PPPC

I’ve never been much of a pool hustler. My skill for pocketing balls is laughable at best. I might as well just close my eyes and take a lucky shot, because something is bound to go in! Pure Pool is, yes as the name implies, a game all about pool. I polished my wooden shaft and took to the virtual pub to see what it’s all about.

Upon each launch of the game, you are treated to an open table to mess around on. While I’m no fundi on the table in real life, I’m equally inexperienced virtually. This gave me the chance to learn the ins and outs of the game. Visually, it’s quite a treat. Check out the shine on those balls!

The controls are pretty simple. You can move around the ball much like you’d expect, but applying spin is also easy peasy. While close shots show you your planned projectile path and the possible outcome, long distance has you trying to figure out if you have the perfect angle or not. Thankfully, you can stand up and move around the table just to make sure your Pythagoras calculations are correct. It didn’t take long for me to start potting balls like a professional, at least at close range.

e3a74b93d6000fac7a6a2487afa9b40e

The atmosphere is honestly quite perfect. Moving around the table gives you glimpses of your surroundings. You’re in a very refined establishment which has a number of people enjoying the evening. Strangely enough, nobody is watching you play. It’s just you on your lonesome. At least there is the nice chilled jazz music to keep you company!

After some practice, I decide to kick off my career. I’m going to be the best in the business! I start off right at the bottom in an Amateur US 8-Ball competition. There are some AI bots to beat, as well as some side games to play such as speed pot or perfect potter . While winning each game against an opponent allows you to progress along the career tree, there is also a star system to take into consideration. Each match has 3 objectives to fulfil or goals to beat. The first for example, says I should win the game, win the game without any fouls, and pot a ball further than 160cm from the cue ball. Completing these will give me one star apiece. A certain number of stars is needed to progress to the next tier of the career. Completing a game yields experience which goes towards your account level.

While the objectives mentioned above are quite simple, they soon get to be rather challenging, especially for an amateur like myself. One of my earliest games wanted me to pot 5 balls in corner pockets consecutively. Another wanted me to beat my opponent in less than 130 seconds. While these are certainly achievable, it can be quite an annoyance when you just want to progress along your career, but are held back because you need to play the same opponent again and again just to grab that elusive star (especially if you are prone to OCD).

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Speaking of opponents, the AI is rather odd. There are games where my opponent came across as incredibly strong, pulling off some insanely precise spin shots to escape even the toughest of situations. Yet the very same opponent would almost blatantly miss what appeared to be an easy shot. While I get that this is needed to make the game fair for a human player, it just comes across as poorly disguised. If the AI is going to pretend to be human, their shots should come across as slightly miscalculated, not calculated disaster.

While the career path is long and will keep players busy for a long time, there is an online option too. I feel that the true strength of the game would lie here, but I was let down. There is no matchmaking function of any kind. Instead, you get to see who is online at any moment. You can then view their profile and decide whether you want to pose a challenge to them or not. I did several times, only to be left hanging forever. Some people may just be online to practice or further their career, which is why the game could really use a matchmaking feature. It would be great if I could just search, find somebody else who is searching too, and have my ass handed to me.

There were times when I did receive a challenge and I was gracious enough to accept. Oh ‘Cyrus9mm’, you think you and your level 35 account can beat me and my level 6? COME AT ME BRO! I was actually putting up quite the fight, at least before my game gave me a black screen and refused to do anything else. I restarted, with no option of resuming the match I had just been kicked out of.

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I continued with my career before ‘Cyrus9mm’ challenged me again. This time, we got through 2 games, making the score 1-1. Our third and deciding game was once more cut out by my game going completely black. I guess we will never know who was the better player. I hope the black screen and multiplayer is something they fix and improve in the near future.

Those weren’t the only problems I had with the game. While the visuals are neat, I don’t think they quite justify my PC roaring like a lion just to get any sort of work done. What the heck kind of physics are being calculated behind the scenes? I experienced some severe lag a good few times for no real reason.

I have two monitors, which means I like to run my games in a windowless border so I can move back and forth with ease. The game never had that option, forcing me to either play in windowed mode (at resolutions that just didn’t match my screen at all), or full screen. Yes, full screen is fine, and I should stop being a baby, right? I don’t know if this problem is unique to my set up, but there were dozens of times when I couldn’t move the mouse back and forth to hit the ball, simply because the game failed to register that it was the primary window. Even trying to grab screenshots proved to be fruitless, as the game window just didn’t seem to exist.

