Virtual Pool 64

Virtual Pool 64 is a 3D first-person sports simulation video game that was developed by American studio Celeris and released for the Nintendo 64 by Crave Entertainment on December 17, 1998, in North America, and in Europe on February 26, 1999. The game features simulations of 11 forms of pool (pocket billiards). It is part of the "Virtual Pool" game franchise, which also includes the PC games Virtual Pool, Virtual Pool 2, Virtual Pool Hall and Virtual Pool 3. The game has been simultaneously lauded as "a top-notch simulation" and criticized as dull, lacking both player incentive and engaging characters.

Virtual Pool 64
North American Nintendo 64 cover art
Developer(s)Celeris
Publisher(s)Crave Entertainment
Platform(s)Nintendo 64
Release
  • NA: December 17, 1998
  • EU: February 26, 1999
Genre(s)Sports (pool)
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

Virtual Pool 64 as the follow-up to the main series title Virtual Pool 2 retains the same different pool games, and adds new games, such as Rotation pool.[1] The game features 11 different pool games: Eight-ball including American "bar pool" rules, British rules and APA league rules) Nine-ball including variations such as Three-ball, Six-ball and Ten-ball, as well as Straight, One-pocket, Bank and Rotation pool.[2]

The game follows on from Virtual Pool 2, including additions such as a tournament mode, allowing the player to play through up-to a 32-man tournament with AI players, a trick shot mode, and three difficulty levels, amateur, professional and championship. The different levels of gameplay not only change the skill level of the opponent (who range from "pushover" to "vicious"), it will also change the size of the table and pockets for the table.[3] It can also be played in "free play" mode, with no rules, or "shark-skins" mode requires you to clear a table of three, six, and nine balls in the fewest strokes possible.[1]

Reception

Virtual Pool 64 received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4] Nintendo Power said the game's graphics had "ultra realism", but also said the number of controls were confusing.[12] Jack Curtis of N64 Gamer said, "Celeris have created a very commendable pool game that remains true to its real-life counterpart", but that the game may have "limited lastability."[13]

Robin Alway of Arcade Magazine said that "the only faults are those you'd associate with any 3D game."[14] Peer Schneider of IGN was "impressed" by the games physics engine, and called the visuals "exceptionally sharp."[3] However, he was not so impressed with the presentation, stating that VP64 "comes short in the presentation department. No characters, no sense of atmosphere"; and also critical of the game's soundtrack, with "extremely dated midi music."[3]

Nelson Taruc of GameSpot said that the gameplay engine is "as close to the real thing as you'll find anywhere."[1] Taruc also called the game's presentation as "excellent", when discussing the pool table and balls. However, he named games Pool Hustler and Backstreet Billiards as having more of an in-game incentive to play more, as the game does not have a clear career mode.[1] Taruc even called the game "bland" and "boring", saying "it's the video game equivalent of a college textbook: great to learn from but not really exciting to read."[1]

References
  1. Taruc, Nelson (January 29, 1999). "Virtual Pool 64 Review". GameSpot. San Francisco, CA: CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  2. Calimero (February 1999). "Virtual Pool 64". Official Nintendo Magazine France (in French). No. 12. pp. 52–53.
  3. Schneider, Peer (January 11, 1999). "Virtual Pool 64 Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  4. "Virtual Pool 64 for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  5. Niiico; Spy (February 1999). "Virtual Pool 64". Consoles + (in French). No. 85. pp. 110–11.
  6. EGM staff (December 1998). "Virtual Pool 64". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 113. Ziff Davis.
  7. "VR Pool 64 [sic]". Game Informer. No. 68. FuncoLand. December 1999.
  8. Higgins, Geoff "El Nino"; Mylonas, Eric "ECM" (January 1999). "Virtual Pool 64". GameFan. Vol. 7, no. 1. Shinno Media. p. 88. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  9. Boba Fatt (December 1998). "Virtual Pool 64". GamePro. No. 123. IDG Entertainment. p. 154. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  10. Shea, Cam (April 1999). "Virtual Pool 64". Hyper. No. 66. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 69. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  11. "Virtual Pool 64". N64 Magazine. No. 26. Future Publishing. March 1999.
  12. "VR Pool 64 [sic]". Nintendo Power. Vol. 115. Nintendo of America. December 1998. p. 126. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  13. Curtis, Jack (April 1, 1999). "Virtua[l] Pool 64". N64 Gamer. No. 14. pp. 64–65.
  14. Alway, Robin (April 1999). "Virtual Pool 64". Arcade Magazine. No. 5. p. 128. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
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