podcasts. It seems interesting, with the whole building up "hands" based on poker rules, so you have the suits/colors/numbers, quite a few ways to pull things together. Overall they were impressed with it.

Feigr @ Feb 4th 2008 2:18PM

Well, instead of matching colors you make poker combinations like pair, flush, full house etc. Looks interesting!

Truepatriot @ Feb 4th 2008 2:22PM

its like super puzzle fighter that throws in more strategy because now not only can u just match numbers or colors you can make poker hands(flushs, straights, full houses, etc.)

TheDCD @ Feb 4th 2008 3:03PM

Looks more like a poker-themed Tetris Attack to me. But from what I played, it's good fun. :)

mike @ Feb 4th 2008 4:16PM

thats what I thought too. but I love tetris attack and I love poker. This feels right. Cant wait to try the demo. It cant be any worse then that garbage rez hd that so many rave about. Teenagers who do drugs must be the only ones entertained by that game.

Obie @ Feb 4th 2008 2:46PM

Hmmm seems pretty fun. Downloading the demo for sure and if the reviews are favorable it might be worth a purchase.

Spooky @ Feb 4th 2008 2:57PM

If your going to download the demo why does it matter what the reviews say? You are already trying it out and Arcade games are pretty much cut and dry. Either your going to like it by the time the demo runs out or not.

Lord Chako @ Feb 4th 2008 4:52PM

Some people are unable to come to their own conclusions, and rely on other people to justify their decisions.

Lets say he plays the demo and likes it.
But ign/gamespot/whatever doesn't give it a favorable review.
He will not purchase the game, and then bitch on the net about how much the game sucked. Therefore missing out on a game he probably would have enjoyed.

But he will save face, because he won't have to disagree with the review scores, and have to defend his opinion.

Or, he plays the game, and doesn't like it. But IGN/gamespot/etc give the game a favorable review.
He still won't purchase the game, but he will talk about how much he enjoyed it. He won't purchase the game though, because of all the other good games he has bought/hasn't finished.

Lord_Chako @ Feb 4th 2008 4:57PM

Ooops, wrong email...

Obie @ Feb 4th 2008 5:34PM

XBLA demos hardly feature the entire package. Most of them do not give you the chance to even try online play.
Sure I can get a taste of the game, but if the games length and other features ( which the reviews will explain ) do not add up. That is how I come to the conclusion for my purchase.

So Lord Chaco, how does it feel to write a lengthy ignorant post that ALSO makes you look like a complete douche? Hmmm?