Real Pool

"Exactly what you would expect from a pool game, it was horrible."

I was really disappointed with Real Pool. I understand that pool games do not generate much hype, yet this was the one pool game I expected to stop that stereotype. Man, was I wrong. I found this game to be a major let dowm, and that it will probably give you gray hair. What I mean by this is that this game has *major* difficulty. It is one of those games where you miss your first shot and the computer makes them all without breaking a sweat.
Now the graphics of this game are basic. They are very well done, yet are very, very choppy and do not live up to the full potiental of the Playstation 2. Also, your opponents are drawn in anime. They are not 3-D, they are 2-D animed characters that are drawn in a whole (appaulse) three different poses! I belive that they are drawn very well and I admire the artist, but it gets annoying seeing only the head of your opponent, espically in the same pose every time.
The sound of the game is susprising good. It is nice, crisp, and clear when the cue stick connects with thee cue ball, and when all of the balls hit each other the sound is definatly appriseated. Yet (here I go naging again) the background music can get very old, very fast. You do not notice it at first, but after five or six games, you start to finally realize that it is the same song, over and over. It is like the movie ''Groundhog's Day'' you eventually just want it to end. If the game had more than one background track than the sound would have been perfectly done.
Real Pool lacks very highly in replay value. You get bored of this game too fast. You would expect a game like this to allow you to play it more than ten times, but it doesn't. It is the same boring thing over and over. I have honestly played pool games on Super Nintendo that last longer than this does.
I would not even bother renting Real Pool. Unless you are a diehard (and I mean very, very much into pool) I would avoid this game at all possible ways. This game will contaiment you and cause you to becomme a horrible pool simulation just like it is. If you even value yourself, understand you are worth more than this game and go play something else.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 02/18/01, Updated 02/18/01