We only get one SNES game for March's Switch Online emulator additions. BACKGROUND:
I've actually played a bit of pool (or billiards, if that's what you want to call it) before. My parents used to take me to a nearby place when they'd hang out with their friends, and I learned how to play 8-ball just by watching them play. Good times. I haven't played much at all since those days, and no, I'm not any good. As far as billiards video games go, the only one I remember playing is the one on Wii Play. That was pretty fun. While I had little doubt that somebody made a pool game for the Super Nintendo back in the day, I can't say I've heard of any of them. SUMMARY: Side Pocket is a sports game where the main game mode is a variation of straight pool, a simple game where all you have to do is pocket as many billiard balls as you can without committing a foul. In single player, all you have to do is reach a certain score threshold to keep playing, and you earn points by pocketing balls (and get bonuses for consecutive pots and pocketing balls in numeric order). Each level has a different number of balls, which keeps things somewhat fresh. Controls are straightforward, with your traditional power meter to determine the strength of your shot, as well as the helpful ability to adjust your shot angle infinitesimally (allowing for a decent level of precision). Most notable is the ability to change which part of the ball you hit with your cue, allowing you to make impressive, curved shots and even perform cool tricks like jump shots. This game adds a few gimmicks, like the occasional highlighted pocket that gives you bonus points if you sink a ball into it on that turn, and a superpowered ball that turns the cue ball into a missile if you make contact. I was pleasantly surprised by these mechanics since pretty much everything else about this game leans towards realism. You only have a set number of lives in single player, and you lose a life every time you scratch or make a shot that doesn't result in a ball going into a pocket. Run out, and it's game over. There are opportunities to get extra lives in between levels, though I can't say that they're easy. Often, you're put into challenge levels between games, where the objective is to make seemingly impossible trick shots in one move. These include potting a ball into a specific pocket, weaving past wine glasses to make a shot, or managing to pocket multiple balls in one go. These are quite challenging to clear, but it's satisfying as hell if you manage to pull it off. What's cool is that you can play any of these individual challenges at your leisure via a separate game mode. There are a couple of two-player modes that I didn't get to try out. The first is simply a two-player variation of the main mode, while the other is two-player 9-ball (a pool game where you have to pocket the balls in numeric order). I wish 9-ball had a single player mode, and I also wish 8-ball were present in any capacity. I was startled by how great the graphics were. While the main gameplay looks fine, the other visuals like the people and backgrounds were impressively detailed. It was like I was looking at an arcade instead of a Super Nintendo game. VERDICT: While it doesn't have single player 8-ball or 9-ball, Side Pocket was still a solid pool experience for me. It plays quite well overall, and I really enjoyed the trick shot levels (even though I suck at them). I still prefer playing the real thing, but this isn't a terrible substitute. There are probably better pool game offerings out there on modern hardware, so it might be best to look those up if you want 8-ball action like I do. If you want to try straight pool (or a version of it, anyway) in video game form, or are interested in the trick shot mode, I'd give this game a go. - end -
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June 2024
Derryck
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