AV Poker (Japan)
About AV Poker (Japan)
AV Poker is a Japanese adult video poker game released for the NEC TurboGrafx-16 (PC Engine) in the early 1990s. It was published by Nihon Bussan and is part of a small but notable library of adult-themed titles on the platform. The game never saw an official release outside Japan, making it a curiosity for collectors and fans of the system's eclectic catalog.
The core gameplay revolves around five-card draw poker. You place a bet, receive five cards, and can hold or discard any of them before drawing new ones. The goal is to build a stronger hand (pair, two pair, three of a kind, etc.) to win credits. Winning hands reward you with a short animated or still adult image, which is the main draw - pun intended - for the game. The interface uses simple menu navigation and button presses to select cards and confirm actions.
For a modern player, AV Poker is a niche artifact that shows how developers experimented with adult content on home consoles before widespread regulation. Its poker mechanics are standard, and the adult imagery is tame by today's standards, but it offers a glimpse into the PC Engine's diverse software library. If you enjoy retro gambling games or are curious about Japanese HuCard oddities, it's worth a quick session - but don't expect deep strategy or polish.
How to Play AV Poker (Japan) Online
Getting Started
When you start AV Poker, you'll see a title screen with Japanese text. Press Start to enter the game. The main screen shows your credit balance at the top and a hand of five cards. Use the D-Pad to highlight each card, then press the confirm button (A/X by default) to hold or release it. Once you've selected which cards to keep, choose the "Draw" button (usually the B button) to replace the discarded cards.
After the draw, the game checks your hand against a payout table displayed on screen. Winning hands add credits to your balance, while losing hands cost you your bet. After each round, you'll see an adult image if you won - these are the reward for a strong hand. The game continues until you quit or run out of credits. There is no save function, so play in a single sitting.
The menus and prompts are entirely in Japanese, but the poker mechanics are straightforward. The D-pad moves a cursor over card positions, and the confirm/cancel buttons are clearly mapped. Watch the payout table (it uses standard English poker hand names) to know your winning combinations. Lower your bet using the D-pad left/right if you want to stretch your credits.
AV Poker (Japan) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: I button
- S: II button
- Enter: Run / Start
- V: Select
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