Games Database
PlayStation
Sport: Pool
| Viewed: | 2D First-person / Third-person | Genre: | Sport: Pool |
| Arcade origin: | No | ||
| Developer: | Ask | Soft. Co.: | Ubisoft |
| Publishers: | Ubisoft
(GB) |
Released: | 28 Jul 2000
(GB) |
| Ratings: | 3+ |
Summary
For those of you who were big fans of Sunsoft’s last visit to the table, Pool Hustler, here’s a treat. A short dip in Pool Academy is all that you need to appreciate how well games of this ilk have improved over recent years. Let’s face it, if you are going to play what is essentially a pub game on your console, it had better be good. Thanks to the gameplay and the variety of modes on offer, Pool Academy is no let down.
In the basic games mode, there are four types of game to choose from – Nine-Ball, Bowlard, Rotation and Tidiwinks. Whether you are playing with friends or computer opponents, you are assessed in seven grades for your playing ability, according to the position you finish in, and the results of play against your opponents. To begin with, you have no assessment mark. If you clear a certain assessment level, a new computer character will become available to play with.
Pool Academy’s clincher is the Artistic mode. You can practice 40 different trick shots where you have to use special techniques such as masse and curve. Each time you clear a trick shot assignment, apart from grinning smugly to yourself, you get to watch a short movie of a professional pool player performing the next shot. Upon completion of these trick shots, Collection mode allows you to play back the movies at any time, just so you can gloat to your friends, and say ‘I did that!’
Supremely easy to pick up and play, and less whiffy than a night down at the boozer, Pool Academy is a great night in just waiting to happen. And with up to 8 players catered for, there’s none of that ‘winner stays on’ nonsense.
In the basic games mode, there are four types of game to choose from – Nine-Ball, Bowlard, Rotation and Tidiwinks. Whether you are playing with friends or computer opponents, you are assessed in seven grades for your playing ability, according to the position you finish in, and the results of play against your opponents. To begin with, you have no assessment mark. If you clear a certain assessment level, a new computer character will become available to play with.
Pool Academy’s clincher is the Artistic mode. You can practice 40 different trick shots where you have to use special techniques such as masse and curve. Each time you clear a trick shot assignment, apart from grinning smugly to yourself, you get to watch a short movie of a professional pool player performing the next shot. Upon completion of these trick shots, Collection mode allows you to play back the movies at any time, just so you can gloat to your friends, and say ‘I did that!’
Supremely easy to pick up and play, and less whiffy than a night down at the boozer, Pool Academy is a great night in just waiting to happen. And with up to 8 players catered for, there’s none of that ‘winner stays on’ nonsense.