There was a time, way back when on the Playstation 2 when I used to quite enjoy playing a snooker game. I never had any interest in watching it on television or anything like that, but there was something about a snooker game on console that I enjoyed. It’s been a long time since I’ve really tried playing a snooker game, in fact the closest I’ve come to any sort of snooker would be a pool table with a couple of pints nearby. Snooker Nation Championship has just been released via Game Preview on Xbox One, and I was given the chance to give it a go.
As this isn’t a full release game this will be more of an impressions article, and as such I won’t be rating the game. I will however have a brief look at what the game currently offers, and advise whether it is worth investing in, and maybe even throw out some suggestions on where I feel the game needs to improve or change. So if you are slightly interested in snooker (how many times can I type the word snooker within the first two paragraphs!?), and may like a video game version of it, then read on.
For the life of me, I can’t tell anything different between the gameplay on Snooker Nation Championship to those games I played all those years ago. Even playing the flash snooker games on the internet give a similar experience to the top down camera view. Now, this isn’t really a dig, because I’m not really sure how much can really be done with the mechanics and gameplay in a snooker game. It may be that the more in depth controls such as spin, cue position etc. are second to none, but due to my lack of technical knowledge of the sport, I can’t comment on that. But purely from a ‘casual’ standpoint, this is very much ‘same old’. But, if you’re just looking for a snooker game for the Xbox One, ‘same old’ may be totally fine.
There is enough here to keep you busy aswell. Along with practice mode, local and online versus there is also a career mode. Good stuff. My current gripe with it though, is the lack of ability to save midway through a game, and then come back to it later. From a personal point of view, this is the sort of game that I’d like to pick up, play for a few frames (check me out with the lingo!), and then put down again. This is nigh on impossible in career mode. The qualifying stages to a tournament are all 1 frame games, but when you get to the first round it shoots up to best of 19, and upwards from there. Even if you win 10 in a row, you could be playing for a good hour. And I’m not sure even the most hardened snooker fan would want to do that all the time. An option to save your progress during a game would be most welcome at some point. Whether that actually gets introduced is to be seen I guess.
It looks like there will be more modes added aswell, with the arrow to scroll through game type in place, just not functioning yet could point to a Pool mode being introduced down the line. Visually, the game looks fine, not quite as polished as Pool Nation FX, but as with any game in preview format there is time to improve that. There is also no actual character models in place yet which means the cues are just floating. There is also no commentary, and limited crowd noises. All additions that I would expect to see if and when the game ever gets a full release.
So down to the question - is it worth investing? For £4.79 you are getting a snooker game that is in a very playable state. And with no other options currently on Xbox One, if you’re looking for one, then this is obviously a good shout. Due to the investment cost I’d have to say that this is a preview game that is worth a try if you’re hankering for a game of this type. If this were a more expensive purchase then I’d likely say no. But you get plenty of gameplay and no issues with the mechanics. Just remember, that this is a game that could still improve, or even get worse. It may stagnate and not move from where it is. Most of the additions from my point of view are aesthetic and audio, and anything more than that would be a bonus. Someone who is well versed in a snooker game may think differently, but from a casual point of view, this would scratch the itch if you have one.