Pool Panic Nintendo Switch Review: The Weird Side of Billiards
We’ve seen our fair share of pool simulators that have come strikingly close to recapturing the [...]
Not a Perfect Game, But a Strange One
That said, the gameplay isn't quite as essential as the devs were hoping. There is some finesse that has to be taken with pool shots, and often you'll come across targets that can frustrate easier than expected. That's not to say you can't figure out another route...but sometimes they can more of a hassle than expected.
That and sometimes objectives aren't clearly marked. We came across a couple of stages in the game where we took down some foes and then tried to exit the level, but then zipped back into it without so much as a hint that there was some other pool ball waiting in the wings. A little more of an indication system would've gone a long way here.
One other thing -- the game's camera can be its own worst enemy at times. For the most part, levels are clear and concise to see; but during others, your view can be obscured, making a good shot almost impossible to make. Some sunken balls were done out of sheer luck. Hopefully, Adult Swim Games will consider a patch for this in the future.
Everything else about the game, though, retains a certain amount of goofy charm. The open world your cue ball roams around is worth exploring, and filled with new challenges as you really begin to open it up. There's also something giggle-inducing about the game's animation, though your character smiles wayyyyy too much for a lead hero. Get angry or something, cue ball. Please.
prevnextEnough Goofiness To Recommend, Especially With Friends
At least some of the other balls included in the game exude great personality, like an angry one that won't keep still; or a goofy one that moves around and giggles each time you miss him. The game could use more of these, but the ones that are here are hilarious -- even if they can be a pain to hit.
Where the game deserves most credit is with its design. The levels, for the most part, are smartly put together, even though the lack of objective markers can make them a bit hard to figure out at times. Also, the sound design is something else, between the goofy sound effects and the fun soundtrack choices that you don't often get in a game like this. It's really well worth the listen. (And I need that intermission "surfer tune" in my song library stat.)
Finally, along with the single player challenges, Pool Panic comes with a robust collection of hilarious mini-games. Sadly, they're offline only; but they're good fun if you can get friends together for a few sessions.
There are some clear areas where Pool Panic could use improvement, namely with proper indications of things you miss, as well as with the camera and occasionally tough balls to hit. But for the most part, it balances creativity and wackiness into a well-implemented game that's worth your time. This is doubly true if you have a few friends to play the game with.
Pool Panic isn't an essential Switch release. But its hilarity makes it enough of a worthwhile choice to "cue" into your library.
WWG's Score: 3.5 out of 5
Disclaimer: A review code was provided by the publisher.
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