Sometimes a title is just so incredibly detailed and over the top (in a good way) that one’s jaw simply drops open. Such is the case with ‘21 Pro’, ostensibly a version of ‘Blackjack’ (also known as ‘Pontoon’ or just ‘21′). You’d think that it’s just about getting to 21 and you’ll already have mastered ‘Hit’ and ‘Stand’, but what about ‘Double down after Split’? What about ‘Dealer hits Soft 17′? 21 Pro is all about the subtleties in what you thought was a simple game.
Issued both as a commercial title and as an ad-supported game, 21 Pro is of extremely high quality. Not only are the main game and set up screen done to a sumptuous standard, the opponent AI is also excellent – as you’d expect from a computer managing a game of the ‘relative’ simplicity of Blackjack. I say ‘relative’ because, as a mere human, the variety of rule variations and strategies are somewhat overwhelming. The ‘Pro’ bit in the name is very accurate, with options to change the number of card decks in the ’shoe’ and with a card counting system already in place and available for showing on-screen if needed – this would make a great tool for practising on before hitting the real casino!
The graphics are excellent throughout, from the card faces to the way the card shoe gradually decreases in size right down to the informational screens (e.g. the game statistics breakdown). In addition to the wealth of options, I liked the way all the help and explanation screens are contained within the application (rather than being links to web-hosted pages), meaning that you don’t have to exit the game and then restart later. Which is just as well, as game state isn’t kept, the only real downside that stopped this game getting five stars,
Adverts (in the ad-supported version) are handled by a side-scrolling panel in the game’s main menu and then a couple of full-screen, interstitial teaser graphics, but once into the game there are no interruptions. It’s an excellent system and well balanced, provided you have an Internet connection working – the ads are served by this – but it goes without saying that if you play the game a lot then you can just plump up the few dollars for the ad-less version.
Arguably the best Blackjack game on the iPhone platform and definitely the most comprehensive in terms of rule variations and training capabilities, 21 Pro is an absolute must. The ad-supported version provides a way to get used to the full game without dipping into your pocket too, sweetening the deal further. Just grab it and enjoy.
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