TF01
3,ARCADE POOL
4,by Team 17
ARCADE POOL, Team 17, £14.99

Ratings:

Graphics    -  7/10
Sound       - 10/10
Playability - 10/10
Lastability - 10/10
Innovation  -  5/10

Overall - 96%

                           Marcus Priddey
                          ----------------

Yet another absolutely fabulous game  from  those wonderful chaps and
chapesses at Team 17.

As you may have guessed this is a  pool game, but not just any run of
the mill pool game. For a start you are offered a choice between U.K.
pool (with red and yellow balls,  green  baize) or the U.S. variation
(spots and stripes with a blue  baize).  Once you have selected which
set you wish to play, you can  now  choose what type of game you want
to play  whether  it  be  9-ball,  Speedpool,  Trickshot,  8/15-ball,
Survivor and so on. The choice is amazing.

Then you have to decide whether  you  want  to play a single match or
best out of three, best out of five, challenge OR tournement. Now, do
you want to play the CPU or a friend?

And what sort of atmosphere would  you  like.  Down the pub? Down the
pub with some blues in  the  background?  In  a pool hool perhaps? Or
maybe you want to listen to the two blues tracks offered?

Wait a minute, though - do you want  to play as a rookie or an expert
or maybe you want to modify  the  rules  or  even the friction of the
table or... the list is endless.

This has got to be one  of  THE  most  versatile games I've ever come
across. Put it like this.  Before  I  wrote  this, I had been playing
Arcade Pool non-stop for several hours,  it  is that playable! Due to
the wealth of options available  it  will  be  a long time before you
grow tired of this game, although you  may get annoyed at some of the
shots the CPU comes up with. Mind you, saying that, some of the shots
I've done could only be done  with  this  game,  NEVER on a real pool
table. This is might have  something  to  do  with  the fact that the
computer shows the trajectory of  your  cue  ball (did I mention that
you could delete this aid?).

Graphically, the game is  realistic  enough  complete with shading on
the balls but where  this  game  really  scores  for  me is the sound
effects done by none other  than  Allister Brimble, who also provides
music for our sister magazine, The Final Frontier. I prefer the blues
tracks myself, although the pub and  pool hall sound fantastic. Also,
when the balls strike each other or the cushion, or even when you pot
one (or more) - simply outstanding!

Team 17 are well known for producing  top quality games for the Amiga
and CD32 and it's nice to see that  they have done the same with this
game. Absolutely top notch. Brilliant.  Excellent. More addictive and
playable that Pinball Fantasies and  that's  saying  a lot. Buy this.
NOW!

Ratings:

Graphics    -  7/10
Sound       - 10/10
Playability - 10/10
Lastability - 10/10
Innovation  -  5/10

Overall - 96%