It’s time to put all those wasted hours in the pub to good use as we play 8 Ball Pool, the world’s most downloaded pool game, but will it stand out or get lost in mire of the hundreds of other such games on the market?
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Miniclip are the creators of many quirky mobile games, and when visiting their site I actually lost count of how many they’ve made. They work with hundreds of developers to add to their impressive library of titles every week. In 2001 the developer pioneered the mass syndication of online games and today their apps are syndicated across more than 500,000 affiliate websites.
I initially thought 8 Ball Pool would be just another pool title, with slow gameplay and no personality, but the vibrant colours and fun look of the title screen pulled me in and made me give it a chance. I’m glad to say that I wasn’t disappointed and I’ve been hooked ever since.
You start off on the practice table, where the tutorial shows you how to pot a single ball in a clear manner before throwing you into competition. This is a good introduction to the game but more time here wouldn’t have gone amiss as I felt like I wasn’t quite ready for my initial encounter. The first table is in a London pub where you try to win against other online players to increase your ranking, as well as to unlock the next table in Sydney; from there more areas can be unlocked in other countries such as Moscow, Tokyo and Las Vegas.
Gameplay is very easy to pick up once you get going; the targeting system is accurate, not only showing where your chosen ball will go but where the white ball will end up also. If after your first match you still feel like you need more work on your game, off-line practice is available to use all you want.
Graphics are very clear and bright with Miniclip making a real effort when it comes to detailing the different cues and vibrant table cloths. One crucial visual element is the targeting line as this has to be totally accurate otherwise you may as well just uninstall the game. I’m happy to say that 8 Ball Pool doesn’t suffer inaccuracy at all and always right-on-the-money when it comes to potting. Sound is pretty basic with only the obligatory contact noise of the balls smacking; it may have been nice to have a bit of quiet music in the background to keep you company while you beat the competition.
The title has a lot of replayability value and is probably my most-played mobile game: it’s extremely addictive. On Google Play, one user has commented that it’s more so than heroin and we can believe that we could easily waste hours on it without a second thought. 8 Ball Pool isn’t particularly innovative – after all, it’s just a pool game – but it’s the best pool game and beats off any other with ease.
I loved this game and still find myself playing it whenever a spare moment arises. It draws you in and keeps you there, making you feel like the hours you spend on it aren’t enough and keeping you wanting more. Unfortunately however, it doesn’t make you a pool pro in real life so don’t expect to go beating your mates in the pub after conquering 8 Ball Pool.
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