Pure Pool Screenshot2_26-06-14

I soon realised that my mouse was in desktop for some reason, and thus, not registering in-game. I canned my secondary screen and switched to one primary, only to have the same problem. If this is an issue that many people are experiencing, it is immensely frustrating. I can’t tell you how many shots I screwed up because the mouse was just not registering when I wanted it to. Playing in windowed mode at an odd resolution though, yielded the best game experience. I could make the most precise of shots, but only as the most miniscule of screen resolutions.

Last Updated: September 3, 2014

Pure Pool
While Pure Pool is a great pool simulator, the problems I had left me feeling snookered. If those issues could be ironed out, and multiplayer fixed with a proper matchmaking tool, it would honestly be a solid title to spend6.0 some time with. For now though, I’ve just resorted to keeping it in windowed mode, taking my shots now and then between the other games I play.
6.0
Pure Pool was reviewed on PC
68 / 100

94 Comments

  1. Rinceable

    September 3, 2014 at 15:38

    Only balls Martha can pocket come in teabag form *RUNS

    Reply

    • Alien Emperor Trevor

      September 3, 2014 at 15:44

      In a coin pocket, if you’re referring to his magical Gamescom experience.

      Reply

    • William6135

      September 3, 2014 at 22:24

      Anyone who needs an extra income, I can highly recommend this gig…… I worked it for 3 months and it helped me when I was between jobs…. I’ve earned $3000 in 10 days… Now I have a new job so I am not doing it anymore but I can say it’s a great source of extra monthly income. You can check it out here>http://www.moneygoogle/2014/8/11……,,,..

      Reply

  2. WarframedSquirrel

    September 3, 2014 at 15:40

    Saw you pop into this a few times… was wondering if you were reviewing it.

    Nice review man, graphics look really good for a pool game.

    Reply

    • Rock789

      September 3, 2014 at 15:52

      The graphics really are quite slick, I must say – I was impressed. Only gripe I have is with the background… Not sure about PC, but on the PS4 version there is only 1 background! You can custom the table, the stick and even the music… But not the background. Can kinda become slightly monotonous noticing the same person drinking the same drink at the same spot at the bar during every game…

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        September 3, 2014 at 15:55

        I think the word used on the restraining order taken out on you was “creepy” not “monotonous”.

        Reply

        • Rinceable

          September 3, 2014 at 15:55

          ouch, meany.

          Reply

        • Sith JJ

          September 3, 2014 at 15:58

          I find monotony quite creepy.
          And this in no way relates to any of the comments I’ve made about you being creepy.

          Reply

        • Rock789

          September 3, 2014 at 15:58

          Who told you that?! Did Alison tell you that? Coz she was bitter when we broke up!

          Reply

    • Spaffy

      September 3, 2014 at 16:25

      Graphics are nice yea, but I think the menu controls are pathetic.

      Reply

  3. Alien Emperor Trevor

    September 3, 2014 at 15:40

    Yoh. All dat innuendo.

    Reply

  4. Rock789

    September 3, 2014 at 15:48

    Nice review! 🙂

    I actually picked this up on PS4 about a month ago for, what I thought was quite a reasonable R100 (PS Plus discount). Looks and runs great. And actually have had a lot more fun with it than I thought I would.

    Thankfully the controller has performed flawlessly, so no messed up shots (at least none that I can blame the controller for). But am yet to try out the online multiplayer – EVERYONE seems to be level 30+ (where do they get the time?!). And I just don’t think little ol’ me, on level 7 at the moment, will pose much of a challenge.

    Reply

    • Rinceable

      September 3, 2014 at 15:49

      You never do *RUNS

      Reply

      • Rock789

        September 3, 2014 at 15:54

        Yeah, you better run! **waves shotgun in the air** 😉

        Reply

  5. Sith JJ

    September 3, 2014 at 15:51

    Why do I have the urge to get drunk and go to Stones now?

    Reply

    • Rock789

      September 3, 2014 at 15:52

      Lol! 🙂 Why is it that if you mention the words ‘drink’ and ‘pool’ in Cape Town, everyone says “Stones!” 😉 🙂

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        September 3, 2014 at 15:54

        Because Ellington’s wasn’t that great after it moved… if it’s even still open 😉

        Reply

        • Anonymous

          September 3, 2014 at 16:05

          Still open, walked past it a couple of month ago on a Saturday morning; looks a bit fucked up now.

          Reply

        • Spaffy

          September 3, 2014 at 16:27

          You don’t wanna go there.
          The rats walk on two legs, some with clothes on

          Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        September 3, 2014 at 15:54

        Why when anyone says steak or burgers they go Spur/Wimpy,pizza they go Pannos/Romans, chicken they go KFC/Nandos. Advertisement has programmed a generation of zombies.

