Pool Party

Aug 3 2008 by Darren Kelso, Sunday Sun

Game: Pool Party From: SouthPeak For: Wii RRP: £19.99 Rating: 3+ Out: Now

SINCE the launch of the Wii, there has been a growth in post-pub — or even instead-of-pub — gaming, with titles now being targeted at this group.

One of which is Pool Party, offering 13 different pool and snooker modes in a variety of settings, with different — and collectable — cues, tables and ball sets.

As this is the Wii, hitting the cue ball should just be a matter of pulling the remote back and forward. But aiming, selecting what type of shot to hit and selecting the power involves a complex series of buttons and both the remote and nunchuck.

All too often, I managed to carefully line up a shot, choose where to strike the cue ball then, instead of hitting power and striking the ball, pressed the wrong button and sent my aiming point dancing around the table like a drunken disco diva!

But, once you’ve managed to master the controls and become used to the relatively poor camera angles, the game modes themselves are fun to play, with perfectly believable physics controlling matters.

The different backdrops and sets to collect, plus a plethora of game modes, add longevity, although you may want to turn down — or off — the annoying music.

However, as an after-pub title to throw onto the Wii for you and a few mates, the controls and confusing camera angles may soon see the novelty wearing off.