Pool Paradise
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 |
Release | Windows, PlayStation 2 GameCube |
Genre(s) | Sports |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
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.
Overview[]
Players control a virtual pool player at a beach resort, with pool tables inside different huts. Players have to work their 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.[citation needed]
Reception[]
Aggregator | Score | ||
---|---|---|---|
GC | PC | PS2 | |
Metacritic | 76/100[20] | 76/100[21] | 77/100[3] |
Publication | Score | ||
---|---|---|---|
GC | PC | PS2 | |
Edge | N/A | N/A | 8/10[6] |
Eurogamer | N/A | N/A | 8/10[7] |
Game Informer | 6/10[8] | N/A | N/A |
GameSpot | 7.9/10[9] | N/A | 7.9/10[10] |
GameSpy | [11] | N/A | N/A |
GameZone | N/A | N/A | 7.9/10[12] |
IGN | 7.6/10[13] | N/A | 7.6/10[14] |
Nintendo Power | 2.5/5[15] | N/A | N/A |
OPM (US) | N/A | N/A | [16] |
PC Gamer (UK) | N/A | 78%[17] | N/A |
BBC Sport | 80%[18] | 80%[18] | 80%[18] |
The Sydney Morning Herald | N/A | N/A | [19] |
The game received "generally favourable reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][20][21] Alex Trickett of BBC Sport called the game "crisp, clean fun at a budget price"; however, he did call the game's soundtrack "uninspired". Alex Navarro of GameSpot enjoyed the European GameCube version months before it was released, stating in an early review, "Pool Paradise features a great gameplay design, as well as a ton of available pool games and side ventures."[9] He 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] GameSpot later named it the best GameCube game of April 2004,[22] and nominated it for the year-end "Best Alternative Sports Game" award.[23] GameSpy and Game Informer gave the same European GameCube version a mixed review, two months before it was released in Europe, and nearly three months before it was released Stateside.[8][11]
References[]
- ^ "Pool Paradise". Australian Classification Board. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "Pool Paradise Company Line". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. 26 April 2004. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Pool Paradise for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ Calvert, Justin (15 March 2004). "Pool Paradise dated for UK". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ evilmonkeyz (11 July 2005). "Pool Paradise Review for PS2". GameFAQs. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Edge staff (May 2004). "Pool Paradise (PS2)". Edge. No. 136. Future plc. p. 109.
- ^ Bramwell, Tom (5 May 2004). "Pool Paradise (PlayStation 2)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Pool Paradise (GC)". Game Informer. No. 133. GameStop. May 2004. p. 101.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Navarro, Alex (12 April 2004). "Pool Paradise Review (GC) [date mislabeled as "July 2, 2004"". Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ Navarro, Alex (2 July 2004). "Pool Paradise Review (PS2)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Hodgson, David (2 April 2004). "GameSpy: Pool Paradise (GCN)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 18 December 2005. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Bedigian, Louis (29 July 2004). "Pool Paradise - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 9 March 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Casamassina, Matt (6 July 2004). "Pool Paradise (GCN)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Casamassina, Matt (6 July 2004). "Pool Paradise (PS2)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ "Pool Paradise". Nintendo Power. Vol. 180. Nintendo of America. June 2004. p. 121.
- ^ "Pool Paradise". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 83. Ziff Davis. August 2004. p. 93.
- ^ "Pool Paradise". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. May 2004.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Trickett, Alex (27 May 2004). "Let's Play: Paradise Pool". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
- ^ Hill, Jason (7 August 2004). "'Pool Paradise' (PS2)". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Pool Paradise for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Pool Paradise for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- ^ Staff (3 May 2004). "GameSpot's Month in Review for April 2004". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 14 September 2004.
- ^ The GameSpot Editors (5 January 2005). "Best and Worst of 2004". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 7 March 2005.
External links[]
- 2004 video games
- Cancelled Xbox games
- Cue sports video games
- GameCube games
- PlayStation 2 games
- Video games developed in the United Kingdom
- Windows games
- Video games set on islands