Pool Paradise

Pool Paradise
PAL region cover art for GameCube
Developer(s) Awesome Developments
Publisher(s) Ignition Entertainment
Composer(s) Tom Davies
Platform(s) GameCube, PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows
Release
  • GameCube:
    • PAL: 15 March 2004
    • NA: 30 June 2004
  • PlayStation 2 and Windows:
    • PAL: 2 April 2004
    • NA: 13 July 2004
  • Pool Paradise: International Edition, PlayStation 2:
    • PAL: 7 July 2006
Genre(s) Sports
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer (2 players)

Pool Paradise is a 2004 pocket billiards video game, developed by Awesome Developments, and published by Ignition Entertainment, released for the GameCube, Microsoft Windows, and PlayStation 2. The game is the fourth game to be endorsed by professional snooker and pool player, Jimmy White.

Overview

Archer Maclean's Pool Paradise, or simply Pool Paradise, was released on 15 March 2004 in Europe and on 30 June 2004 in North America for the GameCube. It was released 2 April 2004 in Europe and 13 July 2004 in North America on PC and PlayStation 2. It was also slated for release in Xbox format, but was cancelled.[1]

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[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] Unlike previous games endorsed by Jimmy White; in Pool Paradise, white is a playable character; and is the best player in game.[5]

International edition

The game was re-released in 2006 under the new title Pool Paradise: International Edition, only in Europe for the PlayStation 2.[6]

Reception

The game received reasonably positive reviews, with review aggregator website metacritic scoring the game 77/100.[3] 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". [7] However, PlayStation: The Official Magazine (US edition) scored the game just 60%.[8] 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."[9] 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."[9] However, they only scored the game a 7.9.[9]

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.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Pool Paradise Info". GameFAQs. Retrieved 2006-07-20.
  2. ↑ "Pool Paradise Company Line". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2006.
  3. 1 2 "Pool Paradise for PlayStation 2". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Pool Paradise dated for UK release". GameSpot. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "Pool Paradise Review for PS2". GameFAQs. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Pool Paradise: International Edition". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2006.
  7. ↑ "Let's Play: Paradise Pool". BBC Fun and Games. British Broadcasting Corporation. 27 May 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "Pool Paradise Review". PlayStation: The Official Magazine (US ed.): 93. 2004-08-03.
  9. 1 2 3 "Pool Paradise Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "Pool Paradise Review". IGN. 4 July 2004. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.