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Pool has always been associated with bad living. Once termed 'a misspent youth' (a criticism now usually reserved for video games), pool evokes visions of smoky rooms, grimy pint glasses and large pot-bellied bikers wearing Metallica T-shirts. A rather accurate description actually, but what would you rather have? Spotty Stevo Hendry and the paunchy middle-aged Snooker nerds? Nay thanks!

If you are too scared to get mum's new trainers scuffed by entering an iniquitous den of a Pool room, then I suppose this is the safe

Pool comes in many forms. The most common is called 'Eight Ball'. Played with fifteen balls, players choose to pot either solids (numbers 1-7) or stripes (numbers 9-15). Whoever pots their quota first gets to sink the blank to win.

The game is viewed from three different positions, for pin-point accuracy. When you line up a shot, the projected path is shown by the 'pro-aim'. The aimer makes the game somewhat easier than you might imagine.

1. Overhead
   To see the whole table setting.
2. Close Up
   The area around the cue ball and target. The close-up can scroll across the table.
3. Angled
   An isometric view of the layout which may aid positioning. The view can be rotated.

The game has more variations than the average Haydn sonata. Each is a subtle twisting of the rules. Some use less balls. Others feature a time limit, And others require you to name the ball before you pot it. There's also a 'party' option for up to eight players, or a Tournament set over US cities.

Whilst Championship Pool features realistic ball movement and plenty of options, playing it on a Megadrive was never going to be as good fun as the real thng. Mindscape have tried to incorporate loads of different games styles to counter this, but at the end of the day it still results in a rather tedious cart. If you want to play PBool, stick with the real thing. Like fruit machines, you've never going to get a decent Megadrive adaptation.

There is nothing spectacular about this conversion at all. To make Pool work on a console needs a more radical approach than is shown here.

In the end, Championship Pool gives you near total control of all factors, except those in the game itself. Variations, replays, spin are all catered for, but the actual gameplay is not that satisfying.

I'd really advise anyone who likes Pool to get out to a real club and play it. £40 buys a lot of games.

Graphics 51%
Drab. Simple balls and beize, and uninspiring presentation screens.

Sound 56%
Horrendous tunes, just like the grating 'Side Pocket' music.

Playability 56%
The programmer seems to take away the skill, and the point.

Lastability 50%
The options extend game life. But it isn't an attention holder.

Value For Money 44%
A bad idea, when you consider the price of a real Pool game.

Overall 51%
Pool for the most desperate of social inadequates.