If you’re not buying into the hype of Grand Theft Auto IV or you believe it’s not up your alley for gaming, that’s perfectly fine. However, there is something the reviewers aren’t telling you–this is the ultimate casual gaming title.

GTA IV has many of the big aspects of a popular casual game of its time, mini-games (bowling, pool, darts, etc), it can be played in ten or twenty minute sessions if you desire and contains a good deal of laid back content which can be worked at your own pace.

GTA IV is best described as TheSims meets the Russian Mafia. You’ll find you can spend a good amount of time going on virtual dates to play darts, grab a burger or hanging out with your friend at a strip club or playing pool. When not driving around town on missions you’ll be simulating life to the fullest experience possible, including sitting on the couch and channel surfing, watching infomecials, cartoons or perhaps hitting the cafe to use the Internet.

Does this sound like an action packed shooter? Not entirely, no.

The fact is, there is something in GTA IV for every gamer of mature age. Granted, it doesn’t have the content-building capabilities of a Second Life for 18+ but it does simulate life in many aspects in both a hardcore and casual manner. I’m leaning more towards casual than hardcore in most aspects with a mature content wrapper.

If you replaced the adult situations in GTA IV, such as spending money at the strip club, shaking down a payment from a restaurant owner or the “occasional” need to shoot at a police officer, you’d have a great life simulator for all ages. Although some folks at rockstar might be afraid of casual games, they sure do use the recipe for success in GTA IV!

The game does have ground breaking graphics, physics all wrapped in a real world environment with creative missions and intense action. However, it also simulates life so well with side quests that mix RPG aspects with casual gaming aspects that it’s no wonder why the title received a perfect 10 score.

MumboJumbo has announced the release of Polar Games 2 on retail shelves. Polar Games 2 features Polar Pool and Polar Golfer: Pineapple Cup. Polar Games 2 puts a comical spin on the game of golf and billiards.

Polar Pool allows players to participate in two different types of billiards games, 8 and 9 ball. Players can unlock characters and tables as they play through the game. Gamers can progress through the game on their own in single player mode or battle their friends in multi-player mode.

Polar Golfer: Pineapple Cup allows players to play 9 or 18 hole golf courses and can encounter all new “issues” along the way, such as all new natural disasters and hazards. Players have their choice of eight different characters to play as including Walrus and Gopher, two favorites from the first game, as well as Hula Girl and Tiki Guy, two brand new characters.

“We are very proud to bring Polar Games 2 to retailers nationwide — both Polar Golfer: Pineapple Cup and Polar Pool bring challenging and comical content to the 13 million fans of the original,” said Mark Cottam, CEO of MumboJumbo.

Polar Games 2 is available in retail stores for $19.99.

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Shuffle Snake Bites is a flash based billiards type game. The goal of the game is to hit the red ball and knock out all of the yellow balls on the screen. Players have to be sure not to knock the red ball off the screen when there are still yellow balls left or they lose the level. Players start out with five replays. Every time you lose a level, you have to use a replay. Players can gain replays back as they beat levels.

The levels start out fairly easy with no objects in the way, just yellow balls and a wide open playing field. As the levels progress, players have to contend with obstacles. Some of the obstacles are in the middle of the board and make hitting the yellow balls more difficult. Other obstacles are on the edges of the board and keep the yellow balls from falling off the edge in that spot.

Players have to contend with a clock that counts down as well as the obstacles. The higher levels bring more obstacles and give you less time to get all of the yellow balls off of the board. If time runs out before all of the yellow balls are off the board, you lose the level and need to use one of your replays.

Shuffle Snake Bites  is an entertaining game. Shuffle Snake Bites gets challenging, but not too challenging. The difficult level was enough to keep the game interesting, but still allow you to beat the levels. If you are looking for an entertaining billiards game, check out Shuffle Snake Bites.

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.