Midnight Pool 3D Review

Posted on October 1, 2007 - Filed Under Billiards, Pool, Review |

* * * * * 1 votes

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Midnight Pool 3D is a top notch billiards game for the PC. Players can play in story mode or arcade mode. Each mode offers a choice of 8 ball, 8 ball UK or 9 ball games. Story mode takes the player all over the United States playing against all kinds of different pool players. The main character always travels to the pool hall of the person they are challenging.

Each “level” is a challenge in some place in the United states. At the beginning of every challenge, players have to place a bet. The early bets start out with a low minimum bet, but as you keep winning and moving along the minimum bet becomes higher. The minimum bet is not the only money you win, if you win the challenge. Players get money for sinking balls on a combo shot, sinking balls one after another and mutli-ball shots. A multi-ball shot is when more than one ball goes in the pocket with one queue ball shot. After each level, there is a trick shot challenge. Players need to hit two balls in the pocket at once or hit the yellow ball into the blue ball without hitting any other ball on the table. Usually the balls are surrounding the blue and yellow balls. Players get extra money when they complete the trick shot, but do not lose money when they don’t succeed.

The controls to shoot the ball are nicely done. They are easy to use and easy to get use to. Players target the ball by moving the mouse to the left or to the right. As the mouse moves, there is a white line that moves and shows the player where the ball will go when it is hit. Line up the white guide line and the pocket and the ball will almost always go in. The force the player hits the ball with also makes a difference. Hit the ball too hard and it will bounce out of the pocket just like real life. Players can also put spin on the ball, but I found this difficult to do. There is a tutorial that walks you through the spin shot so you know how to do it.

Story mode is where you unlock all of the items in the game. Players unlock new characters, usually your opponent, new tables and new outfits. The only way to unlock these items is to play in story mode. The unlocked items are also available in arcade mode. There are seven available players and you start with two of them and have to unlock the other five.

The graphics in Midnight Pool 3D are great. The graphics are in 3D and the characters playing pool look real. Each character has an “attitude” that easily comes across in their actions and smack talk before the game. The pool table looks really nice and so do the pool balls. The background is always a pool hall and definitely looks and feels like one.

The game play is smooth and really addictive. I really enjoyed playing Midnight Pool 3D. Story mode is great and with the added smack talk from the characters, it makes you really want to beat them. The challengers in the beginning are easy, but as the game progresses the challengers get tougher and the shots get harder. Midnight Pool 3D makes computer billiards immensely enjoyable.