Pool Paradise
{{Short description|2004 video game}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Pool Paradise
| image = Pool Paradise.jpg
| developer = Awesome Studios
| publisher = Ignition Entertainment
| director = Archer Maclean
| programmer = Ed Bradley
Fred O'Rourke
| artist = Drew Northcott
| composer = Tom Davies
| platforms = Windows, PlayStation 2, GameCube
| released = Windows, PlayStation 2
{{vgrelease|EU|2 April 2004|NA|April 2004 (PC)|NA|15 June 2004 (PS2)|AUS|2004 (PS2){{cite web | url=https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/pool-paradise | title=Pool Paradise | website=Australian Classification Board | date=31 August 2019 | accessdate=5 September 2020 | archive-date=11 December 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211065640/https://www.classification.gov.au/titles/pool-paradise | url-status=live }}}}GameCube
{{vgrelease|EU|7 May 2004|NA|28 June 2004}}
| genre = Sports
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Pool Paradise is a 2004 pocket billiards video game, developed by Awesome Studios, 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.
Gameplay
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.
The game's features, according to Booners Interactive,{{cite web | url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/pool-paradise-company-line-6094536 | title=Pool Paradise Company Line | website=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | date=26 April 2004 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018021334/http://www.gamespot.com/news/pool-paradise-company-line-6094536 | archivedate=18 October 2012 | url-status=dead | accessdate=4 September 2020}} 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/pool-paradise/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 | title=Pool Paradise for PlayStation 2 Reviews | website=Metacritic | publisher=CBS Interactive | accessdate=13 December 2017}} 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.{{cite web | last=Calvert | first=Justin | date=15 March 2004 | url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pool-paradise-dated-for-uk/1100-6091452/ | title=Pool Paradise dated for UK | website=GameSpot | publisher=CBS Interactive | accessdate=13 December 2017}} Unlike previous games endorsed by Jimmy White, in Pool Paradise, White is a playable character, and is the best player in game.{{cite web | author=evilmonkeyz | date=11 July 2005 | url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/919222-pool-paradise/reviews/89628 | title=Pool Paradise Review for PS2 | website=GameFAQs | publisher=CBS Interactive | accessdate=4 September 2020 | archive-date=26 January 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126114049/https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/919222-pool-paradise/reviews/89628 | url-status=live }}
International edition
The game was re-released in 2006 under the new title Pool Paradise: International Edition, only in Europe for the PlayStation 2.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}
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Reception
{{Video game reviews
|NGC = true
|PC = true
|PS2 = true
|na = true
|Edge_PS2 = 8/10{{cite magazine | author=Edge staff | title=Pool Paradise (PS2) | magazine=Edge | publisher=Future plc | issue=136 | date=May 2004 | page=109}}
|EuroG_PS2 = 8/10{{cite web | last=Bramwell | first=Tom | date=5 May 2004 | url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_poolparadise_ps2 | title=Pool Paradise (PlayStation 2) | website=Eurogamer | publisher=Gamer Network}}
|GI_NGC = 6/10{{cite magazine | title=Pool Paradise (GC) | magazine=Game Informer | publisher=GameStop | issue=133 | date=May 2004 | page=101}}
|GSpy_NGC = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web | last=Hodgson | first=David | date=2 April 2004 | url=http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/pool-paradise/501693p1.html | title=GameSpy: Pool Paradise (GCN) | website=GameSpy | publisher=IGN Entertainment | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051218030200/http://cube.gamespy.com/gamecube/pool-paradise/501693p1.html | archivedate=18 December 2005 | accessdate=5 September 2020}}
|IGN_NGC = 7.6/10{{cite web | last=Casamassina | first=Matt | date=6 July 2004 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/06/pool-paradise-2 | title=Pool Paradise (GCN) | website=IGN | publisher=Ziff Davis | accessdate=5 September 2020}}
|NP_NGC = 2.5/5{{cite magazine | title=Pool Paradise | magazine=Nintendo Power | publisher=Nintendo of America | volume=180 | date=June 2004 | page=121}}
|OPM_PS2 = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine | title=Pool Paradise | magazine=Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine | publisher=Ziff Davis | issue=83 | date=August 2004 | page=93}}
|PCGUK_PC = 78%{{cite magazine | title=Pool Paradise | magazine=PC Gamer UK | publisher=Future plc | date=May 2004}}
|rev1 = BBC Sport
|rev1_NGC = 80%{{cite news | last=Trickett | first=Alex | date=27 May 2004 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/game_reviews/3738259.stm | title=Let's Play: Paradise Pool | newspaper=BBC Sport | publisher=BBC | accessdate=13 December 2017}}
|rev2 = The Sydney Morning Herald
|rev2_PS2 = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news | last=Hill | first=Jason | date=7 August 2004 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/thriller-in-the-myst-20040807-gdji3h.html | title='Pool Paradise' (PS2) | newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald | publisher=Fairfax Media | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822104035/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/06/1091732078427.html | archivedate=22 August 2013 | url-status=live | accessdate=5 September 2020}}
}}
The game received "generally favourable reviews" on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. 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." 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." GameSpot later named it the best GameCube game of April 2004,{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040914143644/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6094997/index.html | url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6094997/index.html | title=GameSpot{{'}}s Month in Review for April 2004 | author=Staff | date=May 3, 2004 | work=GameSpot | archivedate=September 14, 2004 | url-status=dead }} and nominated it for the year-end "Best Alternative Sports Game" award.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307021607/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2004/ | url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/all/bestof2004/ | title=Best and Worst of 2004 | author=The GameSpot Editors | date=January 5, 2005 | work=GameSpot | archivedate=March 7, 2005 | url-status=dead }} 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.
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References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/archer-maclean-presents-pool-paradise}}
{{Snooker Video Games}}
Category:Cue sports video games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:UTV Ignition Games games
Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom