Pros: Large selection of card games and in-game customization.
Cons: Character lines are somewhat limited.
The Bottom Line: Hoyle Card Games 2005 is a wise choice for both savvy card game players and Hoyle game fans. Plenty of customization features and games make this worth a purchase.
imprimis2's Full Review: Hoyle Card Games 2005 for Windows
[The History--It's in the Cards]
Legend has it that playing cards were first breathed into life by the Chinese, who shuffled money into different combinations to outrank their opponents--but it's just that, a legend. While we don't exactly know (and can only maintain an educated guess) when and where the concept of playing cards originated, since their inception, they have increased in popularity, and the style and games available to be played are as numerous as the number of countries on Earth.
Somewhere in the 1400's, the English picked up the jolly tradition of playing cards, and most of these people owed their gratitude to Johann Gutenberg, inventor and developer of the printing press. While the printing press was not exclusively designed for playing cards (but rather to publish books, scrolls, and loads of other information for guilders and scholars during the Gothic age, including the Bible), it was a crucial foundation for their development. As with anything else used on the printing press around this time, the introduction of newer and lightweight reading material was celebrated and revered, as it made toting around documents a much easier task.
Now you can thank your forefathers for the fun you're going to have playing cards.
[Spread of Popularity]
After the mid to late 1400's, playing card popularity really began to pick up steam, as various peoples in different countries started using them for different purposes, such as money (as Canada did in 1685), fortune telling (in Italy by way of the Tarot deck in 1440) and later, for playing games.
In 1742, well after playing cards got their start, rules for many card games were condensed into one book, written by Edmond Hoyle. It only makes sense, then, that Hoyle would mean to "play by the rules". Although unrelated to cards, Hoyle also wrote many pieces and rulesheets on games like backgammon, chess, and checkers.
Today, with the advent of computers and electronic gaming, we don't have to worry about using paper or plastic playing cards. Just plug up the computer and you're all set.
Hoyle Card Games 2005 follows in Mr. Hoyle's ideology--that a good card game is played like it should be--by the rulebook. However, this collection of games is much more than plain old solitaire ever thought it could be, with twenty card games, and even more potential with variations on classic favorites.
[Customization, Variation, and Style--All in Hoyle Card Games 2005]
Twenty card games await you in one of the largest card game collections Hoyle has ever offered. Included in the games list are:
That's quite a list! After you've started the game and customized your character by way of Facemaker (more on that in a bit), you can go in and select which game you'd like to play, via a main menu screen. It's best to play a game that you are already familiar with first, so you can relax and play a few hands before moving on to new territory.
Once you click on a game, a box will pop up allowing you to customize your game experience. First off, you can change the computer players--if you don't like Marvin the talking dinosaur, you might want to listen to Harley the bear instead. There are human players also, if you don't like playing with cartoon characters. Want to play with a twist? You can also change the game variation. For example, if you are playing Crazy Eights, you can change the game to a scored mode, ranging anywhere from 100 to 400 points. The option is also available to have the cards drawn automatically or manually, plus you have the ability to set the computer difficulty at easy, medium, or hard. To make my point further, there is even another option in Crazy Eights where you can have the deck reshuffled if everyone runs out of cards.
Other games have their own set of rules, and along with it, their own twists and variations. Check each game out and try them all. The customizability factor is very high, so you will be able to play a game the way you want to play it.
More customizations are at your disposal. At the bottom left corner of your screen, you will see a button that says "Options". Clicking inside this menu will bring up another one which will allow you to change your game backdrop (and there are many to choose from, ranging from vibrant to soothing, dark to light--even horizontal stripes to vertical stripes--and that's just naming a handful of more than forty available). You can also change the card front and back designs--there are four different face styles, ranging from Nouveau (a thin blue style) to Halloween-faced cards, Jumbo Index cards, and the original style. There are at least twenty five different card back designs that you can use to mix and match to your backgrounds and personal tastes.
Do you want to hear something different? You can even play different musical selections--and these vary from electrical vibes to guitar grunges, to the sounds of an ocean, or an oncoming storm. There are twelve different music tracks available. The only downside to this is I haven't yet found a place where you can listen to your own music (unless of course you turn the music off in the game, and listen using WinAmp or Windows Media Player). And of course, you can opt to dwell in silence.
Let's go into another neat feature about Hoyle games that I really like--the FaceMaker and newly introduced SpaceMaker.
[FaceMaker, SpaceMaker and other New Features]
FaceMaker and SpaceMaker are two different and new options available in the recent releases from Hoyle. Before, you had no interaction in the game, and basically just sat back and clicked and watched what was going on. Now, you can customize the way your player looks and even sounds by using FaceMaker.
FaceMaker is an invaluable tool that lets you play with the person you want to. There are no more hollowed out images of faces; instead, you can choose from any number of combinations of facial attributes, ranging from head size, eyebrow shape, nose size and shape, eye color and shape, and mouth and facial expressions. Want to create a old man who has a white beard? Go for it! How about a nerdy looking science teacher? That's there too! The possibilities are almost endless here, so you will have no problem making (not finding--there are no preset characters...okay, maybe three or four) your own character, although some time and effort (usually at least 5 minutes) is required in order to make your player look according to your specifications.
In FaceMaker, you can also change your clothes, wear hats, glasses, and other neat accessories. In addition, there are also different voices that you can match up with your character, so you can have your own voice. Now you can speak out during a game, and tell everyone what's on your mind.
