Pool Paradise does what it's supposed to do--play a good game of pool.
User Rating: 7.9 | Pool Paradise GC
Pool Paradise Maybe more like Pool Beach Vacation Graphics (12.5%) - 6 Controls (15%) - 7.5 Variety (25%) - 8 Replay (25%) - 8.5 Sound (7.5%) - 7.5 Depth (15%) - 9 OVERALL - 7.91 Graphics - 6 There really isn't anything to look at here. The tables look like tables, the pool balls look like pool balls and there is a bit of a backdrop. You only see the players hands and the cue, but that's reasonable to assume since it would be a hassle to get the proper animation of a character hitting the ball from across the table. Controls - 7.5 The controls work although it may take a bit to learn everything. A helpful little thing is that it shows the ball you are supposed to hit in the games that require a particular ball under your picture. It would have been nice if there was a precision button to slow down the movement of the cue a little more to be more easily precise, but it still works well as it is. Variety - 8 Pool Paradise includes all the traditional games you'd expect plus a few extras such as Killer (my personal favourite along with 9-ball). There is a 1-2 player darts game you can unlock but is too easy to hit what you're aiming at with much practice. Along with the darts is a skeeball game and a cannon game, but neither are very interesting and I'd played each only once. Some oddly shaped tables add some variety to the usual games, but they aren't much use because they're smaller than the traditional table and makes the game easier rather than making the shots trickier. You can also unlock different cues and table designs, and some gadgets to help you aim. Replay - 8.5 The variety doesn't really add anything to the replay, but the actual game of pool has proper physics and plays well. A snag is that you can only play with 2 players, but it's still plenty of fun multiplayer. The single-player is still fun, except the pacing is too slow with no way to speed it up--you have to wait for the computer to saunder over into position and move his cue back and forth 3 times before hitting the ball. This would probably be more annoying if I couldn't switch over to watch a little TV during the AI's turn. Despite the AI speed issues, I still very much enjoy the game. Sound - 7.5 The music is soft and tropical, giving a little ambience to the tropical pool scene. The songs tend to blend into the background and not be very annoying, which I think is a good thing for game music. Depth - 9 I find the ability to hit the ball into the air just infinitely fun. The amount of spin seems a bit more than what's realistic, but it actually adds to the depth of play. Overall - 7.91 Pool Paradise does what it's supposed to do--play a good game of pool. The developers gave some extras a shot, but those don't really pan-out to anything interesting, but that's much better than focussing on plenty of content and not getting the main game right.