        Reply

        • Sith JJ

          September 3, 2014 at 15:57

          I have a very simple rule for Saturday night pizza. Delivery.
          Because I’m sitting behind my pc screen relaxing and my food WILL come to me.

          Reply

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 15:59

            Yeah, I tried that once, years ago. Took me ages to get the cheese out of my hair and keyboard. That stuff runs everywhere. Also, the wife did not talk to me for a week.

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:00

            LOL. Luckily my study is right by the front door, so it takes me four steps to welcome my pizza into my house and pay the delivery guy.

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 16:01

            Yeah, I think that single sentence of yours, several of mistakes are pointed out.

            Get up, welcome and Pizza Delivery Guy, all important actions.

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:02

            Oh no.

          • Anonymous

            September 3, 2014 at 16:19

            Are there any decent pizza places left. I default to St. Elmos since they have at least decent woodfired pizzas.

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:23

            Same here. That’s about the only option I have in Cape Town. Stellenbosch has this amazing place that delivers, but since I moved to CT it’s all franchise food for me.

          • Anonymous

            September 3, 2014 at 16:27

            OOOoo now got a craving for Gino’s. Best take-away pizza was at the Spar at the top end of town next to the Helshoogte road.

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:31

            Oh wow. Gino’s. Yes.
            I don’t recall the pizza place up at the Helshoogte Spar actually.

          • Anonymous

            September 3, 2014 at 16:34

            Was in the Spar (well at least it was when I was last there 8 years ago), big woodfired oven in the back to the right as you walk in. Brilliant pizza for half the price of a Romans plastic pizza.

          • Spaffy

            September 3, 2014 at 16:35

            The bottle store there only closes at like 8.
            Was nogal suprised the other night

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:41

            Oh yes. IN the Spar. Hells yes. That was flippen great pizza. I lived there most my life, only moved away last year.

        • Rock789

          September 3, 2014 at 15:57

          Ain’t that the truth! 😉 Oh great… Now I have a craving for Spur!

          Reply

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 15:58

            Marinade? or spur?

          • Rock789

            September 3, 2014 at 16:02

            I could do either right now!

        • Skyblue

          September 3, 2014 at 15:58

          Shwarma/Falafel and they go ANAT. Zombie free chow and you’ll live longer :-p

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            September 3, 2014 at 16:02

            LOL

          • Anonymous

            September 3, 2014 at 16:06

            Except if you double up on the chilli sauce then you will dead by lunch tomorrow.

          • Skyblue

            September 3, 2014 at 16:07

            Lol yeah man, that chilli sauce is the bomb.

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          September 3, 2014 at 15:59

          Spur/Wimpy is the last place you go to for steak or a burger :/

          Reply

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 15:59

            Breakfast!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 3, 2014 at 16:00

            Yes, I like the breakfasts.

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:01

            Or as OVG calls them…early dinner.

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 16:03

            Ah, but eating bacon, eggs, sos and so on for supper is just awesome.

            Make a muffin:
            Muffin pan, oil the outside. Big piece of bacon (with fat, else dry). Break egg in. Feta cheese on top (or to taste, but cheese is needed, else, again, dry). Cherry tomato as you will, about ten minutes in the oven. Sorted.

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:04

            Next tasty Tuesday header pic is on you.

          • Skyblue

            September 3, 2014 at 16:04

            Sounds like you’re banting mate.

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 16:05

            Nah, just lazy and cannot stand wasting time cooking. But my food (I cook a lot) must still taste quite good, to us at least.

          • Skyblue

            September 3, 2014 at 16:07

            I also do a quite a bit of cooking as I’m getting older. I find it actually can be relaxing and those okes on Masterchef are poephols. Who knew?

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 16:09

            I cook more now, but less complicated meals than in my twenties. I used to cook all sorts of things, complicated recipes and stuff. I just do no care for it, so simple it must be.

            I made milk tart last week Thursday night (was not perfect in looks, but tasted just right), just because. Was quick and easy, 15 minutes prep in total, including rinsing and cleaning. That is ok by me.

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:11

            Dat milktart.

          • Spaffy

            September 3, 2014 at 16:30

            You sound like my wife.
            Except she’s still in her 20s

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 16:45

            And a woman

          • Spaffy

            September 3, 2014 at 16:49

            lol.
            Don’t get me wrong. I also love cooking, but my wife has these weird urges to just randomly make something. And most of the time it’s pretty decent

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 16:56

            Do not interfere! Just sit back, enjoy and clean up afterwards. Fair if fair and all that.

            My motto, my wife also likes to sometimes just do something “out there”

          • Rock789

            September 3, 2014 at 16:05

            That does sound amazing! I think this may be dinner tonight. 🙂

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 16:06

            is goood, just make sure egg is cooked, but not overcooked.

