AI needs work!
First of all, as far as the core of Thirteen goes, they definitely hit a home run with setting the many rules and variations of the game into one coherent options page. This lets you beautifully play that game the same way you used to in high school no matter where that was. That said, the AI is on one of the most RIDICULOUS scripts I have ever seen!
First: They work collectively to make you loose which, while challenging, is incredibly aggravating as you watch your Two of Diamonds get Chopd by Computer 1 when Computer 2 just played the Two of Hearts and had gotten off clean...
Furthermore: They have a very obnoxious tendency to "play high" meaning, for anyone who knows the game, that they, if looking at your pair of 3s, will sooner throw a pair of Qs than a pair of 6s, every time... And this gets incredibly aggravating when Computer 1 suicides his hand into yours in in this manner and then you have to pass while Computers 3 & 4 have a little party on the field and get rid of all their cards...
Finally: The Difficulty switch does nothing. All it changes is how "often" the computer makes an error for you to exploit, it does not benefit you in anyway. If I was playing against an amateur opponent, he would not know to stop my doubles burst by playing his highest double, yet the "Easy" AI has this complex rhythmically learned skill scripted.
Over all: It just leaves no room for player comfort in the midst of three very challenging opponents who are unitedly Kamikazeeing their hand into yourself playing at high skill levels...
Also: for the traditionalist players- The hands dealt are very Casino Royale style, if you remember the movie... It can be very aggravating when you lay down that bomb only to realize that not one, but two other computers have one also and the third computer has a four card chop... Very dramatic yet will never happen in a real game, get a better dealing system!
To Fix: Make the AI have a "selfish" system, make them want to win rather than make me loose. I am considered a champ at my college yet I still cant best a 5 game reign on easy, its getting to the point where I will only play a hand or two before these nuances become to much and I quit.
For less crazed players; its a great rendition of a really fun game! Lets pray to the maker that they will either fix the AI or add a multiplayer, or please both!
Sanhedrin about
Thirteen, v1.1.0