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Genre: Sports sim game
Developer: SDGames
Requirements: iPhone 2.1 Software Update
Compatibility: iPhone and iPod touch
Version Reviewed: 1.1
File Size: 5.4MB
Price:  $2.99
Age Rating: 4+

I’m not sure how you can call a game whose character’s are merely names Killer Pool, but here we are. You know the routine. It’s billiards, and there aren’t any surprises. You get smooth graphics, fun gameplay and enough difficulty to make it painfully challenging. What more could you ask for?

Everything about this game is easily accessible. The menus are clear, the controls are obvious. It also feels familiar, because we’ve all played pool in the past. So, it’s not hard to know what to do. It automatically points you in the direction of the most obvious shot you should take, so you don’t really even have to know all of the rules to play. Just let the game guide you if you’re uncertain.

And the controls are super-intuitive. There’s the standard stuff like move the stick side to side to aim and then up and down to shoot. But what really surprised me was how awesome the camera controls are. Other games could learn a thing or two from Killer Pool about camera controls (I’m talking to you, Payback). Want to move the perspective or move the camera out a bit and get a look from above? Well, you already know how to do that, because those are standard mutlitouch gestures. While I’m perfectly content sitting down and reading a manual cover to cover before I use something, I do enjoy when it’s completely unnecessary. The developer wisely takes advantage of what you already know. Don’t reinvent the wheel, just use it. Major points here.

The graphics are nice and slick. The billiard balls have some sort of reflection to them, though it could be a smidgen better. The frame rate is very smooth and everything looks good, so there isn’t much to complain about. Don’t get me wrong, the graphics are actually quite appealing, but this is to be expected from the screenshots.

There are only a few things that I don’t like about this game. For one, I’d really like to see an environment around the table. Apparently, this pool table is floating in a void.  I also found myself wishing to be able to access the menu while the virtual opponent was thinking/playing. Currently, you cannot; so if you decide you don’t like the game you’re playing, but don’t want to fully exit the app, you’ll have to wait. And what’s with the game’s grammar? I’m sick of it referring to me as “They.” Just one guy, here, thanks. And lastly, I’d just like to see more table styles etc. There are three choices now, but I think they can do more.

I really like this game. It’s a great choice for your iPhone. It’s cheap, it’s fun, and I think billiards is one of those things that doesn’t ever get old, like kids falling in YouTube videos or images of cats speaking without any regard for grammar whatsoever.  As a result, I don’t think this will be one of those titles that you play twice, forget about for weeks and eventually delete.