Premium Pool Arena Pops Up On The Switch eShop Today

I can't wait until a hot tub game comes to switch.

I used to play a similar pool game on my PC back in the early 90s, so this intrigues me.

If it reviews well I may bite. Used to really like SIDE POCKET for Mega Drive back in the day and similar games in the arcade.

€10? Are they mad? I've Pool games on my phone and they're free. I'd possibly buy it when it's heavily discounted. Not to mention it looks like it has microtransactions.

Edit: Here's the real kick in the balls, it's €1.99 on Steam. #Switch Tax

Bought it , like it

That's one expensive shovelware.

I actually made something not too dissimilar to this in flash for one of my university assignments.

Used to play something similar to this on some site back in the early 2000’s. Free on there but I figure this may be a little better. It was on a candy site or something if I remember right

@Savino There is online.

Too pricey for me. I like these games on the go and play them free but good for those who don't have a smartphone

I wish someone would make a Lunar Pool 2...

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Ah is there actually online in the Switch version? Doesnt mention it on the eshop listing or the trailer (where it specifically says "Play against a friend in your house" or something as weird).

If its got online, I'm biting.

@pbb76 It's right there at the 10 second mark in the trailer.

I like a pool game. Not sure about it just being top down only, not to mention I have a good one on the iPad already.....I’ll hold fire. A 7 or abovereview May swing it for me I suppose.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Not on the eshop it isnt! Looks like its cropped out and as I say the only other mention is "play against your friends at home" which is a very specific thing to say.

Have you got it and actually seen online multiplayer?

@SLIGEACH_EIRE ...also, I'd say thats the Steam trailer...

Loved Pool Paradise on the Cube with all the different modes and versions, probably won't come but would like to see it on the Virtual Console.
Hope this plays well.

@cmk8 That was indeed a good game.

@pbb76 You're right about the trailer. I've watched the Switch specific trailer on the Nintendo UK website and it makes no mention of online nor in the game details.

https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Premium-Pool-Arena-1335737.html#Gallery

And yes, that line of "play against your friends at home" is worrisome. If it has no online, the game's dead to me. €10 for an inferior version that's €2 on Steam and has online? Not a chance!

I have just bought this and can confirm there is NO online play. only local multiplayer which is a real shame. hopefully we see an update but i doubt it.

@gamermole At least that confirms it, well done for taking "one for the team"

Be interested to hear what you think of the gameplay tho and if it has much longevity etc.

@gamermole Right, thanks, that's another game I can forget about.

@pbb76

no "story mode" just practice, beginner,hard,expert,hardcore these are all single games and theres the multiplayer etc. i dont mind pool games and the gameplay seems ok. although with the pro controller the analogue input is a little too sharp and the aim keeps going either side of the cue ball instead of the centre where i want it (if you understand that) this can probably be adjusted in the options and i will look into that..........................

can i ask nintendo life to please replace that trailer with th eswitch trailer as the reason i bought this game was for the online play i saw in that trailer. dang i should have bought floor kids haha.

I'm in North America and we call it pool. In fact I've never heard anyone call it 8 ball. Unless they are specifically making the distinction between 9 ball and 8 ball rules.

i believe itis traditional 8 ball rules here that apply. pot all the spots or stripes and then the black. not the rules wherte you pot the balls in number order then the black. its very similar to the red and yellow pool rules of the uk.

With only a simple top down view this doesn't really scream sophistication.

It’s a shame the touchscreen doesn’t work for the menu. It’s yet another case of menus looking tappable but not being.

Handy "it should be in a tutorial" hints.
The two thumbsticks don’t work independently. You can’t aim with one stick, and move a free-ball with the other thumbstick. You need to hit "y" to switch modes, then use the one single thumbstick to do it, and hit y to flip back again.
.. and in your first game, with a very rapid timer before the game punishes you with a "missed turn" that can be one heck of a stumbling point.

To "hit" you need to HOLD the a button to charge power. A "tap" will indeed just tap the cue ball in a horrible useless way.. You quickly learn this, but being told would’ve bloomin' well helped.

The "Gold to Play" thing is (as far as I can tell) only ever using Ingame currently. (I can’t find a way to Pay for coins) What appears to be a horrific IAP freak show, turns out to be nothing of the sort. I imagine that would give the game a bad name. Don’t be scared by that. If you see a review that mentions the "price", but doesn’t mention that you can’t pay except using Ingame earned currency, do the reviewer a favour and gripe about their mistake!
(Although, I’m ready to be proved wrong... .. and very much expect it, given how prepared for that it seems to be!)

