Zeppelin
£3.99 cassette
091 385 775
Reviewer: Jon Pillar

Fish out your chalk and dim the lights - it's time for another rousing session of cueing, racking and caroming.

Affectionately known as US3D, this is a pool game that also includes options to play billiards and to set up trick shots. It's for one or two players and it jumps out of the screen at you in glorious three dimensions. Sounds familiar? That's right. But let's skip diplomatically over the similarities with Kixx's 3D Pool. (Cough.)

Just for a change, we'll start with the bad news. The graphics are awful. The shaded monochrome of Kixx's game left everything (fairly) clear. In US3D, the attempt at full colour has just resulted in a frightful mess. Admittedly the display is extremely fast, but if there are more than three balls on the table then it collapses into a mass of clashes. Fortunately, this doesn't affect the gameplay; you plan your shots using a simple overhead view of the table.

So why, you may ask, is the 3D option included at all? Who knows what lurks in the minds of programmers? It looks like a 2D program that had a 3D option clipped on at the last minute. Tsk.

AND ON THE PLUS SIDE...

Right, that's the grumpy bit over with. As a game, US3D is incredibly good. You can play against the Speccy or a pal, or up to eight of either with the tournament option. Control is by the wibble-a-cursor-around-the-screen-then-add-a-bit-of-spin method, and it works very well. As a bonus, the Speccy plays differently for each of its eight personae - so you don't have to worry about finding yourself being constantly beaten by an electronic pool shark. The game is tremendous fun - I found myself playing continuously for a whole afternoon, just trying to beat all the Speccy players. Did I win? Need you ask?

If you cast your eyes back to the top of the page, you'll notice that I mentioned the options for playing billiards and trick shots. The latter has nine set-ups in memory, and you'll have your work cut out to solve the third. As for billiards... well, I didn't really play billiards at all. A quick conscience-calming bash showed it was as decent as the pool game, but I'm afraid billiards isn't my glass of bubbly water. On the strength of the pool part alone, I'd urge you to wander out and buy US3D. It is just so playable. And then some.

SUPER GAME GUIDE

Following on from last month's frollicking funderland of fabbo games still available for the Speccy, Mark 'Cor Blimey Guv' Patterson gives us the lowdown on another batch of game greats from the pages of the world's most SU-per Speccy mag. The sheer number and variety of games is bewildering but since bewilderment is Marky's lot he's definitely the best man to give 'em a go...

AMERICAN 3D POOL
Label: Zeppelin
Memory: 48/128K
Price: Tape £3.99
Reviewer: Mike Patterson

This Pool sim takes a novel angle over its competitors by letting you view the table from almost any angle. This makes it a lot easier to line up those trick shots.

In addition to the basic pool game, there's also a version of billiards, which is a bit dull, but adds greatly to the value for money factor. However good, this is really a game for pool fans only.

Label: Zeppelin
Memory: 48K/128K
Price: £3.99 Tape
Reviewer: Toni Naquvi

"Quiet please, the players are about to begin."" As the greasy haired bloke with the double chin and the monkey suit would say.

Yes folks, it's time to chuck on the ol' suit and bow tie and dim the lights 'cos snooker's here again. Well, actually it's American 3D Pool, but let's not argue about it. This game basically allows you to choose between pool or billiards although both games are the same as far as I'm concerned.

American 3D Pool is essentially a full 3D perspective pool and billiards simulation, but also boasts loads of other features including; two camera angles, automatic ball return, unique ball viewfinder for short range accuracy, 8 player tournaments, trick shot editor and 9 preset trick shots, to name but a few! The fast action, realistic gameplay and lots of colourful sprites make this game attractive as well as exciting even when playing a less than friendly 'friendly' competition against the 9 "hustler" levels of your computer opponent.

When playing pool, a one player game can be played against the computer or, alternatively you can try a two player game and attempt to hustle a friend. The idea of the game is to pot 3 balls of the same colour, then the black. Your colour is decided by the first ball you pot. This computer version has been made very realistic by featuring lots of realistic rules and situations. For example; hitting your opponent's ball before your own results in a foul and two shots are given to the other player, while potting the black before you should results in the other player winning the game. Games are played in straight sets, the winner being the one with the most sets.

In billiards, there are two cue balls, one white and one yellow. There is also a red 'play' ball, the winner being the one who reaches the set amount of points first. At the Break, the cue ball can be positioned anywhere in the D by pressing the fire button. Pressing and holding down the fire button increases your shot power. Pool and billiards both have a tournament option, where up to 8 players can battle it out in a knockout competition. The Trick Shot Editor allows special shots to be created by pressing certain keys. An extra feature with this game is an Action replay of the last shot taken.

Sound is very realistic, which adds to the excitement, making American 3D Pool extremely addictive. Unfortunately there is an occasional blur in the otherwise excellent graphics but this doesn't effect overall gameplay at all. Definitely a Smashin', Chillin', Skillin', Kickin' experience that promises to have your mum prising you off your Speccy for dinner - if you're into that sort of thing!

ALAN: Wow, who said you had to spend all your time in pubs and pool halls to have a misspent youth, now you can have one in the comfort of your own home with a slice of carrot cake on one side of your Speccy and a glass of mineral water on the other - Steve Keen (remember him?) swears by this method. A good pool slm for the price, worth a look.