Ludography
58/100
Critics1 review
Virtual Pool 64 cover

1998 · Celeris · Pool · Simulation

Virtual Pool 64

Nintendo exclusive

The ultra-real physics make Virtual Pool 64 as close to real pool as it gets! Choose from 9 types of pool including favorites like 9-Ball, Straight Pool, 8-Ball and One Pocket. Three levels of difficulty: Amateur, Professional and Championship. Master trick shots, learn a new game or challenge hundreds of computer opponents in exciting tournament play.

Released
17 December 1998
Platforms
Nintendo 64
Genres
PoolSimulationSports
Developers
Celeris
Publishers
Crave Entertainment
Modes
Single-player
Country
United States
Age ratings
ESRB E
Languages
English

About

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.

Keywords

  • pool
  • billiards
  • nintendo gateway system
  • nintendo 64 exclusive

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

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. 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.

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. 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.

Reception

Virtual Pool 64 received mixed reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. Nintendo Power said the game's graphics had "ultra realism", but also said the number of controls were confusing. 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."

Robin Alway of Arcade Magazine said that "the only faults are those you'd associate with any 3D game." Peer Schneider of IGN was "impressed" by the games physics engine, and called the visuals "exceptionally sharp." 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."

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Nintendo 6417 December 1998Worldwide

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Collections1 collection

Platform libraries

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.