Pool Panic
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Pool Panic
A wildly imaginative and vaguely psychedelic physics puzzler with a novel pool-based twist, Pool Panic is frequently thrilling and almost never boring, but it's also mechanically suspect and occasionally frustrating. In short, it has cult classic written all over it.
With its creativity in the pool ball variety and levels spread across a massive open-esque world, Pool Panic manages to be interesting all the way through.
With an off-the-wall sense of humour and style, Pool Panic is a very different pocket to sink your balls into. There are plenty of high points here that help to counteract the occasional camera issues and make for an entertaining experience all round. The multiplayer will probably drag plenty of your friends into this strange world too and there's no reason not to enjoy that. Pool Panic excels at being exactly what it is, a weird puzzle adventure game with a lot of personality and plenty to do.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed playing Pool Panic and I was impressed with its fresh and original vibe.
Pool Panic does not take itself too seriously and that' just fine, as it does not intend to be an accurate pool game by any measure. While the challenges are indeed original and fun, the game also features too many reused elements, making it feel repetitive too quickly, and the level design on some sections ends up compromising the experience. A fun effort, nonetheless, especially on multiplayer.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Pool Panic isn't quite engaging enough to heartily recommend. The fact there's an option to mute the music suggests that Rekim are well aware of how irritating it can be, but the gameplay isn't always compelling or tight enough to make it the next big thing. The price is right, but don't expect to be playing this one in a month's time, but that's not the worst thing in the world.
All in all, Pool Panic is a unique experience, though not for everybody.
The controls are a little wonkier than they should be, but there's far too many great elements in this game to ignore. Pool Panic gives you everything you want from a pick-up-and-play sports title. It's consistently charming, challenging, and in some cases, might even make you chagrin.
