Playability:
As explained earlier a video pool
game will only succeed if the developers get the physics correct. In
Pool Academy the pace of the ball certainly reacts according to the
strength of shot played. A full strength stroke will take an age to come
to rest, while the slightest tickle should struggle to run up against
the cloth. The cushions are lively and the table always plays fast. On
the downside I couldn't raise the cue ball off the table, so sadly jump
shots are out.
Unlike Jimmy White's Cueball 2 the table does seem to have depth giving
it a 3D appearance. This makes it slightly easier to judge the potting
angles, but I still cannot compare it to playing real pool because true
dimensions are impossible to replicate. This is where the view line
comes in useful indicating precisely where the cue ball will travel.
It's also great for playing off the side cushion, but is of little help
as to what will happen to it after striking the object balls. Still...
you don't want things too easy, do you?
Back to the front end. There is a trick shot mode delightfully named
Artistic Billiards where over 40 set-ups are available to play. Simply
follow the on screen example and then try to match the feat. Your
attempt is marked on a scoreboard and retained for posterity... or for
whatever purpose you see fitting. Should you successfully perform the
trick shot then 'real' video footage is shown of a 'real' pro performing
the shot. 'Real' good... huh? Maybe not!
Game modes cater for up to eight human players with numbers made up by
ten CPU characters. Now it's time to select the rules. There's standard
JP Nine Ball striking off into a diamond pack and scoring in
selected pockets. Rotation involves first potting the
lowest-numbered ball on the table. Then you aim at any ball that suits
you with the number being awarded in points. Bowlard's works in
a similar way to bowling. You get three throws in one innings and as
many innings in a game as you decide. Balls are continuously pocketed
until you miss. This takes you onto the second frame. Tidiwinks
is the final game mode. Except for the break, you have to use one of the
balls in your possession as the cue ball to pocket other balls starting
with the cue ball first.
So there you have it. Another pool game to choose from that offers
several modes of play. I must say that it does lack a decent tournament
or a knockout competition, but if you have a few friends around I
suppose you could make up your own.
Game
Options:
This is a 1 disk game for 1-8
Players. It is compatible with the standard (digital) joypad and the
analog stick controls of the dual shock joypad. Games can be saved via
memory card (1 block per save). |
