Smartphone Thoughts: Astraware Casino v1.20 Review

Product Category: Games
Manufacturer: Astraware
Where to Buy: MobiHand [Affiliate]
Price: $19.95
System Requirements: Windows Mobile 2003 or later. QVGA or QVGA Landscape resolution screen.

Pros:

• Fun and addicting
• Great way to pass the time
• Includes instructions for how to play each game
  

Cons:

• Smartphone button layouts can make gaming awkward
  

Summary: I’m going to spoil this review for you from the get go and let you know that this is one of the most entertaining games I have ever played on my Windows Mobile handset. I would also like to start off and mention that I do not gamble one bit. I don’t even play the lottery. Reason being is I happen to get bored very easily and always end up making stupid betting decisions just to make things a bit more interesting… and then I lose all of my money. It’s a vicious cycle I tell you! This is where Astraware came in and saved the day. You can still lose in Casino – In fact I have lost a lot in Casino – but Astraware has found a way to make losing virtual money entertaining by giving away souvenirs for just about everything, including losing! So enough with my rambling and let’s get on to the review!

Casino Games
Astraware Casino is packed with 11 of some of the most popular Casino games found all over the world. The games are Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold 'Em No Limit Poker, Roulette, Slots, Video Keno, Video Poker and Video Derby.

While I have played all of the games I found that some games were better than others. One of the most addicting games that I have been playing so far is Texas Hold ‘Em No Limit Poker. I know that will sound kind of cheesy to say as everyone nowadays seems to love Texas Hold’ Em Poker, but as I mentioned before, I’m not really the gambling type and because of that I never caught the poker bug like everyone else I know.


Figure 1: I was actually winning at poker for once!

My second favorite game in this series of games is probably the least “game-like” of them all – Video Derby! There really isn’t much to do besides placing a bet and picking a horse but the race is so quick and the tiny little horses and jockeys are so amusing to look at that I have literally found myself playing this game for a good twenty minutes at a time. On top of that, the derby sound effects blaring out of my handset while I play has caught more than a few people’s attention on the train to work in the morning. At one point I had two older gentlemen standing over my shoulder quietly cheering on the horses and giving me betting advice.


Figure 2: My horse just came in last place.

Graphics and Sounds
The graphics aren’t the best on the planet but for a Windows mobile Smartphone, I feel Astraware did a wonderful job with them. All of the colors are crisp and all of the animations are incredibly smooth. Everything about the presentation screams top notch. The sound is another story though. Where the graphics do tend to lack a little in the “wow” department all of the games include some very entertaining audio. Whether you’re listening to the sound of cards being dealt out to all players or trumpets blaring at the beginning of a derby race or even the sounds of pulling the handle on the slot machine – everything just sounds fluid, clear, and crisp. Granted on our tiny handset speakers the sounds will never sound life like and make you forget you’re playing a game but they also don’t sound cheesy and midi-like either which is a huge win in my book.

Souvenirs
These are my favorite part of the game. It doesn’t matter if you’re winning or losing, Casino has managed to give you a trophy for almost everything you do. In fact, the game even encourages you to lose if you want to win one of the souvenirs, “The King”, which you get after losing $1000 or higher in a single round. Fortunately, while I am horrible at gambling, I’m not bad enough to win this trophy… yet. Trust me, I’m trying to stink it up pretty good because how can you not want to win a trophy that looks like an Elvis doll?


Figure 3: Hail to the King! You will be mine one day tiny Elvis doll!

Conclusion
Astraware Casino is nothing short of pure fun and a great way to kill a few minutes or even an entire 45 minute wait on the phone with customer service (I speak from personal experience). If you’re looking to pick up a new game for your Windows Mobile Standard device or you’re incredibly bored with Bubble Breaker, than I suggest pick up your copy of Astraware Casino today! You can purchase Astraware Casino for $19.95 from our affiliate store. So what are you waiting for? Go buy it!

Rocco Augusto is the Managing Editor for Smartphone Thoughts and owns and operates Skimbee Studios, a small Web Development studio located in Portland, Oregon where he currently resides. When he isn't tweaking code or playing with his one of his many gadgets, you will most likely find him spending time playing with his beautiful daughter and chasing his two small kittens off of the kitchen counters.