By Matt Carey
Video game iterations of pool have always been a hit and miss affair. I mean, pool is a staple diet for those that like to go and sink a few bevies with their mates on a Friday night, so when a digital representation is created it is always missing the beer and the banter. Ok, you could still drink a beer on your own and have a chat with the dog, but that is just sad. Without a social element, pool becomes a lesson in programming realistic physics more than anything else. So, Dark Energy Digital have tried to alleviate the problem with Inferno Pool.
To get it out of the way first, I should note that the bog-standard pool game-modes that you would expect are included, namely 8 and 9 ball. These are as basic as you would imagine and there is no real customisation. Well, apart from the obligatory aiming options. The actual playing of game is simple enough; the controls are easy to master and all the mathematical mumbo jumbo behind the scenes does what it should. So the ball moves properly, which is good.
WorthPlaying writes: "The game of billiards, or pool, as it is known to some, has had some decent representation in the video game world for quite some time. While it may not have as many games as something mainstream like tennis, football or basketball, there have been a few pool games that have graced just about every big system out there. This is no different for the Xbox 360 which, at around the time of the system launch, had a pool game on the Xbox Live Arcade service called Bankshot Billiards 2. It was a simple game that was known for being pretty pricey (around 1200 Microsoft Points or $15) and having a pretty comprehensive list of modes. It was also a pretty good game, which is why it's so surprising to see that no one else has tried to make another game like it on the console. It may have taken four years, but someone has finally come up with another billiards game on the console. Although Inferno Pool tries to do something different with the sport, the end result isn't what anyone was hoping for."
Terminal Gamer writes: "Every console generation seems to have a pool or billiards game for players to while away their time, but are usually off on their physics and are generally completed by lucky shots that seem to defy the very law of physics. Growing up as a pool player has made most, if not all of those games, virtually unplayable."
Resumeplay writes, "For anyone still playing the XBLA and PSN title, Inferno Pool, developer Dark Energy Digital has released a series of YouTube videos which offer some help for the game's more advanced maneuvers and modes."
