8-Ball Pool

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: 1995
• Genre: Sports
• Style: Billiards
• Similar Games: Virtual Pool [DOS] (IBM PC Compatible), Virtual Pool (IBM PC Compatible), Virtual Pool (Macintosh), Virtual On: Cyber Troopers Netlink Edition (Sega Saturn), Virtual Pool (PlayStation), Championship Pool (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), Championship Pool (Sega Genesis), Championship Pool (Nintendo Entertainment System), Championship Pool (Game Boy), Championship Pool (IBM PC Compatible)

Game Description

8-Ball Pool from Susil Chandra is a simulation of the popular billiard game, Eight Ball. The object of the game is to sink seven billiard balls and then the "8" ball before your opponent can do the same.

There are 15 balls in a standard billiards rack. Balls numbered "1" through "7" are called "solids" because the entire ball is a particular color with a number enclosed in a white circle. Balls numbered "9" through "15" are called "stripes" because the balls are white with a band of color around their circumference. The "8" ball (though technically a solid) is considered neutral.

The first player to sink a ball must then attempt to sink all similar balls and then the 8-ball. For example, if player one sinks the "2" ball (a solid), she must then sink all solids before making an attempt to sink the 8-ball. Her opponent, by default, will attempt to sink all stripes before making an attempt on the 8-ball. The first player to sink all of their balls and then the 8-ball is the winner.

Players hold the left mouse key and move a target to line up shots. They then must set the shot velocity (1-40). To shoot, the players depress the right mouse button.

There are three skill levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert. Players can play against human or computer opponents.

Roots & Influences

This game is inspired by the popular billiards game of "8 Ball." It's a simple game that nearly anyone can play on a standard billiards table. This game was probably inspired by other popular pool games, but does not appear to have copied any of them.

Review: Overall

8-Ball Pool from Susil Chandra is a fairly basic and straightforward simulation of the popular billiards game of the same name. When I first played this game, I thought that it was fairly weak. However, after a few play sessions, I realized that this simple game could actually help the games of pool I play in the real world. When you play 8- Ball Pool on your desktop (or laptop), you begin to understand a lot of the tricks and angles that can help you when you are shooting pool in your favorite hall.

The graphics are very simple and almost crude. You cannot see the numbers on the billiard balls, but there is a substantial difference between the solids and the stripes, so the numbers are not really necessary. The pool table is not textured and you get a very basic top-down view of the playing surface. There are no big-name billiards stars and not even a pool cue. While the graphics are very simple, they get the job done. A game does not always have to be flashy to be good.

The sound in 8-Ball Pool is its biggest weakness. It is annoying. From the hokey little jingle that opens up every game, to the sound of the balls hitting and banking, it is obvious that the developers of 8-Ball Pool did not spend a lot of time working on the sound. Fortunately, the sound can be easily turned off. I recommend that mode of play.

Game play is superb. Once you play a few games of 8-Ball Pool, you will probably be addicted and will find it a permanent home on your desktop or games folder. Players who play this game a lot will learn quite a bit about the angles and shot speeds to use when the play games in bars and pool halls. The top-down view allows players to understand how the ball travels and how the correct angle can sink nearly any shot. Players also learn that speed can kill in a game of pool. I used to be the kind of player who pushed every shot as fast as it could go. Now, I know better.

Apart from the sound, there is one other frustrating aspect of 8-Ball Pool: the computer opponent. Even on the Beginner level, the computer player is a virtual Minnesota Fats. If you do not make the easy shots, the computer will beat you every time. Watch out for that.

Overall, 8-Ball Pool is a small, but excellent, billiards game. Play it a few times and try to walk away. I will bet that you can't.

Review: Enjoyment

Very fun

Review: Graphics

Simple, but effective

Review: Sound

Annoying

Review: Replay Value

Very addictive

Review: Documentation

adequate

Production Credits