Real Pool

Even if you are not a pool player fan now, I guarantee that after playing this game you will be! This is one of those rare games that keeps you so involved that hours go by in seemingly minutes. You can feel the sweat on the brow as you line up that shot, gauging your distance and path. You know the shot is a piece of cake, as you have your chickens (or balls) in a row so all you have to do is shoot...or is it?

The game gives you several options from the popular and well known 8-Ball to a game, which I had never played before but loved, Rotation. I have to admit here that my pool playing virtual or real time was limited to about 40 minutes. This game though provides so much in the help column that before I was through with my first game, I felt like I could be the next Minnesota Fats! This to me says a lot about a game, as many of us who are first timers when it comes to a certain genre games, are looking for a game which gives us something more than a book of instructions with a “good luck” thrown in at the end.

If you are a pool shark then jump into the game! On the other hand, if you are a newbie like myself I would suggest starting with the practice round. It doesn’t take long before you get the hang of the game and it gives you that boost of confidence when you find yourself playing tourney style. One thing I also liked about this option is that it makes the shots challenging enough to really get the hang of the game itself.

An option of gameplay is Puzzles. This entails 25 different table shapes with 40 different puzzles. These puzzles can range from simple to expert although I found that even the simplest one took a lot of skill and effort to master. Each puzzle is different in how it can be solved, which makes it all the more challenging. I also enjoyed the fact that no one puzzle was identical to another. The skill you pick up when playing this way will become invaluable when you decide to t play opponents.   Make sure you check out the Power level gauge. I found this a big help when trying to decide how to make several plays. It gives you the perfect edge to knowing just how hard or light to make that shot!

This is one of those games that was made for beginners to experts gives each player the same level of respect and assumption of intelligence. It never plays down to you but encourages you to keep honing your skill even if your skill is like mine, just starting! This is one of those games which Playstation was made for and a game which in my opinion worth every cent!  

Install: N/A
Just a word here  about the game. You need an 8 MB Memory card to save the game played.

Gameplay: 8.0
Gameplay on this is a lot of skill and a little luck. The great thing about this game is that it gives you plenty of choices to practice which so that your skill becomes finely tuned. No matter what game you choose to go with, it will give you plenty of challenge and plenty of help to meet that challenge. One thing you are going to love is the vibrating action your joystick gives off when your pool cue comes into contact with the ball!

Graphics: 8.5
This is one of those games where the Playstation struts its stuff! The green on the tables makes the word Emerald an understatement. You can almost feel the velvet touch by looking at it! The balls themselves are bright and bold and so well defined that you can see the shine of reflection in each and every one. It is the tables themselves though that makes this a true Playstation game. The different shaped tables are something you just have to see!    

Sound: 8.9
Good clear sound with some jukebox tunes to get the feel of a real Pool Hall.

Difficulty: 8.5
I like the fact that no matter what game you select, it will offer you a unique challenge. You get as much gameplay with a game of 8 Ball as you do with some practice sections. None are so challenging that you can’t win them, but never too easy that you just want to stop playing. Even keeled all the way through.

Concept: 8.5
The concept of Pool is not new but somehow after playing this game you have the feeling that you have just discovered something that has never been out before. That is something that all of us who play games with similar play are looking for. Whether it is the tips you can get or just the fact that it plays so real, there is something very unique about this Pool game and it puts in the category of have to see, have to try.

Multiplayer: 8.5
This game can be enjoyed as much as playing alone as with another player. After a few rounds of practice though, an opponent can give a whole new challenge to the game.

Overall: 8.6
This is one of those games which although requires some luck, requires a lot of skill. You know when you close in on that shot, line it up, and draw back on the cue, that whether it comes together or not depends on how good you are and that feeling of “yes!” lets you know you that playing just doesn’t get any better than this!