Casino Kid is a poker or blackjack game that feels like a JRPG in the style of Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy. The game for him NES comes from the developer Sofel.
Casino kid - defeat your opponents
Released for the NES in 1989, Casino Kid puts you in the shoes of the title's eponymous star. His name is actually a loose localization of the "$1.000.000 kid" taken from the manga the game was originally based on. Your goal is to take on the best players in the world, all of whom happen to be conveniently located at this very casino. You have to win all their money so you can face the King of the Casino. a really formidable opponent.
The casino game
Although the game is set in a Las Vegas-style casino, its Japanese roots shine through not only in the JRPG-style map screen, but also in the way the characters are drawn. The more exaggerated features on the display prove helpful when playing against opponents whose facial expressions may give away the hands they are holding.
To travel
As you travel around on a Dragon Quest-like map screen that marks the entire casino, you'll encounter several people who will give you clues in short cutscene-like screens. These people offer tips on the dealers, suggestions on where to go next, or just idle chatter. With so many people occupying the grounds, the game gives you respite by generally only allowing you to talk to the people who are actually animated. In contrast, there are people who are fixated on slot machines all over the area.
Slot machines
Don't expect to be able to use any of the slot machines. The same goes for roulette. Despite the presence of such attractions on the map, blackjack and five-card poker are your only options for the evening. The game has an economy, one that requires you to defeat all eight of your opponents in each game before you can face off against The King. Once you prepare to face the king, you have a million dollars.
cash reserves
You can start by playing either of the two available games and then work on building up your bankroll in one game before moving on to the other, which can be handy not only for adding a bit of variety but also anticipating upcoming ones opponent prepared. As you move through the casino's players, the stakes keep increasing until you end up betting thousands of dollars as a minimum on a single hand.
The soundtrack
Casino Kid's soundtrack is catchy and upbeat, but rather limited. For most of the game, you're treated to a friendly track on the map screen and a strange jingle when you're having a conversation. Most of the time you will hear the selections playing when you solve a selected game. Games generally run until one or other competitor runs out of money, so this can take a while depending on the luck of the player and the computer. Even if a longer melody is in background objects When looped, these tracks start to feel a little repetitive after a short while. For what it's worth, The King of the Casino at least has his own distinctive track, one that suits his mysterious personality and serves him well in his role as the game's final boss. It also creates a sense of urgency and danger, which is likely an attempt to trick some players into making the wrong move at this critical point.
Options
Despite the "Saved Game" option on the title screen, Casino Kid actually invokes the dreaded use of a 30-digit password system to keep your progress from one session to the next.
Conclusion
Overall, Casino Kid is a slick and somewhat unique card gaming experience. Having the run of the casino is a nice twist, even if you only get to participate in a fairly limited number of its different facets. Some may find the layout a bit confusing as they are only allowed to face off against players in a specific order in a given game. If you like the limited but powerful combination of Japanese RPGs, poker and blackjack, then you should definitely give Casino Kid a try. It's not a full casino experience, but it does tell the nice, simple story of a young man trying to make it big depending on how well you play.
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