Pool has often been regarded as snooker's poorer, slightly seedier little brother. Whereas hanging around smoky snooker halls has a certain East End gangster kudos to it, sticking 50p pieces into pool tables in a smelly youth club definitely does not. Plus the endless variations of regional rules and the unfamiliar US version of 8-Ball, means it may alienate potential potters. Luckily for us, we can now enjoy playing with balls in the comfort of our own living rooms thanks to Manchester-based developer, Blade.

Coming from the same people behind the excellent World Championship Snooker 2003, WC Pool 2004 retains the look and feel of its predecessor, and this is by no means a bad thing. The same basic gameplay mechanics apply, though things have been given a white-gloved polish, as all the balls now boast more impressive reflections than ever. Driven by superior ball physics, they now behave exactly as they would do in real life, meaning subtlety is just as important as power when playing off cushions and the like. They sound very authentic, with differently pitched 'clacks' matching the intensity of impact.

Playing pool requires just as much positional forward thinking as snooker, so use of the handy aiming aid is invaluable and, for the majority of shots, vital. They precisely dictate where the object ball will go once struck, and equally importantly, where the cue ball will go after it's struck the object ball. All other factors that determine the type of shot, like top spin, side, screw-back and pace can all be fine-tuned, and holding down the Left trigger will adjust these within millimetres, making for an absorbing and immersive simulation experience.

There's no tutorial as such to ease into the cuing action, but the inclusion of a Free Table option allows you to hone your technique and not worry about the constraints of a competitive match before the main game. The self-explanatory Pool option lets you compete in 8-Ball and 9-Ball matches, along with the customary Career mode, where you can create a player then lead them from obscurity to World Champion. Several of the top-ranked players are licensed to the game, and while you may not recognise Earl 'The Pearl' Strickland or Francisco Bustamante, you may recall our very own Steve Davis, who lights up the pool world in his own inimitable way.

The rules of pool may be unfathomable to some, but thanks to the handy commentary and intuitive controls, things quickly fall into place. We're more familiar with 8-Ball as Brits, where one player is spots and the other stripes, determined by whoever makes the first pot. Once all a player's balls are sunk, they must pot the black (8-Ball) to win. Alternatively, 9-Ball involves the first player to sink a ball, pot the rest in numerical order, and regardless who has potted the most balls, whoever sinks the 9 wins.

Coupled with the regular game, there's also a multitude of trick shots and mini games to spice up the felty fun. Multiplayer is of course included, though there's no doubles option, a common category of international competition. Compensating for this however, is the inclusion of Xbox Live play, where you can take on fellow hustlers in both 8- and 9-Ball matches. Specific rules can also be effectively customised to suit any regional preferences, so there should be no arguments with the Yanks about where the white should go.

But WC Pool 2004 isn't without its flaws, like the way more emphasis has been placed on ball design rather than character animation, resulting in ugly players (that bear only a remote resemblance to their real-life counterparts) jerkily making their way around the table. But although pool may not be to everyone's taste, you'll not find a more comprehensive billiards sim out there. Ball-busting bliss.

1. Fantastically realistic ball physics.
2. Great sound effects.
3. Live multiplayer.

1. Poor character animation
2. Rock hard without the aiming aids

Power
Very impressive ball physics let down by crudely animated players and samey environments.

Style
The pool halls look nicely dingy. You can almost smell the beer.

Immersion
The aiming aids help ease players in, whilst experts can turn them off for the complete experience.

Lifespan
An average-sized Career mode is extended thanks to the inclusion of Xbox Live.

Summary
A comprehensive pool sim, which benefits immensely from numerous mini-games and Xbox Live multiplayer.