Hey gang, Valkor here. There are two places I enjoy visiting when it comes to casino gambling – Las Vegas and Atlantic City, showing greater love to Vegas more so than the latter. And anytime I pay a visit to either destination, I’m hitting up the blackjack tables. I’ll admit, I’m crazy for the game. I’ve played through many different versions of it too, but it's nothing quite like what came across my desk recently – Super BlackJack Battle II Turbo Edition: The Card Warriors. And with this title, I was expecting oh so much more. But I ended up feeling… well… read on.
"Super BlackJack Battle II Turbo Edition" is simply blackjack, but with a Street Fighter 2-esque theme to it. And you’ll notice this right from the opening that features one of the card players performing a similar movement as Ryu from Street Fighter II. And the similarities don’t end there as you’re treated to gorgeous backdrops, and an eclectic batch of card players from around the world – ten in total, with two additional that can be unlocked. They’re all being gathered for the ultimate game of blackjack, where there can only be one champion above all else. Each player comes with a winning/losing end piece of dialogue as well as a unique ending.
Super BlackJack Battle II Turbo, at its core, is just a simple blackjack game; essentially, while it’s the players versus the dealer, it’s really all about you versus the other player. You’re given $1000 to start and the first to drop to zero on or before ten rounds are up, is outta there! All of the standard moves are here to help you boost your gains such as split and double down as well as insurance when the dealer draws an ace. And if you’re familiar with basic blackjack strategy (stay on 6 and under, double down on 11, never split tens, never buy insurance etc), you’ll be in good hands and you’ll probably get to the end of the game with the quickness. And even if you’re new to the experience, you’re in for a fun time as there’s no time limit to rush you so you can take your time before you perform your next move. It might seem overwhelming at first because of the theme, but its simple blackjack, really with nothing special added.
And after you’re done playing against the AI, you can move on to playing online with real players. I can’t really get into it as any time I’ve tried playing online with other players, there wasn’t anyone around – on either the vs. or global servers! So, I’ll keep my breakdown mainly towards the main game. And maybe I’ll update the article when I’m able to play online.
The Good:
Ultimately, Super BlackJack Battle II Turbo Edition is a pretty straightforward blackjack title; there are no gimmicks, no crazy moves, nothing other than its “Street Fighter II” theme that makes it stand out amongst the dozens of blackjack titles out on the market. The play mechanics are simple and the graphics are pleasing to the eyes, especially with the bit of animation in the background (I’ll never get tired of the bullfighter in Spain). And that’s an added bonus because there are no time limits; you can truly appreciate the level of detail in each backdrop you come across. There’s a lot to like about “Super BlackJack Battle II Turbo Edition”, and while I can enjoy the game on any given platform, this was definitely a unique and fun experience.
The Bad:
In the end, Super BlackJack Battle II Turbo Edition is just blackjack and nothing more. I was really looking forward to this one, because I thought it would add in some arcade gimmicks, or lots of fun stuff to perform and do. But it doesn’t do enough to separate itself from other blackjack titles. And it’s a shame because there’s so much that could have been done. And as far as casino gaming with a twist goes, I’d rather dip back into “Battle Slots”; at least with that title, you get the pleasure of fun RPG.
The Ugly:
N/A
Super BlackJack II Turbo Edition: The Card Warriors is available now on STEAM, with a console release to eventually follow. And if you’re a fan of Street Fighter II and blackjack, then you’re in for a good time with this fun mash-up. But other than its appearance, there really isn’t much else. I’ll update my score when I’ve had a chance at the multiplayer, but for now, I’m gonna meet Super BlackJack II Turbo halfway with a 2.5 out of TOV 5 stars.
