The game of pool has been a hard one to capture at home, only because it's hard to recapture the feeling of a pool stick in your hands into a simple controller.
Still, you can't blame companies for not coming up with fun games- from Data East's Side Pocket games on the NES and 16-bit systems to Interplay's well-produced Virtual Pool series, the feeling of pool has come through pretty well. Now, pool has since moved on to 128-bit, with a couple of average Playstation 2 pool games, Real Pool and Q-Ball Billiards Master arriving on shelves. But what about the Dreamcast? Not to worry, gamers, the people behind the sharp casino sim Hoyle Casino, Sierra Sports, has you covered with Maximum Pool.
Based on the PC game of the same name, Maximum Pool seems simplistic in terms of presentation, but at least comes through with a pool-playing experience that should be enjoyed by those of you looking to sink the 9. And, hey, it's got online multiplayer options, how bad can it be?
Here's the breakdown below...
Visuals:: Now, Sierra Sports has taken an average road porting the game as a whole from PC to Dreamcast, although there are touches that show they've truly taken their time to make sure the game is just as polished. The intro menus are generic at best, but get the job done, allowing you to choose your game and options with ease.
The pool rooms themselves seem also generic when compared to the atmosphere seen in Interplay's Virtual Pool games (there's the carpeted floor, but no bar or anything, just big, deep black space in the background), but the tables are authentically captured, and the balls look just as shiny and well-replicated as the real thing. You can change camera perspectives easily, from a behind-the-ball view to an overview table view that will give you the ability to line up your shots better.
The shot indicator also plays well here, not giving away the shot but still giving you enough of a lead-on to sink crucial balls. If I have any real complaints about the game, it would be the cheesy FMV that comes into play when you're playing against computer opponents. You play against two girls, two guys, or a dog named Buddy (HOT DOG!), and each one reacts to the hits or misses you make. The video could've looked a bit better here, as it looks lifted straight from the PC. But I digress. As simple as some of the game may look, at least it hasn't been broken in terms of the real pool experience in its translation to Dreamcast.
Audio:: Not much here, I'm afraid. The music that's present tries to represent a real pool room experience, but, like Interplay's Virtual Pool tunes collection, it sounds out of place and not really authentic enough. Fortunately, there is an option to shut it off if you feel like it. The sound effects are on the money, with the "clack clack" of balls perfectly captured and the pool stick sounding like, well, a pool stick. You might get tired of your CPU opponents ragging you about "impossible shots", but they can be shut off as well. Overall, the sound options are good, but could've been better.
Gameplay/Control:: The thing about making a video game based off of pool is that you want the game to retain the same amount of challenge as the real thing, while remaining as entertaining as it can possibly be. Fortunately, Maximum Pool does this with some finely-tuned gameplay that allows you to line up shots with no problem and even gives you the option of viewing shots from different angles. The execution of the shot itself is smart, as you can aim by pressing left and right on the digital pad, and then you judge power by pressing down on the digital pad. To release the shot, press A. Just don't get too overpowering...you don't want balls flying everywhere. You'll be sinking shots in no time with this game's great interface, even with the likes of the smart computer AI whipping you every chance it can. There's a good challenge here, which you can adjust from "Novice" to "Expert" if you wish. Nice job.
Extras:: Surprisingly quite a few, for a pool game. First off, there's the option to play against DC and PC owners with SegaNet, and the online play is very good, although PC owners have an advantage with quicker shot set-ups. Bah. If that's not your speed, you can challenge up to three of your friends in some wild multiplayer games, such as 8-ball, 9-ball, snooker, and rotation, among others. There's also a slew of some wild tables to earn once you beat the computer opponents, giving the game more life than expected. Generally, there's a lot to do here, even if you know your pool pretty damn well.
Overall:: For a $30 title, Maximum Pool delivers a surprising amount of gameplay, even though most of its presentation is better preferred for the PC set. Don't be fooled- between the challenges and online play, you'll still find plenty to like here. And, really, what other pool game gives you the opportunity to lose a game to a DOG?! I thought so.
Score:: 5.0/10
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