The most important thing to get right in a game that revolves around pool is by far the controls. They need to feel just right for the game to be entertaining. Hustle Kings nails this, but there are some serious quibbles regarding the rest of the game.
Hustle Kings is largely online, with a massive online community playing each day. There is a single player option included, but it's rather barebones and aggravating. The reason behind this is because the game isn't really meant for solo play, so very little effort went into the single player experience, which is a shame. Not only is it boring, but your AI controlled opponents have completely random behaviour. I lost to my first opponent over ten times, even though he was an easy level, but I was able to defeat my next opponent on my first try. It makes zero sense. Sometimes it's possible for the AI to beat you without letting you take a single shot. It may be realistic in some cases, but most of the time it's highly irritating. Online, the game plays a lot better, because you're up against real people this time around. Matches are usually addictive and delectable partially thanks to the matchmaking between each session, making each game fair. You can even talk to people while playing, but this is limited to pre made messages, and there is no microphone support sadly.
The main focus of the game isn't exactly the visuals, but you can't help but stare at them endlessly. Every venue you play in looks surprisingly detailed, complete with exotic looking backdrops and dynamic lighting. Even small things like the way the cue ball looks, and the cue itself look realistic. As I mentioned before, Hustle Kings successfully recreate the feeling of the real life sport with the controls, and it's no lie. Moving your cue back is accurate enough and so is every slight movement. It's never under or over sensitive. There is a good sense of power behind every shot, and whenever your cue ball strikes against the other balls, it's a satisfying moment. Furthermore, adjusting the camera angle as well as brushing the top of your cue always reckons up naturalness within the game. There will be times when the controls can be overwhelming at times, however these can be worked around, and they are perfect when they do work.
Although it has an unparalleled method of play, sometimes playing the game is just too boring, You'll tire of the single player not long after starting it. As for the online multiplayer, you'll enjoy that a heck of a lot more, although it can also start to get repetitive, but not nearly as much. You're limited to the same dreary characters if you stick with the samey offline, but with online, you play some one different almost every time. The killing blow to the game is the 'free to play' model. Yes, I'm sure every free to play game charges you money at one point or another, but it's not required as much or at all in some of the games. In this though, it's almost definite if customization is your kind of thing. Unfortunately, that certainly is my kind of thing. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't consider wasting money on virtual balls and cosmetics. Buying these things simply isn't good for the industry, especially at a time like this, with all the free to play games taking over each and every console on the market. There aren't many examples of DLC that's worth buying right now, and this doesn't qualify as that.
Hustle Kings implements a smooth way to play, but not much else. Graphics look stunning, but when was the last time visuals redeemed a game? The bulk of the gameplay is satisfying, but not for too long, and the buyable extras basically steal real money. Nothing is really worth buying. The game is worth playing because it's a free game, but if it came with a price tag, it would miss the mark by a mile.