Virtual Pool 64

Last updated
Virtual Pool 64
Virtual Pool 64 for N64, Front Cover.jpg
North American Nintendo 64 cover art
Developer(s) Celeris
Publisher(s) Crave Entertainment
Platform(s) Nintendo 64
Release
  • NA: December 17, 1998
  • EU: February 26, 1999
Genre(s) Sports (pool)
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer

Virtual Pool 64 is a 3D first-person sports simulation video game that was developed by American studio Celeris and released for the Nintendo 64 by Crave Entertainment on December 17, 1998, in North America, and in Europe on February 26, 1999. The game features simulations of 11 forms of pool (pocket billiards). It is part of the "Virtual Pool" game franchise, which also includes the PC games Virtual Pool , Virtual Pool 2 , Virtual Pool Hall and Virtual Pool 3 . The game has been simultaneously lauded as "a top-notch simulation" and criticized as dull, lacking both player incentive and engaging characters.

Contents

Gameplay

Virtual Pool 64 as the follow-up to the main series title Virtual Pool 2 retains the same different pool games, and adds new games, such as Rotation pool. [1] The game features 11 different pool games: Eight-ball including American " bar pool " rules, British rules and APA league rules) Nine-ball including variations such as Three-ball, Six-ball and Ten-ball, as well as Straight, One-pocket, Bank and Rotation pool. [2]

The game follows on from Virtual Pool 2, including additions such as a tournament mode, allowing the player to play through up-to a 32-man tournament with AI players, a trick shot mode, and three difficulty levels, amateur, professional and championship. The different levels of gameplay not only change the skill level of the opponent (who range from "pushover" to "vicious"), it will also change the size of the table and pockets for the table. [3] It can also be played in "free play" mode, with no rules, or "shark-skins" mode requires you to clear a table of three, six, and nine balls in the fewest strokes possible. [1]

Reception

Virtual Pool 64 received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. [4] Nintendo Power said the game's graphics had "ultra realism", but also said the number of controls were confusing. [12] Jack Curtis of N64 Gamer said, "Celeris have created a very commendable pool game that remains true to its real-life counterpart", but that the game may have "limited lastability." [13]

Robin Alway of Arcade Magazine said that "the only faults are those you'd associate with any 3D game." [14] Peer Schneider of IGN was "impressed" by the games physics engine, and called the visuals "exceptionally sharp." [3] However, he was not so impressed with the presentation, stating that VP64 "comes short in the presentation department. No characters, no sense of atmosphere"; and also critical of the game's soundtrack, with "extremely dated midi music." [3]

Nelson Taruc of GameSpot said that the gameplay engine is "as close to the real thing as you'll find anywhere." [1] Taruc also called the game's presentation as "excellent", when discussing the pool table and balls. However, he named games Pool Hustler and Backstreet Billiards as having more of an in-game incentive to play more, as the game does not have a clear career mode. [1] Taruc even called the game "bland" and "boring", saying "it's the video game equivalent of a college textbook: great to learn from but not really exciting to read." [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>WWF WrestleMania 2000</i> (video game) 1999 professional wrestling video game

WWF WrestleMania 2000 is a professional wrestling video game released in 1999 on the Nintendo 64 (N64) console. It was based on the World Wrestling Federation's annual pay-per-view, WrestleMania. Despite the fact that this game is based upon WrestleMania 2000, the game was released five months prior to the actual PPV itself, therefore resulting in the game using the stage design from the 1999 event, WrestleMania XV, instead. Released at the height of the WWF's Attitude Era, WrestleMania 2000 was the first WWF game released by THQ. The wrestling company ended its long relationship with Acclaim Entertainment after witnessing the video game success of its competitor, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), on behalf of THQ. WrestleMania 2000 shares its game engine with the Japan-only release Virtual Pro Wrestling 2: Ōdō Keishō.

<i>FIFA Soccer 64</i> 1997 video game

FIFA Soccer 64, known in Europe as FIFA 64 and in Japan as J. League Live 64, is an association football video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts for the Nintendo 64. The cover features Manchester United midfielder Jordi Cruyff. The game garnered mixed reviews from critics upon release. Although its simulation was generally praised as realistic, reviewers critiqued the jerky animation, choppy frame-rates, unresponsive controls, and underwhelming usage of the Nintendo 64's capabilities. The Japanese version has officially licensed players and teams from Japan's J. League.

