Virtual Pool (1995)

Developer: Celeris, Kesmai
Publisher: MacPlay, Interplay Productions
Platforms: PlayStation
Genres: Simulator, Sport
Rating: 4.0 of 5, 6 player ratings

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A meticulous, physics-driven recreation of pool that rewards patience and careful shot planning over quick reflexes.

realisticmethodicalpreciseslow-pacedtechnicaleducationalsimulation-focuseddeliberate

About

Virtual Pool is the definitive pool simulation game that actually teaches novice players how to play and even promises to improve the game of the pool shark. Developed by a team of physicists and professional pool players, Virtual Pool brings the game to life with the highest degree of accuracy. Balls roll, skid, collide and move on a fully rendered 3D controlled pool table that mirrors reality. Virtual Pool has revolutionary features that allow players to actually 'walk' around the table to check out their next shot, take a closer look, back away, look left or right and then line-up the shot like they would in a real game with a real table. This title also allows players to take an overhead view from above, something unavailable in a real pool game! Taking game tips from World Champion pool player "Machine Gun" Lou Butera is guaranteed to improve the player's game. "Machine Gun" Lou will teach players over 30 famous trick shots the player can practice on their computer screen and then implement on a real table.

What players say

A realistic first-person billiards simulation celebrated on PC for true-to-life physics that can almost improve your real game. The PS1 version keeps the praised physics but felt visually dated, making it a respectable if niche pool sim.

Screenshots

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This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.