Review: Pool Bar - For iPad & iPhone 4 - Most Realistic Pool Game?
by Staff Writer
August 2, 2010
Update
Pool Bar was relatively minimalistic when we first covered it, but the most recent 1.2.3 update has changed the game considerably. The biggest addition is Game Center allowing for online multiplayer as well as online high scores and achievements. Connecting via Game Center is easy whether you want to play a friend or auto match, and then once in the match you can text chat, or actually chat over the microphone.
The chatting over microphone requires WiFi for both, but it's a very neat integration allowing you to talk live with your opponent. The game already had a great graphical and physics engine for the most realistic pool experience around. Now being able to play online plus adding achievements and high score tables really make this update a game changer.
If you want to play pool on your iDevice look no further than Pool Bar with the best pool engine, and the best online multiplayer system. A definite should buy for $2.99.
Overview & Features
Do you want to see the most realistic looking pool game on the iPad, well Pool Bar may just be it. Pool Bar includes 8 Ball in US and UK styles, plus 9 ball that you can play as single player and two player on the same device. The game features four characters to play as, but that’s about it.
The Good
Pool Bar is definitely the nicest looking pool game in the App Store, and one of the best looking overall. The physics engine is superb making the pool balls act as realistically as you could imagine in a digital state. The animations of the balls rolling across the table with the varying camera angles is a sight worth showing your idevice off.
The game offers a classic game of pool in three varieties, and as much as you can play on a regular pool table you could theoretically play on this game. Single player is shallow going against computer players with one of three difficulties. Multiplayer is good though letting you switch the iPad back and forth between players trying to win head to head.
The game controls well, though it’s different than other pool games in the App Store, so it takes a little to get used to. You control the aim of your shot by dragging in front of the cue ball, and you control power by dragging the cue forward. The game picks up the speed you push forward very accurately to put the proper speed on each shot.
The Bad
There is a severe lack of content. The outstanding pool engine is in place, but there isn’t much content to use that engine. Single player is just a game against the computer with no stat keeping.
You can play together with someone on one device as much as you want though, replay is somewhat limited. The computer players themselves are quite difficult, so you better not miss often. There are considerable load times between turns, and you need to remember to tap to advance from switch turn screen to gameplay.
There are many other pool games in the App Store that feature things such as career mode, online play, and unlockable items. Pool Bar also lacks a way for super fine precision on your shot, or the ability to turn off guidance.
The Verdict
Pool Bar is the best pool experience on the iPhone with the visuals and physics engine. The features are severely lacking which really takes away from the game as a whole. Pool Bar is the same game on the iPad and iPhone 4, though it’s easier to control on the iPad with the bigger screen.
For $2.99 Pool Bar is worth considering depending on if you just want a real pool experience, or want a more feature rich pool game.
