Pool Blitz has everything a good modern billiards simulator needs: great physics, graphics that pop, easy to learn controls, free-to-play and a healthy online player base with crossplay. Unfortunately the game is infested with microtransactions, and not just cosmetic ones.
If a player had unlimited income, they could buy enough loot chests to find cues with game-breaking special abilities (i.e. homing shots, softer black ball hits etc.). This seems like it would wreck the experience, but in the 100+ matches I played with randoms literally everyone was using basic pool cues. Does the game match like this intentionally? It's possible, but then why the glut of loot crates and pay-to-win upgrades? I know some will dismiss my theory, but I just think everyone playing is staying away from the junk and just enjoying the free vanilla experience. I could see things getting difficult at very high tournament levels, but there's nothing stopping a player from going back to the beginner tournaments. This stops being a problem entirely if you want to play online with friends.
Essentially, this game is like the old trope of the scarecrow that becomes a roost for crows when they aren't stealing corn. Its designated marks have become wise to the situation. So I'd say this game is worth the free download, just don't waste your money on loot boxes. And definitely don't let kids play unsupervised if your money is connected to your account. I've played better pool simulators but their online community was always DOA. So I'll definitely be coming back to Pool Blitz, warts and all.
If a player had unlimited income, they could buy enough loot chests to find cues with game-breaking special abilities (i.e. homing shots, softer black ball hits etc.). This seems like it would wreck the experience, but in the 100+ matches I played with randoms literally everyone was using basic pool cues. Does the game match like this intentionally? It's possible, but then why the glut of loot crates and pay-to-win upgrades? I know some will dismiss my theory, but I just think everyone playing is staying away from the junk and just enjoying the free vanilla experience. I could see things getting difficult at very high tournament levels, but there's nothing stopping a player from going back to the beginner tournaments. This stops being a problem entirely if you want to play online with friends.
Essentially, this game is like the old trope of the scarecrow that becomes a roost for crows when they aren't stealing corn. Its designated marks have become wise to the situation. So I'd say this game is worth the free download, just don't waste your money on loot boxes. And definitely don't let kids play unsupervised if your money is connected to your account. I've played better pool simulators but their online community was always DOA. So I'll definitely be coming back to Pool Blitz, warts and all.