<i>FIFA 99</i> 1998 association football video game

FIFA 99 is a football simulation video game developed by EA Canada and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports label. It is the sixth game in the FIFA series and was released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation and Nintendo 64.

<i>Madden NFL 99</i> 1998 American football video game

Madden NFL 99 is a football video game released for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64 and Microsoft Windows. It is the first multiplatform Madden game to be fully 3D and polygonally based and is also the first game to feature Franchise mode. The game's commentary is by John Madden and Pat Summerall. The American version of the game features John Madden himself on the cover, while the European version uses Garrison Hearst instead. The game was the top-selling PlayStation sports video game in 1998 in North America, having sold 1.1 million copies on the PlayStation.

<i>Side Pocket</i> 1986 video game

Side Pocket is a pocket billiards simulation released as an arcade video game by Data East in 1986. It was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy, while an enhanced remake was later released on the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Game Gear. The game spawned two sequels, as well as arcade spin-off series titled Pocket Gal.

<i>NHL 99</i> 1998 video game

NHL 99 is an ice hockey video game developed by Electronic Arts Canada. It was released in September 1998 and was the successor to NHL 98.

<i>Pool Paradise</i> 2004 video game

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.

<i>All Star Tennis 99</i> 1998 video game

All Star Tennis '99 is a simulation tennis game for the Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and Game Boy Color released in 1999, that was developed by Smart Dog and published by Ubi Soft. The featured player on the US and Europe versions is Michael Chang while in the French version the featured player is Yannick Noah who has his name above the title as Yannick Noah All Star Tennis '99. It was one of the first tennis games for the N64 and the only one for that system in the USA until Mario Tennis. It was preceded by Let's Smash/Centre Court Tennis in Japan and Europe, for the Nintendo 64, while being one of many tennis games on PlayStation and Game Boy Color.

<i>Brunswick Circuit Pro Bowling</i> 1998 video game

Brunswick Circuit Pro Bowling is a sports video game released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation in 1998 and the Nintendo 64 in 1999.

<i>Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside</i> 1998 basketball video game

Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside, sometimes mislabeled as Kobe Bryant's NBA Courtside, is a 1998 basketball video game developed by Left Field Productions and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. At the time of the game's release, Kobe Bryant was in his second NBA season and at age 19, was the youngest player to have a game named for him. It was followed by a sequel, NBA Courtside 2 Featuring Kobe Bryant, released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color.

<i>Monaco Grand Prix: Racing Simulation 2</i> 1998 video game

Monaco Grand Prix: Racing Simulation 2, also known simply as Monaco Grand Prix or Racing Simulation: Monaco Grand Prix, is a Formula One racing game developed and published by Ubisoft for Windows, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and Dreamcast. It was released between 1998 and 1999. A sequel, Racing Simulation 3, was released in 2002.

<i>NBA In The Zone 99</i> 1999 basketball video game

NBA In The Zone '99, known in Europe as NBA Pro 99, is a basketball game for the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation, released in 1999. It is the fourth installment of the NBA In The Zone series. The game has two covers of NBA All-Star Glen Rice,.

<i>NFL QB Club 2001</i> 2000 video game

NFL QB Club 2001, also known as NFL Quarterback Club 2001, is an American football game for the Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast. Part of the NFL Quarterback Club series, it is the last title in the series to be released for the N64 and DC. The game follows in the footsteps of the previous three titles on both consoles, with a full on NFL football simulation with all the teams, players and stats. The game cartridge was red, unlike the usual gray color for N64 cartridges.

<i>Virtual Pool 3</i> 2000 video game

Virtual Pool 3 is a 3D, first-person sports video game that simulates various cue sports, developed and released for Windows and PlayStation by Celeris. The game features 15 pool disciplines, snooker, and two varieties of carom billiards.

