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WiiWare Games: VIP Casino Blackjack (Wii)

By Jorge Fernandez on Friday, May 16, 2008 at 9:50 PM EST  

The fourth title in our daily WiiWare review week is VIP Casino Blackjack. Developed by High Voltage Software, VIP is a four player simulation of popular card game Blackjack. For those unaware of the game, players are dealt cards, each worth a certain number, and whoever reaches 21 first will have received a “Blackjack”, granting them the winning hand. The alternative victory is attaining the highest number among competing players that is closest to 21, but any number above that will result in a “Bust”, thus losing automatically. Players can request as many cards as they want until they exceed a number of 21, thus it becomes necessary for players to determine whether victory can be achieved by the cards on hand, or try their luck and shoot for an even higher number, or a straight 21.

VIP Casino Blackjack recreates the gambling experience well enough, taking place in a private room where all players surround a typical Blackjack table while a female dealer passes out the cards. With a beginning sum of $5000, players can bet a certain amount per hand, with several additional options mapped to the Wiimote’s D-pad, such as doubling the bet, asking for more cards, or playing with the available hand. Four players can play at once with the Wiimote, or the remaining opponents can be issued as A.I. players.

Unlike TV Show King, VIP Casino Blackjack forgoes the use of Mii creations in favor of realistic models. Characters are dressed in typical Las Vegas attire, displaying no signs of emotions in their faces, which may or may not be an intentional part of the gambling look. What is similar to Pop, however, is the implementation of Xbox Live-style Achievements, called….Achievements. As the name implies, different skills and accomplishments will be awarded to players who achieve certain requirements, such as attaining a certain amount of money, or obtaining several Blackjacks in a row.

Not much more can be said about VIP Casino Blackjack; It achieves an accurate enough recreation of the game, but does not add much else. The presentation is very basic and to the point, with character models only displaying standard animations of victory or defeat, a lack of music, and voice acting strictly used to describe the outcome of the game. If hardcore gambling fans want a card playing experience with no extra bells and whistles to distract them, then this WiiWare title will suffice. For anyone else preferring a more human atmosphere, a deck of cards and a household table will be a more ideal choice.

Primotech Rating: ★★½☆☆

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