Geewa pockets a simple but entertaining hit with Pool Live Tour
Any
video game version of pool should always be played in real time against
other players. In real life, pool is one of the quintessential games
for making new acquaintances in random locations, and that cherished
benefit thankfully translates well in this social version of the popular
cue sport. And while Pool Live Tour could benefit from
some more complex options, these social strengths along with its
accessible gameplay are enough to render it one of the better games of
pool on the web.
True to its name, Pool Live Tour
only allows you to play against other Facebook users. This isn't a
problem thanks to its large number of players, although newcomers might
balk a bit upon realizing that they have to practice their first shots
while someone--most likely a stranger from another country--is watching
them fiddle with the cue mechanics. If you prefer, you can warn your
opponents of your ineptitude by using the passable chat interface, but
keep in mind that it's all too easy to miss messages since chat
histories aren't visible unless you click on the player's name.
But
rest assured, this is plain old 8-ball billiards, and you won't
encounter much trouble here if you know the basics of the game. There
are no multicolored balls here or specialty variations like 14.1
Continuous, and winning the game merely consists of landing all your
balls and the one black ball into all the pockets. Some venues offer the
chance to add a bit of spin to your ball, but it never really rises
above the complexity of knocking the ball in the hole. Pool Live Tour
might even strike some players as a little too lenient; if you
accidentally knock an opponent's ball into a pocket, for instance,
you're usually allowed to keep playing your turn. And of course, you
automatically lose the game if you pocket the 8 ball on the break.
Aside from these concerns, Pool Live Tour offers
a decently large number of options despite its relatively simple
interface. You can use your winnings or Facebook credits to purchase
several time-limited cues with varying strengths and bonuses, for
instance, and you can advance through four different venues and
participate in a weekly tournament with leaderboards (provided your
winnings are high enough). Winnings and entry fees increase at each
venue, so you can expect to pay a mere two chips to play at the ratty
Moe's Pub and a whopping 1,000 at the chichi Manhattan Sky Loft.
This all makes for an excellent foundation, although Pool Live Tour
could really shine if it allowed players to place their own bets or
play in team matches. There's some evidence that additions like these
are in the works, as is the option to play at a practice table before
jumping into a paying match. We'd also like to see the inclusion of
different types of gameplay tables, such as one for Cutthroat and one
for Snooker. If Geewa makes even a few of these additions--and it seems
like they will--we wouldn't be surprised if Pool Live Tour enjoyed a very long life in Facebook social scene.
As it stands, it's hard not to like Pool Live Tour.
The presentation is clean and colorful, the community is friendly and
helpful, and the technical gameplay usually seems flawless, although
we've read many reports of some players not being able to load the game
or crashing when they pocket the 8 ball. We haven't experienced these
particular issues ourselves, however, but we'll be happy to play this
delightful release many times in the coming weeks regardless.
And so should you.
Pros:
- Real-time pool gameplay with other players around the world. Simple,
accessible gameplay. Multiple venues for multiple skill levels.
Tournament option for competition.
Cons:
- No practice table. No ability to set your own bets. Reports of crashes.