<i>Virtual Pool</i> Series of video games developed by Celeris

Virtual Pool is a 3D, first-person sports simulation video game series with computer simulations of cue sports which was developed by Celeris. The games in the series simulate pool, snooker and carom billiards. The Virtual Pool series focuses on accurate simulation and improving the player's ability to play the sport in real life. Virtual Pool releases are sold with a money back guarantee to improve a player's external game.

<i>Actua Pool</i> 1999 video game

Actua Pool also known as Ultimate 8-Ball is a sports simulation video game developed by British companies Gremlin Interactive and Mirage Ltd as part of their highly successful Actua Sports series of sport simulators of the mid-to-late 1990s. Actua Pool, a pool game, was originally released on the Microsoft Windows platform and the Sony PlayStation home console in 1999; these versions were also published under the name Pool Shark. The game was very well received, praised for its realistic physics engine and challenging AI opponents, although the game spawned a sequel which was not as successful. In 2007, Actua Pool was ported to the Nintendo DS handheld game console.

<i>Virtual Pool</i> (video game) 1995 video game

Virtual Pool is a 3D, first-person sports simulation video game released by Interplay Productions in 1995. It is the first of the Virtual Pool franchise of computer simulations of pool games developed by Celeris.

<i>Fox Sports College Hoops 99</i> 1998 video game

Fox Sports College Hoops '99 is a college basketball sports video game developed by Z-Axis, and published by Fox Interactive under the brand name Fox Sports Interactive for the Nintendo 64. Jeff Sheppard of the University of Kentucky is featured on the cover.

<i>Virtual Pool 2</i> 1997 video game

Virtual Pool 2 is a 3D, first-person sports simulation video game developed by Celeris and released by VR Sports on behalf of Interplay Productions in 1997. It is the third release of the Virtual Pool franchise of computer simulations of pool games developed by Celeris. VP2 is the second main series title in the Virtual Pool series, and would later be released alongside Virtual Pool 1.

<i>Virtual Pool Hall</i> 1999 video game

Virtual Pool Hall is a sports simulation video game developed Celeris and published by Interplay Entertainment as an entry in the Virtual Pool franchise, an improvement and sequel to Virtual Pool 2 and PC sequel to Virtual Pool 64. The game was initially released on PC in December 1999. Pool Hall is the first game in the Virtual Pool series to have playable Snooker in addition to the regular pool gamemodes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Taruc, Nelson (January 29, 1999). "Virtual Pool 64 Review". GameSpot . San Francisco, CA: CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on October 9, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  2. ↑ Calimero (February 1999). "Virtual Pool 64". Official Nintendo Magazine France (in French). No. 12. pp. 52–53.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Schneider, Peer (January 11, 1999). "Virtual Pool 64 Review". IGN . Ziff Davis . Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Virtual Pool 64 for Nintendo 64". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  5. ↑ Niiico; Spy (February 1999). "Virtual Pool 64". Consoles + (in French). No. 85. pp. 110–11.
  6. ↑ EGM staff (December 1998). "Virtual Pool 64". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 113. Ziff Davis.
  7. ↑ "VR Pool 64 [sic]". Game Informer . No. 68. FuncoLand. December 1999.
  8. ↑ Higgins, Geoff "El Nino"; Mylonas, Eric "ECM" (January 1999). "Virtual Pool 64". GameFan . Vol. 7, no. 1. Shinno Media. p. 88. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  9. ↑ Boba Fatt (December 1998). "Virtual Pool 64". GamePro . No. 123. IDG Entertainment. p. 154. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  10. ↑ Shea, Cam (April 1999). "Virtual Pool 64". Hyper . No. 66. Next Media Pty Ltd. p. 69. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Virtual Pool 64". N64 Magazine . No. 26. Future Publishing. March 1999.
  12. 1 2 "VR Pool 64 [sic]". Nintendo Power . Vol. 115. Nintendo of America. December 1998. p. 126. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  13. ↑ Curtis, Jack (April 1, 1999). "Virtua[l] Pool 64". N64 Gamer. No. 14. pp. 64–65.
  14. ↑ Alway, Robin (April 1999). "Virtual Pool 64". Arcade Magazine. No. 5. p. 128. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.