King of Casino
System: TG-16
Release Date: March 1990
Developer: Algorithm Institute
Publisher: NEC
Genre: Casino
Try to make a fortune to become the King of Casino. The goal is to walk out of town with $10 million on a starting nest egg of $10,000. Make your way through 15 different casinos with some combination of blackjack, poker, roulette, slots, and keno to achieve your dream.
After starting in your hotel, you can move to one of the many casinos in town. They each have a variety of games with different minimums and maximums. Poker is of the 5 card draw variety. I don’t see why they didn’t just do video poker at this point. You have to have 2 pair or better to win. Blackjack deals you one card before you make your bet. Presumably, this gives you an edge, but I wasn’t in the state of mind to bend it to my will.
Slots are of the three line variety. Out of 50 plus pulls, I hit something other than a cherry or two, once (19:15). I did even worse on roulette. I need to make smarter covers on my number, but at least didn’t get hit by the zeroes. Keno ladies can walk up to you while playing other games, unless you seek the game out. I couldn’t hit on 2, 11, and 47, or my 80s championship Pistons. Instead, I left the casino multiple times as a big loser.
Graphics: 1.5
The graphics are fine. I have no complaints.
Sound: 1.5
The music is totally forgettable.
Gameplay: 1.5
Each game works properly, but the variety is poor.
Difficulty: 1.0
It’s all luck of the draw. There really isn’t any skill involved.
Fun Factor: 1.0
I lost time after time and had about as much fun as I do losing at the casino in real life.
Overall Grade: 1.3
King of Casino earns a D+. It’s another bare bones casino game that I can’t give a glowing recommendation to.