Poker Smash

It's been awhile since I've seen a good action puzzle game that has got its claws into me. When Poker Smash was released earlier this month I initially thought that would stay the same, but Poker Smash is one of the better games to come out in the last few months of XBLA.

Poker Smash is a fast paced puzzle game with an overt poker twist. The game takes place usually on a poker table, but the backgrounds often change as your score increases. Throughout the game rows of five cards rise from the bottom of the table with your objective being to keep those from reaching the top of the table - a mechanic we've seen ad nauseum before. However, Poker Smash changes up the rules by now only allowing you to remove cards through the regular arrange three to five of the same in a row rule, but also by making poker hands such as a straight or flush. Making these authentic poker hands grants you bonus points. Even more points can be made if you chain together hands and rows of cards - it's a great system and one that allows Poker Smash to be more unique that it might otherwise have been.

Multiplayer also takes after a game of poker. A two player match ends when one player has taken all of the oppositions chips, which makes it a see-saw battle to get the best poker hands and combos. Things get even better when you add more players to the mix, the game supports up to five, which gives multiplayer a real tournament-like feel.

PROS:
* Fun fast puzzle game
* Variety of poker themed ways to remove cards elevates what could have been an uninspiring puzzle game
* Multiplayer is fun
CONS:
* Could use a few more single-player options

FINAL VERDICT: Poker Smash is all told one of the better games to come out on XBLA in the last few months. For those who enjoy an occasional puzzle game, or even just enough poker, checking out Poker Smash should be a good bet.

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