Developer: Telltale Games
Publisher: Telltale Games
Genre: Card Game
Platforms: Microsoft Windows / Mac OS X / Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3
Released: April 26, 2013
Website: www.telltalegames.com/pokernight2

It’s always fun to see characters from other games do a crossover and interact with each other in an environment that is fantastically crazy and addictively fun.

After taking a shot at a more casual approach to the concept that was infused with plenty of witty humour, Telltale Games has once again crafted a gem in the form of Poker Night 2, a card game that brings together characters from different franchises for another round of high-stakes comedy. As in the last game, you compete in a series of poker games with up to four different individuals to take home the jackpot.

Characters making their way to the table this time are peppy detective Sam (from the Sam & Max games), tough guy Brock Samson (from Venture Bros.), clerk-turned-undead killer Ash Williams (from Evil Dead) and the delightfully quirky Claptrap robot (from Borderlands). The colourful cast is rounded off by everyone’s favourite homicidal robot GLaDOS (from Portal), and each one of them brings some excellent interactions to the game.

Poker Night 2 gets the atmosphere just right, as your virtual friends on the screen have some really funny dialogue and personalities that will make you chuckle as you attempt to clear them all of their chips and claim victory. If you haven’t played a poker game before or don’t know any of the characters, there’s no reason to fret; the game gives you instructions on how to play through a simple tutorial for both its styles (Texas Hold’em & Omaha), and the characters are remarkably fleshed out. You’ll often catch Claptrap jubilantly inviting everyone over to Pandora, Ash recounting his experiences with his girlfriend, and Sam’s buddy Max will usually bounce around the area ready to offer some advice to his friend.

The gameplay is surprisingly intense and addictive. Players will react smartly and are much harder to read than the original game, and may often trick you into thinking they have a weak hand or are bluffing their way through. It’s this unpredictability that adds to the tension and ultimately creates a great game. Finally, the game has plenty of unlockables to obtain, most notably the extra skins for Borderlands 2, and includes tournaments with big prizes to win, which adds more of an incentive to sit down for another hand.

In conclusion, Poker Night 2 is a delightfully fun card game that you can come to after a hard day of work and enjoy with its hilarious dialogue, wonderfully crafted characters and enjoyable gameplay. Whether you’re a die-hard poker fan or just looking to kill time with a budget title, Poker Night 2 is well worth your time.