Game Reviews

Adrenaline Poker Online

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Adrenaline Poker Online

There's nothing quite like meeting up with some mates, getting your poker face on and jumping into a late night game. It's tense, challenging and the rush you get from stealing a big pot with an audaciously bluffed hand is priceless. With its online multiplayer, Adrenaline Poker Online has no shortage of folk to play with, but it struggles to deliver the thrills of a live game.

Despite being split in to two distinct components - online and offline - Adrenaline Poker Online excels, as the name suggests, as a multiplayer poker game. The offline mode covers all the basics - 2/4, 4/8, 10/20 and No Limit games. Jumping in to a quick match versus the computer is a pressure-free way to get to grips with the game, compared to the intensity of online play.

Online is where the real fun starts though, with a choice of live tables alongside a range of automatic match-making options. Finding an active game, even over 3G, takes moments and is hassle-free. You're given 10 000 virtual chips to start, though it's quite easy to lose them in minutes on a reckless No Limit game. Thankfully the chips replenish every day.

With 10k worth of virtual cash-money, it's time to hit the tables. Each table sits up to 10 players. Even in busy games it's a breeze to view important data: chip counts are displayed above each player (meaning you can easily keep a cautious eye on the chip leader), it's a doddle to call, check, raise and fold, plus there are even pre-call and pre-fold buttons.

The pressure really does pile on when you're playing at a packed table. This intensity tends to be missing from many poker titles and yet Adrenaline Poker Online instills this sense effortlessly, adding to the overall authenticity. An authentic poker game, online and offline play, quick matchmaking even over 3G - it all sounds too good to be true and, sadly, it is.

Let's start with the niggly things and work our way up. The music is painfully awful, consisting of cheesy funk riffs and bad sax solos. So astonishingly dire, in fact, that my girlfriend - sat across the room from me whilst I racked up a satisfying chip lead - asked if I was actually watching an erotic adult movie. It really is that bad.

Now the big issue, the one that consistently ruins each poker session. In an online game, you're given a limited amount of time to play your move - this is understandable. Playing over 3G, even with a reliable connection, results in turns being frequently missed and the game auto-folding your hand.

This auto-folding issue is further compounded by the fact that the wi-fi falls asleep at frequent intervals. On a table with five or more players, you'll frequently have to wait a minute or so for your turn. Of course, you may find your iPhone has fallen asleep on your turn only to awaken it to discover you've auto-folded a hand.

Adrenaline Poker Online plays well enough, yet the auto-fold issue seriously lets the game down - entirely ruining the experience. There's always the possibility that developer Eurocenter will patch these problems but, in the meantime, it may be best to hold out until a few more contenders to the iPhone online poker throne emerge.

Adrenaline Poker Online

Could be great fun but let down by the auto-folding problem - making this game a frustrating disappointment when it could have been a must-have
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