Bankshot Billiards 2
Posted January 13, 2006
Bankshot Billiards 2 was in the first batch of Xbox Live Arcade games for the Xbox 360. Created by Pixelstorm, this online arcade game takes the gamer to the green felt table to play several various types of pool. The presentation of the game is fairly straightforward. The menu system is easily navigable as well as the various options when setting up a game, online or offline. This game costs an expensive 1200 points and comes in at a wee bit over 36 megs. It can also be found included with the Xbox Live 12 month starter pack that sells for $69.99 in stores. In addition, there are 12 achievements worth 200 GamerScore points up for grabs. 
Gameplay:
There are 9 types of pool games to choose from: 8-Ball, 9-Ball, Euro 8 Ball, 3 Ball, 14.1 Continuous, Cutthroat, Golf, Trick Shots, and Time Trial. Each mode is accurate to the rules of the game. Some of the types, such as Trick Shots, are single player only. The rest can be played against the built-in AI or a human opponent over Xbox Live. The difficulty of the AI can be adjusted in the options menu.
The controls are simplistic, but effective. The player has the option of rotating the stick around the cue ball along with adjusting the power of the shot and allowing for ball spin. Arrows designate the direction of the shot at all times. The physics engine used within the game seems to take everything into account like the friction of the table or the contact between the rest of the balls on the table. One negative factor to the controls has to do with the fixed camera. The birds eye view over the table just doesn't cut it when lining up a tough shot.
Graphics:
Besides the sleekly designed menu, the main view for every game is an over head shot of a pool table filled with shiny balls and a rotating cue stick. The textures, while bland, serve the purpose for the game. The slight lighting effects off the surface of the balls is decent as well. Other than that, there is nothing going on in the background of the table. It would have been nice to see a simple background of a pool hall or a sports bar to give more life to the game.
Audio:
Pixelstorm really did an excellent job capturing the sound effects for each shot. From a single bank shot to the breaking of the balls at the start, the accuracy of the sound effects is spot on. Alternatively, the music is quite forgettable and annoying. After hearing the same horrific midi song over and over, I'm always desperate to crank up my own tunes.
Conclusion:
This is perhaps the most feature packed arcade game on Xbox Live Arcade at present, but is it really worth 15 bucks to play online pool? The most expensive game on Xbox Live Arcade is about as fun as beating your head against the wall. While Pixelstorm did an excellent job with the overall quality and the amount of features packed into the game, they just couldn't make a video game pool simulation entertaining. I can't even recommend this game to pool fanatics as I'm sure they would rather be at a real table. Save your 1200 points for anything else.
Gameplay:
There are 9 types of pool games to choose from: 8-Ball, 9-Ball, Euro 8 Ball, 3 Ball, 14.1 Continuous, Cutthroat, Golf, Trick Shots, and Time Trial. Each mode is accurate to the rules of the game. Some of the types, such as Trick Shots, are single player only. The rest can be played against the built-in AI or a human opponent over Xbox Live. The difficulty of the AI can be adjusted in the options menu.
The controls are simplistic, but effective. The player has the option of rotating the stick around the cue ball along with adjusting the power of the shot and allowing for ball spin. Arrows designate the direction of the shot at all times. The physics engine used within the game seems to take everything into account like the friction of the table or the contact between the rest of the balls on the table. One negative factor to the controls has to do with the fixed camera. The birds eye view over the table just doesn't cut it when lining up a tough shot.
Graphics:
Besides the sleekly designed menu, the main view for every game is an over head shot of a pool table filled with shiny balls and a rotating cue stick. The textures, while bland, serve the purpose for the game. The slight lighting effects off the surface of the balls is decent as well. Other than that, there is nothing going on in the background of the table. It would have been nice to see a simple background of a pool hall or a sports bar to give more life to the game.
Audio:
Pixelstorm really did an excellent job capturing the sound effects for each shot. From a single bank shot to the breaking of the balls at the start, the accuracy of the sound effects is spot on. Alternatively, the music is quite forgettable and annoying. After hearing the same horrific midi song over and over, I'm always desperate to crank up my own tunes.
Conclusion:
This is perhaps the most feature packed arcade game on Xbox Live Arcade at present, but is it really worth 15 bucks to play online pool? The most expensive game on Xbox Live Arcade is about as fun as beating your head against the wall. While Pixelstorm did an excellent job with the overall quality and the amount of features packed into the game, they just couldn't make a video game pool simulation entertaining. I can't even recommend this game to pool fanatics as I'm sure they would rather be at a real table. Save your 1200 points for anything else.