Hoyle Table Games 2004 - PC

In what has become something of a tradition for Vivendi, once a year a series of Hoyle Casino, Table and Card games are unleashed to a nation of virtual gamblers. Each set of games play host to a familiar variety of addictive and well known games whilst bringing with them some cunning computer opponents and some new play elements. And in one of Vivendi's least surprising moves of 2004, the company has released Hoyle Table Games 2004.

Yet another PC exclusive, Table Games 2004 is a run-of-the-mill Hoyle offering, but it's also one of the most diverse. And this is because the phrase "table-top" refers to absolutely anything that can be played atop a table. There are 18 games in all, which range from the popular sport of pool to the lesser known board game Ludo. There are in-game tutorials at hand for those struggling with the rules of certain games, and players can even earn Hoyle Bucks by winning games in order to purchase extra content such as music. There's a new BackTalk feature for those who like to blow off steam during a tense moment, and there are adjustable skill levels and game variations to suit all players.

So another year, another Hoyle game. True, but as with most series updates, Hoyle Table Games 2004 is the best yet. Until 2005, then... more