The SpaceMaker is another new addition to the Hoyle game lineup. Now not only can you have your own custom player, you can also add decoration around them to lighten your screen with animations. Perhaps you're interested in adding Christmas lights around your face, or maybe you would like a Dancing Santa to entertain yourself with while waiting on your partner to meld....you can even sip on a virtual cup of Coke and eat a hamburger or french fries. Posters and plaques can also be used to add dimension and flair. Again--the ceiling has been raised to a very high level on what you can do, and it's all here. In fact, there's probably more here than you would even deem necessary to use in a card game, let alone try and find something you might want. I don't think you'll have any complaints in that department.
[Hoyle Bucks]
Just when you thought we were finished with new features, there's yet another one to discuss. Again new with this release of Hoyle 2005 Card Games is a new monetary feature called Hoyle Bucks. In other installments of Hoyle games, all the backgrounds, music, and card options would be there for you to select at the beginning. Now, however, you have to play games in order to unlock certain special features--and just about every category has something that can be bought or unlocked with the Hoyle Bucks, including music selections, backgrounds, card faces, player plaques, and even FaceMaker faces that resemble Mr. Potato Head, a cyborg-robotic freak creature, a surfer dude, a she devil and more.
In order to acquire Hoyle Bucks, a player must complete a certain task in a game. For example, if you hold two pair in your hand at the end of a draw in 5 Card Poker, you win $10 in Hoyle Bucks. You will gain a considerably higher amount if your hand ranking is better. Other games have their own Hoyle Bucks payouts, and some even change according to the difficulty you play. Mix and match and see what you like best.
Once you've acquired a stash of Hoyle Bucks, you can spend them in the Hoyle Bucks catalog, where many different player upgrades and SpaceMaker items are available. This is where your locked backgrounds and music selections, as well as new card backs and faces, and new FaceMaker faces and costumes are located.
If you find you purchase an item that you don't really like, you can sell it at half the price. However, some items cannot be sold (like french fries) because they obviously have no resale value.
[BackTalk]
Yes, there's more. Another new ability I found while playing this game is the BackTalk feature. Located on each player's podium are two faces; one smiling, the other frowning. If you wish to speak a kind word to your opponent, click on his or her corresponding nameplate. Clicking the frown button will either have your player hurl an insult, or throw a virtual cream pie, with splattering sound effects to boot. While this isn't an engaging feature, I found it fun to take out some of my anger and envy on an unsuspecting opponent. I don't use it all the time, it's just something extra for kicks.
As you can see, there is a ton of selection and customization in Hoyle Card Games 2005. You can't be disappointed with what's offered.
Now, let's get on with how I'm impressed by the game as a whole.
[Core Categories--Gameplay, Visual, Replay Value]
Gameplay Score--92%
A game so simple shouldn't really be this complex--at least as far as what's available for you to choose from--but it's a good thing. There are twenty card games in this release, and this does not even begin to account for the variations within solitaire, with over fifty games there.
While card games can get repetitive after awhile, there is enough here to occupy your time, so the overall gameplay factor is not hindered by it. The computer players are usually very friendly, and have several different phrases they can utter at any given time. If you find characters repeating phrases, you might want to set character attitude to a more serious tone so that you won't hear them speaking as often. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of phrases for your character, so it does get a little redundant when it comes your turn to talk.
Overall, gameplay is smooth and flows well--in the general nature of how card games would.
Visual Score--88%
If we were playing Halo 2, or Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promithia, we might expect the graphics to be a little more detailed. But, we're playing cards, not having an epic adventure. That being said, don't expect your eyes to be liquefied, or your jaw to drop to the floor in amazement of pixel detail.
Generally speaking, the graphics in Hoyle Card Games 2005 are somewhat outdated compared to today's processor-demanding competitors, but you will not be disappointed. Simplicity is key here, and Hoyle does a good job of finding a happy medium. There are a couple of game backgrounds that seem too childish, like Crazy Eights and Old Maid (which are primarily for kids anyway, so who am I to complain), but for the most part are good, since you can select a background of your choice. I have also noticed that the background quality and clarity in this version of Hoyle Card Games 2005 is better than in previous releases.
Character animations and visual cues are about the same as previous versions. There's nothing choppy, but on the flipside, there's nothing resource demanding.
Replay Value---79%
There's not an incredible amount of replay value with a card game, you just go in and play when you feel like it. While the replay value would be much higher if you had friends and family members that could play with you (and one game in this collection allows that, Memory Match)-- only so much time-wasting memories from a card game can be had. That being said, take my advice--you won't be playing this game for weeks in a row. More likely, you'll play a game of poker for a couple of hours once a week or so, or maybe compete in a set of cribbage every now and again. The Hoyle Bucks are a great addition though, as they add extra incentive to play and unlock new features and accessories. I actually find it fun to hear the "ka-ching" when I earn them.
[Overall Experience]
This game is more than just fun, it's interesting, engaging, and colorful. There's a vast and varied world inside that mysterious box of Hoyle Card Games 2005 sitting on the electronics shelf. Picking it up for the price I did, at twenty dollars--less than a dollar a game, I found it to be an incredible value.
Hoyle hasn't faded, and as far as I'm concerned, they remain in the spotlight of choice when I purchase computer card and board games. No one else rivals their quality and selection.
Hoyle Card Games 2005 continues that experience with new features and new card games. All you could ask for in a card game is in this product.
I'm sure our ancestors would be very proud.
Shuffle up and deal!
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Pentium PC 166 or higher
16 MB of RAM (32 MB Recommended--64 MB for XP)
4x CD-ROM
800 X 600 16-bit color resolution
100 MB Hard Disk Space
Review Copyright 2005 Aaron Coffey
Hoyle Card Games 2005 Copyright Sierra Entertainment
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