The game of pool is all about the style, the ability to line up the shot, and calculation. It’s a game that many try to master and many enjoy. There are different Pool games, from the traditional 8-Ball to Snooker to Billards. Games can be of a serious nature where bets can either make or break someone to others where it is just the fun of hitting that cue ball in hopes of knocking the final ball in the pocket. Yes, the game of Pool is enjoyed by many, but did developer ForeVR Games bring the magic of Pool for all to enjoy in Virtual Reality? Let’s find out with ForeVR Pool for Quest 2.
ForeVR Pool brings the game of billiards to challenge friends, family, and in-game pros as you try to level up and take on legendary challengers all in Virtual Reality. So before you go out and just take on anyone who is willing to accept and it turns out you have been hassled, there are some things you should be aware of. First, be comfortable. No need for you to have some excuse as to why you weren’t able to sink the 8 ball. So find your favorite room to stand or sit, make some room, and get ready to be on your game. Second, don’t be afraid to practice. You want to be able to put some spin on those shots or jump the cue ball. Third, make sure your headset and controllers are charged. You don’t want to have the game on the line and you go for that final shot only to have something run out of charge. Fourth, the audio in the later gameplay videos did not capture, so I apologize for that. And finally, get ready to have some fun. With that said, let’s continue…
In case you have never played the game of Pool before, let’s give you a recap in the best way possible…
So before you really get into the game, you, of course, want to look around. If you have played any of ForeVR Games’ other games such as ForeVR Bowl, ForeVR Darts, and ForeVR Cornhole, then their latest, ForeVR Pool, will feel very familiar and you will be right at home in no time. This is your time to look around where you can see who is on the top of the boards, a place for your trophies, and the oh-so-popular Pro Shop where you can a variety of Pool sticks such as Corntastic that looks corn on a stick. You can have up to 5 Pool sticks (all with different power and spin ratings & some will even have specific sounds) in your arsenal and switch between them when you are playing. So to really get into things, you will want to start with training so you can learn how to move around the table, aim, and shoot. Plus, you just might hear a familiar voice. I will say that be careful of where you have your stick aimed and the speed that you use or the cue ball just might fly off the table.
Once you think you have the hang of it, you have a few choices. You can play an online game in Multiplayer, level up in Single Player do Pass & Play, and even have a Private Match where you need a code to join. I would suggest you start with Single Player as it’s an easy way to level up as you play against AI players with each one getting a little tougher than the last. As you level up, you will start to unlock new Pool sticks and Pool Halls. Each Pool Hall is themed nicely from the iconic cities of Brooklyn, the neon lights of Seatle (don’t forget to play some of the mini-games in between rounds), the saloon feel of Dallas, the nighttime atmosphere of Chicago, to the art of playing in Paris.
But I will say that some of the best fun I have had playing ForeVR Pool is playing against other players. Not once did I ever experience someone using language or being abusive, which is nice to experience. And it’s even better when you can put up some of your coins against theirs and have a friendly bet going on. This is where you can put everything you have learned thus far into your game. From the aiming to the amount of spin you want to put on the ball, everything I shot, went the way it was expected to. When you line up the shot and you can see the aimed track to assist you with your shot. When it’s your turn, you can easily switch between the sticks in your arsenal. You may not win them all, but when you do, it feels pretty good.
Let’s talk about the graphics and sound. The graphics are clear, things are very easily readable, and everything from the Pool Halls to the different sticks is detailed. ForeVR Games has always made it a priority to make sure the details are important and that continues here as well. With the sound, hearing the sound of the pool balls hitting from as much power to just the faintest touch can easily be heard and made out. If you want even more sound, enjoy the Juke Box where you see tips on the game to your favorite music that you can even share with the party, it’s all here for you to enjoy. And don’t forget, if you own any of the other ForeVR Games, you can travel to them from the lobby.
There are a few things I want to see get added. For one, tournaments. It would be fun to have a weekly tournament to see who is the best pool shark of them all and just watch those coins increase to even special limited tournament Pool sticks. Second, more Pool Halls. Don’t get me wrong it’s fun to play in the different ones that are included, but let’s get some famous Pool halls in here or even something really creative. And finally, more Pool games such as 9-Ball and Snooker.
ForeVR Pool continues with the foundation that ForeVR Games has laid out. To have some casual and social fun while not forgetting where it came from. In life, we sometimes try. With that trying, we learn to become who we were destined to always become and look back at the journey we made to get there. But it’s when we don’t try that we question why and start to look at ourselves. But once we look in that mirror and know what we have to do, we can start that journey to become the best versions of ourselves. And couldn’t we all take a little more time to look into that mirror?
ForeVR Pool is out now for the Quest 2 on the Oculus Store. A review code was provided.
To learn more about ForeVR Games, please visit the site, like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, follow them on Instagram, join them on Reddit, follow them on Twitch, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.
In case you missed the trailer, please enjoy. Until next time, I have more Pool to play.
