Not a virtual success (Virtual Pool - Tournament Edition (Xbox))

Member Name: sympatic

Product:	Virtual Pool - Tournament Edition (Xbox)
Date:	18/12/06 (87 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some good gameplay

Disadvantages: Limited career mode.

There are a number of pool games on the market and this one is certainly not the worst one available however neither is it the best. It sits somewhere in the middle mainly because it does not offer enough variation or anything to really make it stand out from the crowd.

The main drawback with this game is that in career mode you only get to play your preferred version of pool from the 18 variations the game offers and this is decided when you create your player profile. If you want to switch games you have to set up a new profile and start over. In quick play mode you have access to all 18 versions as well as a trick shot competition.

In career mode you play across a number of locations in one off games for cash against a variety of opponents, as you progress the venues get better (you start off in a grimy garage bar) as does the standard of opponent.

The controls are pretty good with one notable exception and that is the left analogue control stick which controls shot direction and power and it is far too sensitive. On other pool games I have played you can usually reduce the sensitivity to refine your shots but this option is not available here which makes setting up the shot a bit frustrating and time consuming when it does not need to be. The movement of the balls is very realistic and reflects the real thing well. There is a good attention to detail, the better the club the shinier the balls and the table cloth is cleaner and of a better quality.

It is a shame that this game is let down by the career mode and the fact that you are\ restricted to one type of game from the outset, this is not a bad game but it does not compare well to the much better Pool Shark 2 which is a far superior game.

Summary: Very avaerage pool game.