Stacked with Daniel Negreanu

Players new to Texas Hold 'Em poker will learn the game, get to play without losing their shirts and have some fun. Experienced poker players also get a half-hour session with a pro.

Stacked presents itself as a typical game of poker, but thanks to a pretty intriguing artificial intelligence system, it plays things much smarter than your average poker title.

Stacked offers some of the most realistic poker gameplay out there. The game isn't a fast game, and this will bring down the enjoyment level for the majority of gamers.

Stacked could benefit from more polish and deeper player customization (no, we don't want to look fat and balding, even if we are), but its actual gameplay is solid, and the creepy I'm-watching-you-so-I-can-destroy-you vibe can only help your real-world strategy.

Simply isn't recommended for experienced poker players. With its shoddy A.I., limited game styles, and strangely vacuous multiplayer mode, most versed card players will find the offering well below both their expectations and skill level.

Until you’ve decided and played your hand, the Pokibot is extremely slow. If you’re used to Internet Hold’em play, this game seems quite boring.

Two things work against Stacked in the end. One, while the computer AI is great, whoever is dealing the cards needs to be looked into by the gaming commission. And it says "Halo With Chips" on the back, which gives the game higher expectations than it should. Being that I am really enjoying playing Texas Hold'em both in video games and in real life, I wanted to like Stacked. Unfortunately there are just too many other Poker games out there that are better, even with less realistic AI.

Stacked does have one hook (aside from the Negreanu name), but it's not a terribly compelling one. You're in control of a customizable avatar, and you can convey some basic poker information through your character via frowning, smiling, calling tentatively, or raising aggressively. Trying to simulate body language and table presence is a fine idea, but with such limited options it's more a gimmick than a viable gambit.

Unfortunately, similar products have been around for years now, and unless you're not old enough to play competitive poker on an online gambling site (most of which offer free games as well), it's hard to justify picking this one up.

If you're old enough to play online for nothing, why spend $30 for an ugly interface and weak action?

If you want to learn Hold 'Em strategies, I recommend one of the many free poker websites over Stacked. [Oct. 2006, p.104]

The presentation on a whole is either poor and/or awkward, including the raise adjustment, menu navigation, visuals (specifically for the chips), lack of a reasonable create-a-player and more.

Pretty, but frustrating pokery fiddliness wrecks this game. [Aug 2007, p.81]

The tutorial sets the stage for a pleasurable experience, but shoddy game modes, AI, and visuals kill the moment.

Yet another unnecessary and unwarranted poker game. Avoid. [May 2007, p.69]