Pool Panic

This game is like entering someone’s manic fever-dream world which is filled at every turn with unexpectedly delightful mini-games and challenges that loosely use the medium of pool to provide an ever-growing sense of joy and wonderment as you constantly stumble across surprising novelties in a sprawling landscape of intrigue. A must play in local co-op if you enjoy a buffet of utter chaotic delight.

This is a wildly off-kilter game. If you've gone straight to the reviews without looking at the promotional material, seriously, stop reading and go watch the video. Then come back. I mean, most people do this but there's some small fraction who don't. I don't know why either. There's a category of intentionally weird games. "What the Car?" comes to mind readily here. It's sort of the same deal--take something inherently predictable (road racing time trials, or playing pool) and then twist it all up with non-sequitor humour. Here, you are sinking balls into pockets, all billiards/pool styles. It's just each and every scenario is a vignette that obfuscates how you'll beat the level. I called them vignettes, because every scenario is a tiny little story, a little scene if you will. Why is the cue ball in a biker bar? Why is he in a farm? Why is he in an factory? Well, respectively, to beat up other bikers, to herd sheep, to get the machinery running. You do all that by sinking balls into pockets. Where the pocket is and how to do it varies, and that's the challenge: Finding out what the gimmick of that specific vignette is, finding out where the pockets are or what actions you need to do, find out what the balls are and what their logic is (sometimes the balls move around under their own volition), and then sink those balls. Sink all the balls, without fouling (whatever that is, which can also vary), within a tight time limit, with a limited number of strokes, and get trophies. The trophies lead to achievements. If you're not wired for trophies or awards, then you move on. If you are the sort who needs to gold medal everything, who has to get all the achievements, this game will keep you busy, I tell you what. It may drive you nuts, though I guess you could find some videos online that break everything down or something. That's not my cup of tea but vive la difference, eh? Now, all that aside, the game itself has got a lot of character to it, and the balls are expressive. It's kinda fun. That said, some levels are a bit aggravating and opaque, and I find myself stopping out of annoyance. I've come back to it later, after a break. You can, if all else fails, just keep hammering at it and eventually win, with no harm other than fewer trophies. And, sometimes, they spring out something a bit different to make it novel. I've played a round of Qix in the guise of rooting tigers out of wheat fields. I've had a wild west shootout. I've played something very, very loosely Discs of Tron-esque. And, finally, you can play this with others. No idea how that'd even work, and I bet it'd be really aggravating. But that's also the nature of this game. You could do a whole lot worse with those $18 Canadian dollars (or less when it's on discount); that doesn't even cover the cost of a decent burger and fries anymore. So you might as well support something indie AF with some good style.