            And use muffin containes in the pan if you can, cause the mess to clean is not pretty

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:06

            I was thinking that too, but the gf already put me up to baking her pasta. 🙁

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 3, 2014 at 16:09

            So you’re pasta-whipped?

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:10

            I am.

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 16:07

            Yeah, me too. Suddenly, out of nowhere

          • Rock789

            September 3, 2014 at 16:04

            1st dinner! Followed shortly thereafter by tea and then elevensies… 😉

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:05

            Ah, excellent.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 3, 2014 at 16:09

            Don’t forget to leave room for brunch in the schedule too, most important meal of the day.

          • Rock789

            September 3, 2014 at 16:22

            Of course! Then it’s lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, supper, late night snack… All the good stuff! 😉

          • Hammersteyn

            September 3, 2014 at 16:02

            Tell that to the masses

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 3, 2014 at 16:02

            Console gamers, Spur/Wimpy is the last place you go to for steak or a burger. 😀

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:03

            Oh snap

          • Brady miaau

            September 3, 2014 at 16:04

            droll

          • Rock789

            September 3, 2014 at 16:04

            Ooooooo… You fiend! 😉

          • Hammersteyn

            September 3, 2014 at 16:04

            Bwahahaha

          • Skyblue

            September 3, 2014 at 16:05

            LOL!!

        • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

          September 3, 2014 at 16:10

          Those are pretty much the *last* places I go for all of those.

          Reply

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:14

            Not all of us can afford personal chefs and exclusive restaurants like you well-paid people from Lagz, Geoff.

          • Anonymous

            September 3, 2014 at 16:15

            All that MS and CoD bribe money they get.

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:15

            No doubt no doubt

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 3, 2014 at 16:17

            Bride money? I thought they got bribed out of wedlock.

          • Sith JJ

            September 3, 2014 at 16:19

            Don’t you know? Geoff is one of those import brides. No one at Lagz has yet admitted who ordered him though.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 3, 2014 at 16:21

            Which one is the princess bride though?

          • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

            September 4, 2014 at 07:13

            “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to braai.”

          • Rock789

            September 3, 2014 at 16:23

            You tell ’em JJ!! **hides behind JJ** 😉

          • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

            September 4, 2014 at 07:13

            Lulz. I have my own executive chef! His name is Mr Delivery.

        • Anonymous

          September 3, 2014 at 16:15

          Spur is great. You offload your kid (which has driven you to the pint of insanity in the mall) in the play area, down 3 500ml draughts then the burgers are brilliant. Ribs, wings and steak need at least 5 draughts before tasting good.

          Reply

          • Rock789

            September 3, 2014 at 16:26

            “driven to the pint of insanity”. I like your style, sir! And yes – alcohol and insanity go hand-in-hand! 🙂

          • Spaffy

            September 3, 2014 at 16:32

            Offload your kids lol.
            Sometimes I just leave them there.
            But someone usually notices 🙁

          • Hammersteyn

            September 3, 2014 at 16:41

            the pint of insanity? Someone needs a beer 😉

      • Sith JJ

        September 3, 2014 at 15:55

        Haha. It’s just one of those things everyone’s gone through.

        Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      September 3, 2014 at 15:53

      We had one but it closed, nobody felt it was worth paying R10 for a game of pool(like 7 years ago)

      Reply

    • Brady miaau

      September 3, 2014 at 16:00

      Ah, yes. Stones. Spent about 4 years at the stones in Hatfield. Walked in, and my drink was waiting for me at the bar.

      Why would I want to play pool in a game? Dunno, seems, wrong?

      Reply

  6. Aries

    September 3, 2014 at 15:54

    Had to play on the PS4 then

    Reply

  7. CAE9872

    September 3, 2014 at 18:06

    I liked the game – looks really good. And isn’t so easy even on lowest setting. Look forward to playing more in due course.

    Reply

  8. fred

    September 3, 2014 at 20:54

    Enjoying this one a lot on ps4 , … and it looks fantastic.

    Reply

  9. DadGamer

    September 4, 2014 at 09:45

    hey LG. I can’t find an admin email address, so I”m just gonna comment here – I hope you read this. The new layout is cool and all, but can we please add the platform(s) the game was reviewed upon somewhere up in the header?

    I had to read most of this review before i realised it was on PC.

    shot! 🙂

    Reply

  10. Sageville

    September 4, 2014 at 14:21

    It’s totally unrealistic!

    I don’t see a single pile of R2s anywhere on that table

    Reply

  11. DrKiller

    September 4, 2014 at 15:15

    Is this pool game better than Pool Nation?

    Reply

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