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.

Pool Paradise
Developer(s)Awesome Developments
Publisher(s)Ignition Entertainment
Director(s)Archer Maclean
Programmer(s)Ed Bradley
Fred O'Rourke
Artist(s)Drew Northcott
Composer(s)Tom Davies
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, GameCube
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows
  • EU: 2 April 2004
  • NA: April 2004
PlayStation 2
  • EU: 2 April 2004
  • NA: 15 June 2004
GameCube
  • EU: 7 May 2004
  • NA: 28 June 2004
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

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[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] Unlike previous games endorsed by Jimmy White; in Pool Paradise, white is a playable character; and is the best player in game.[4]

International edition

The game was re-released in 2006 under the new title Pool Paradise: International Edition, only in Europe for the PlayStation 2.[5]

Reception
Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic77/100 (PS2)[2]
76/100 (NGC)[6]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Edge8/10
Eurogamer8/10[7]
Game Informer6/10
GameSpot7.9/10[8]
IGN7.6/10[9]

The game received positive reviews. Review aggregator website Metacritic gave it 77/100.[2] 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".[10] However, PlayStation: The Official Magazine (US edition) scored the game just 60%.[11] 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."[8] 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."[8] However, they only scored the game a 7.9.[8]

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.[9]

References
  1. "Pool Paradise Company Line". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2006.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  2. "Pool Paradise for PlayStation 2". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  3. "Pool Paradise dated for UK release". GameSpot. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  4. "Pool Paradise Review for PS2". GameFAQs. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  5. "Pool Paradise: International Edition". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2006.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  6. https://www.metacritic.com/game/gamecube/pool-paradise
  7. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_poolparadise_ps2
  8. "Pool Paradise Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  9. "Pool Paradise Review". IGN. 4 July 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  10. "Let's Play: Paradise Pool". BBC Fun and Games. British Broadcasting Corporation. 27 May 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  11. "Pool Paradise Review". PlayStation: The Official Magazine (US ed.): 93. 3 August 2004.
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