WSC Real 11 Review

I used to love snooker. It was pretty much my life from the age of 11 through to 18. I'd practice three times a week and play competitively at least once a week, in local leagues and county tournaments. Without wanting to blow my own trumpet, I was pretty good. These days I'd be lucky to string a few pots together, but WSC Real 11 lets me relive my glory days and pretend I went pro.

Ball physics are the be-all and end-all when it comes to a snooker simulation, and developer Dark Energy has certainly done an impressive job with this aspect of the game. Balls roll, spin, bounce and swerve as I'd expect them to, table speed is excellent and I haven't been able to pull off what I'd call a 'fantasy' shot - as you could in the classic game from the 90s, Virtual Snooker.

Anyone expecting a Tiger Woods-style analogue stick cueing system will be out of luck as your shot's attributes are set up before you press a button to strike the cue ball. Aim, cue angle, cue ball striking position and power are all set using a combination of buttons and analogue sticks, while the game automatically determines if you need to use an implement such as a spider or rest - although at some points the forced use of a spider is downright ridiculous.

On-screen aids show you the direction of the target ball if hit, the angle the cue ball will head once it makes contact and its finishing area on the table. Depending on the power and spin applied to the shot the target area zone changes in size, adding a level of uncertainty to your shots - although numerous stats (increased through points earned via tournament play) help reduce this margin of error.

The problem for anyone who has ever played snooker before at a mid to high level is that WSC 11 is far too easy. In my first four frames against an AI player I knocked in three century breaks, with my best being a 127. You can chose to replay a number of shots in each match, but I soon found even this to be unnecessary given the ease at which I was able to knock balls in.

Positional play is key, of course, but as long as you keep the ball relatively under control (which isn't hard thanks to the visual aids), you'll hardly ever be in a position where a pot is genuinely difficult. The only danger comes from a lack of concentration and laziness, which did occasionally cause me to jaw a ball and let in the opposition - not a problem against the unknown players, but the licensed pros more often than not clear the table if given the chance.