Pool Paradise


Pool Paradise is a 2004 pocket billiards video game, developed by Awesome Developments, and published by Ignition Entertainment, released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and GameCube. The game is the fourth game to be endorsed by professional snooker and pool player, Jimmy White.

Overview

The player controls a virtual pool player at a beach resort, with pool tables inside different huts. The player has to work his way up the tournament ladder in order to unlock features and complete the game.

Features

The game's features, according to Booners Interactive include 30 unique computer characters, with highly detailed hands, on an animated island with day and night cycles, and 8 virtual camera modes; 11 different game types and 5 modes of play, with 10 different tournament ladders, and 10 table sizes and shapes; and analog cueing, using a gamepad or a mouse. "Hidden features" throughout the game were also alluded to. As well as various pool and snooker games, beach darts, a coconut shy, skee-ball ramp, and the original Dropzone arcade game are all unlockable. Unlike previous games endorsed by Jimmy White; in Pool Paradise, white is a playable character; and is the best player in game.

International edition

The game was re-released in 2006 under the new title Pool Paradise: International Edition, only in Europe for the PlayStation 2.

Reception

The game received positive reviews. Review aggregator website Metacritic gave it 77/100. BBC Sport gave the game an 80% score, calling it "crisp, clean fun at a budget price", however, they did call the game's soundtrack "uninspired". However, scored the game just 60%. GameSpot enjoyed the GameCube version stating "Pool Paradise features a great gameplay design, as well as a ton of available pool games and side ventures." They also suggested the game was very strong on its own merits commenting "even if Pool Paradise weren't the only available pool game for the GameCube, it would still be a strong choice for any billiards fan." However, they only scored the game a 7.9.
IGN also enjoyed the game, citing the "accurate control, decent competitive artificial intelligence and usually spot-on physics"; but only scored the game a 7.6, stating: "What kept the game from a higher score are the oversights. They pool physics don't always react appropriately." They also noted some frame rate issues of the PS2 version.