System: Valve Index, HTC Vive & Oculus Rift
Price at Time Of Review: £2.79
Comfort Rating: Green
Genre: Puzzle
Input: Tracked Motion Controllers
Best Playing Position: Standing or Sitting
Multi-Player: Yes
Age Rating: 15+
VR Shop Score 1/100: 70
Description: Since the 1600s, many variations of the game of billiards and cue sticks have been played. In the 1600s it was a noble game, played by King’s and Princes, and widely known enough to be referenced by Shakespeare. In the 1900s, it’s association with gambling and disreputable underground clubs made it synonymous with the decline of morals, especially in regards to youths. In the late 1900s and early 2000s, it became more widely accepted, found in rec rooms all throughout the world.
After the great starship migration of the 2300s, the space pilgrims adapted the game to work in low gravity. Originally known as “Gravity Pool”, the name was shortened to “GravPool” for brevity. Though the space migration has since ended, through your handy SimZin connection (or an old HTC Vive Virtual reality system if you are an antique collector), you can play a simulated version of this game that was used by lonely space pilgrims to pass the time.
It is a modification of the flat, frictionless physics game into the third dimension. Instead of aiming for pockets on a flat plane, you have six degrees of freedom with which to aim your shots. There are some new obstacles that make things a little more chaotic. If you want to bend the laws of physics and get a little crazy, or are just interested in the historical significance of the game, GravPool may be up your alley.
Review: When I am still waiting for a decent normal pool game in VR along comes GravPool to offer us all something a little different. This is probably the weirdest game of pool you will ever play. In fact, it is so different if it wasn’t for the coloured and numbered pool balls you wouldn’t have a clue what it is. But does that make this better than a normal game of pool? No, definitely not, but it does stand out from the crowd and for £2.79 with multiplayer options I do think this is worth a look. It’s different, it’s weird, but it’s also a real challenge and something fun to play with friends.