@gordjscott Do you mean Virtual Pool? I used to love that on my computer, though this one somehow seems more limited if it doesn't offer the ability to walk around the table and view from other angles besides overhead:
https://www.mobygames.com/game/virtual-pool

@KIRO which one do you play on the iPad? I've been looking for a good billiards game for my iPad!

@meppi I second this!
I got other pool games that I'm just fine with. I think I'll pass on this.

Popped up on the North American eshop today as well FYI

"If you are partial to a cheeky game of pool (or 8-ball to our North American chums)"

We also call it pool. Billiards if we are trying to sound sophisticated.

Any more thoughts on this. @Jayenkai? I'm sorely tempted to get it...

Whats the longevity like in;

Daily Challenges
Challenges
Unlocking stuff/trophies
vs AI mode - different difficulties?
Is there a tournament mode vs AI? Anything apart from 1 single matches

Thanks!

Looks a bit like the Team17 classic Arcade Pool from the 90’s ......but I suspect it’s not as good . That one had a ton of game modes - Killer , UK 8 ball etc .......now I’d pay to play that again on Switch !

@pbb76 Apologies, but I honestly couldn’t say. The (admittedly minor) gripes that I had with the game we’re enough to make me quit and boot up BOTW for a couple of hours, instead!

If I find time to play properly, I’ll let you know.
..but it’s certainly no ArcadePool.
I keep meithering Team17 on Twitter, about an iOS release. Maybe I should add "and Switch" to my nagging

@Jayenkai yea no worries. I dived in anyways. It’s not too bad. Looks a decent amount of content.

Billiard is coming to the Switch next week. It looks decent and is cheap(800¥ or about €6). However, it too doesn't have online multiplayer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IzlTV0p6Bg

Once you set the angle and impact position on your cue ball, just adjust your power, pull back, and thrust the Joy-Con to make your shot! The HD Rumble will make it feel like you’re really hitting that cue ball!

Includes the 3 most popular billiard games and 1 original game. 9 Ball, 8 Ball, Rotation, and Basic Game for a total of 4 game modes!

– Enjoy the classic game of 9 Ball!
– Another classic that can really get heated: 8 Ball!
– A blast once you get the rules, Rotation!
– Enjoy beating your own high score in Basic Game!

Get a sense of achievement in the single player Tournament Mode! Enter billiards tournaments in different countries all over the world!

Complete with the ability to play head to head on a single Nintendo Switch?! Compatible with 3 game types. Whether on a big screen TV or in tabletop mode, you can enjoy this realistic, 3D billiards game anytime, anywhere, and with anyone!

@SLIGEACH_EIRE ARGH!!! No way just bought Premium Pool ffs... anyways, here are my thoughts;

I dunno... I can see some people HATING it and I feel like its going to get bad review scores, but if you temper expectations its a decent package. The physics are not super realistic really, think Arcade Pool by Team17 from back in the day. Its a decent representation, but dont expect to be wowed by how the balls move... they feel a bit heavy I guess.

There is an annoying trail behind balls when you hit them that you cant turn off. Again, nothing you wouldnt know if you watched the trailer. Be a nice option to disable though (like on Pinball FX3).

It does have a decent amount of content though, despite the lack of online.
Single match
Tournament - (play through 3 matches in knockout format against varying AI - about 8 levels here, so plenty to beat).
Timed - see how quick you can clear the table
Local multiplayer
Daily Challenges - looks like these rotate daily to earn XP and are things like "pot 100 balls"
Also there is a "shop" for you to buy new cues and balls using in game currency. There are no IAP, this is just earned through playing matches and unlocking achievements etc.

Controls could have been done better. That is pretty much the mantra for the entire game I'd say.

Is £8 too much?... possibly. Its the sort of game you can get for 99p on iOS (or its actually £1.69 on Steam with online MP), but the portability and form factor of having it on Switch and TV is nice.

I'm at peace with it as I knew it wasnt going to be amazing, so its met my expectations and I'm also a sucker for top down pool games.

I’ve tried playing it for a while, today.
They NEED to add an option to turn off the timer.
SERIOUSLY.
Trying to play Local Multiplayer, whilst passing the controller between players, whilst toggling between "move ball" and "aim cue", all within what feels like 5 seconds...?
It’s absolutely killing the game for me.

I really like the game , not a bad price either , multiplayer is cool