Pool Paradise

Pool Paradise is a 2004 pocket billiards video game, developed by Awesome Developments, and published by Ignition Entertainment, released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and GameCube. The game is the fourth game to be endorsed by professional snooker and pool player Jimmy White.

Pool Paradise
Developer(s)Awesome Developments
Publisher(s)Ignition Entertainment
Director(s)Archer Maclean
Programmer(s)Ed Bradley
Fred O'Rourke
Artist(s)Drew Northcott
Composer(s)Tom Davies
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, GameCube
ReleaseWindows, PlayStation 2
  • EU: 2 April 2004
  • NA: April 2004 (PC)
  • NA: 15 June 2004 (PS2)
  • AU: 2004 (PS2)[1]
GameCube
  • EU: 7 May 2004
  • NA: 28 June 2004
Genre(s)Sports
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Overview

Players control a virtual pool player at a beach resort, with pool tables inside different huts. Players have to work their way up the tournament ladder in order to unlock features and complete the game.

Features

The game's features, according to Booners Interactive,[2] include 30 unique computer characters, with highly detailed hands, on an animated island with day and night cycles, and 8 virtual camera modes; 11 different game types and 5 modes of play, with 10 different tournament ladders, and 10 table sizes and shapes; and analog cueing, using a gamepad or a mouse. "Hidden features" throughout the game were also alluded to.[3] As well as various pool and snooker games, beach darts, a coconut shy, skee-ball ramp, and the original Dropzone arcade game are all unlockable.[4] Unlike previous games endorsed by Jimmy White, in Pool Paradise, White is a playable character, and is the best player in game.[5]

International edition

The game was re-released in 2006 under the new title Pool Paradise: International Edition, only in Europe for the PlayStation 2.

Reception

The game received "generally favourable reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[3][6][7] Alex Trickett of BBC Sport called the game "crisp, clean fun at a budget price"; however, he did call the game's soundtrack "uninspired". Alex Navarro of GameSpot enjoyed the European GameCube version months before it was released, stating in an early review, "Pool Paradise features a great gameplay design, as well as a ton of available pool games and side ventures."[11] He also suggested the game was very strong on its own merits commenting "even if Pool Paradise weren't the only available pool game for the GameCube, it would still be a strong choice for any billiards fan."[11] GameSpot later named it the best GameCube game of April 2004,[22] and nominated it for the year-end "Best Alternative Sports Game" award.[23] GameSpy and Game Informer gave the same European GameCube version a mixed review, two months before it was released in Europe, and nearly three months before it was released Stateside.[10][13]

References
  1. "Pool Paradise". Australian Classification Board. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  2. "Pool Paradise Company Line". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. 26 April 2004. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  3. "Pool Paradise for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  4. Calvert, Justin (15 March 2004). "Pool Paradise dated for UK". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  5. evilmonkeyz (11 July 2005). "Pool Paradise Review for PS2". GameFAQs. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. "Pool Paradise for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive.
  7. "Pool Paradise for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  8. Edge staff (May 2004). "Pool Paradise (PS2)". Edge. No. 136. Future plc. p. 109.
  9. Bramwell, Tom (5 May 2004). "Pool Paradise (PlayStation 2)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network.
  10. "Pool Paradise (GC)". Game Informer. No. 133. GameStop. May 2004. p. 101.
  11. Navarro, Alex (12 April 2004). "Pool Paradise Review (GC) [date mislabeled as "July 2, 2004"". Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  12. Navarro, Alex (2 July 2004). "Pool Paradise Review (PS2)". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  13. Hodgson, David (2 April 2004). "GameSpy: Pool Paradise (GCN)". GameSpy. IGN Entertainment. Archived from the original on 18 December 2005. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  14. Bedigian, Louis (29 July 2004). "Pool Paradise - PS2 - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on 9 March 2008. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  15. Casamassina, Matt (6 July 2004). "Pool Paradise (GCN)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  16. Casamassina, Matt (6 July 2004). "Pool Paradise (PS2)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  17. "Pool Paradise". Nintendo Power. Vol. 180. Nintendo of America. June 2004. p. 121.
  18. "Pool Paradise". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. No. 83. Ziff Davis. August 2004. p. 93.
  19. "Pool Paradise". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. May 2004.
  20. Trickett, Alex (27 May 2004). "Let's Play: Paradise Pool". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  21. Hill, Jason (7 August 2004). "'Pool Paradise' (PS2)". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  22. Staff (3 May 2004). "GameSpot's Month in Review for April 2004". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 14 September 2004.
  23. The GameSpot Editors (5 January 2005). "Best and Worst of 2004". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 7 March 2005.
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