'WORLD SERIES OF POKER'

'WORLD SERIES OF POKER'
Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PC.
Genre: Strategy.
Publisher: Activision.
ESRB Rating: E, for Everyone.
Grade: ss 1/2 (out of five)
When it comes to poker, I can handle my own but always reserve judgment for a crew of friends in Cincinnati who make it their mission to play poker as often as possible, winning bragging rights -- and each other's bankrolls. They were on my mind as I sat down to tackle Activision's new "World Series of Poker" game.
You start by creating a custom character. And with a $10,000 bankroll you head to Vegas and the various World Series tournaments that are offered each year. "WSOP" starts off a bit sluggish. The create-a-player mode is fairly weak, especially for gamers used to the in-depth modes from EA and other companies; anything this shallow brings the game down a notch.
The gameplay is where it's at here. The games are among the most realistic ever created, and all of the various limit, no-limit, stud and Omaha games are here -- with, of course, the daddy of 'em all, No-Limit Texas Hold 'em. The artificial intelligence is fantastic, as the computer-controlled players often make mistakes, banking on that river card to win the hand or folding when you play a good bluff.
The graphics, unfortunately, disappoint. There is a limited number of real-life professional players to play against, and their renderings are not that sharp. Along with some poor player animations and otherwise lackluster environments (no matter what game you play, the table and casino settings never change), you definitely feel as if this could have been done better.
One of the best features of this game is the ability to play online. Of course, my Cincy pals do this already, but on professional Web sites where real money is on the line. The "WSOP" online play is geared strictly for beginners and poker players looking for action without the fear of losing the rent.
If you are just on the market for a solid poker game, this one will certainly fit the bill. But if you seek an all-encompassing poker experience, you may want to look elsewhere.
-- Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard
'MORTAL KOMBAT: SHAOLIN MONKS'
Platforms: Xbox, PlayStation 2.
Genre: Action.
Publisher: Midway.
ESRB Rating: M, for Mature.
Grade: sss (out of five)
Despite Midway's noble efforts to branch the "Mortal Kombat" franchise out of its classic one-on-one fighting system, none of those games ever made a lick of sense.
This trend ends abruptly and thankfully with the release of "Shaolin Monks," a wonderful game if you are an "MK" fan, and a decent action game for strangers to the series.
There's a rather roughshod plot to the game, taking place in between the "storylines" of the original "Mortal Kombat" game and "MKII." Honestly, they made two movies out of this videogame franchise, you'd think they could at least come up with a coherent storyline for this game.
You'll take the role of either Liu Kang or his brother, Kung Lao, as you take on the forces of Shang Tsung and his underworld fiends. It's a relatively short campaign, as the missions are very straightforward in layout. The pleasure is in the details, and "Shaolin Monks" is overflowing with them.
The game is like an Easter-egg hunt for "Mortal Kombat" fans, as unlockable characters and wink-wink moments abound that are absolutely giddy to discover to anyone who has deep knowledge of the franchise. Despite the game's rudimentary controls and gameplay, the real fun is stumbling across references to all the past games and enjoying the inclusion of them here.
A huge bump in the road with this game is that you can only play it single-player or co-op all the way through. It's just not realistic that you'll always have someone around to play with and finish the game with, and like any other co-op game, it helps to be able to play alone sometimes and then have someone else join in when possible.
Sure, "Shaolin Monks" is perhaps a game better suited for true fans of the series. Yet if you've ever enjoyed the gory and over-the-top nature of this series, this might be worth spending some time playing.
-- Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard