World Championship Poker 2 : Featuring Howard Lederer Preview

You peek at your cards as the others around you look calm, collected, their faces not registering any emotion whatsoever.  The player to your right peeks at his cards and announces that he folds thus leaving you to play against two other players.  The stakes are raised and you watch as the players in front of you make different faces you automatically read.  You call and spread your cards on the table.  Royal flush, you announce and with that you take your earnings.  Poker is a thrilling game when things are at stake but seldom does it translate well in video game form . . . until now.

World Championship Poker 2 features card champ Howard Lederer that lends his likeness and abilities to call bluffs and play with the best in a game that pits you against virtual players.  The game features nineteen different types of card games including Texas and Omaha Hold ‘Em, Baseball, Pineapple and 7 Card Stud only to name a few. 

You play against a group of players with just enough facial expressions to give away their bluffs.  The more games you win the more points you gain towards upgrading your skills RPG-style.  You’ll also be able to chose from different poker varieties, change the house rules to your liking and be able to switch from third-person view to first-person view on the fly.  You can even control your own taunts.  The game also includes a televised poker game in-bumper “card cam” view for when you peek at your cards.

With enough card game types, this one looks to be the perfect game for those that want to experience true poker without losing big on the tables.  The game will also be released on the PS2.

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