From slot-car madness to slick shots during this Tiny Teams. Releasing at the end of this month, Icedrop Games racks the balls for Ultrapool. A roguelike pool game where lining up the shots is only half the battle. Victory depends on the balls that can be racked up from the shop, too. Thanks to Yogscast Games, I got a code to check out Ultrapool. Letting me cue up for a pool game that is anything but standard.

From the off, I have the classic balls and the easiest difficulty. On the first round, there’s three balls on the table. There’s a certain amount of shots that can be taken to pot them all, with a round ending when all balls have been potted or the shot limit is reached. Fail to reach the points goal of the round, and one of three lives are lost. Returning to the shop to change things up before trying again. Beat the goal, money is awarded for finishing, with bonuses for going above the goal and having shots remaining.

Before the next round begins, there’s the shop to spend that money. Here, new balls can be bought, either added to the rack or put in reserve. Balls can be upgraded, though can only do so when both are the same level. Numbered balls can be stacked together, adding onto the previous number. As for the other balls, they all have varying effects. Whether that be providing more shots or money, spawning extra balls, or my favourite the pinball. Simply get points whenever it is hit.

And so the cycle continues. The points goal has increased, so I do my best to beat it. Then back to the shop to buy more balls. Everything is controlled with the mouse, with a helpful aiming guide to see where balls will go. What’s nice about Ultrapool is that it doesn’t matter where I click and hold on the table, I’m still able to take a shot. Very helpful for when the cue ball is at the top or bottom of the screen and I need to aim away from there.

With ten rounds completed, I have won. I unlock the next ball set and also the next difficulty for the set I used. Each set has unique-looking ball, each with their own effects. As for higher difficulties, they introduce varied elements to be aware of. The wine mixer difficulty will add two other ball sets into the shop, along with having the snack bar open. Further difficulties add onto those, changing up the approach a lot more.

The snack bar, the cocktail bar, and more all provide new ways to approach the game. Modifiers that will pot the highest scoring ball at the end of a round, for instance. Or combining two balls into one, providing the effects of both. Everything combines to give a good sense of strategy, where there’s only a slight chance of the random elements messing up a run.

Ultrapool is a fun one. For someone who does enjoy cue games, there’s a lot to love with it. Similar yet different, the regular rules are twisted into a high score chaser where the points are constantly changing. Add in new rules with higher difficulties and new ball sets providing new strategies, and Ultrapool is an easy one to recommend. Plus, there’s the customisation of the table, with plenty to be unlocking for that.

Ultrapool is part of this year’s Tiny Teams, a week-long festival of celebrating games from small studios. With sales on games already released, new games and major updates for games releasing, and demos for games yet to release. Running all week from 6-13/August, check the Tiny Teams page on Steam, and maybe you will find a new favourite game from one of many small studios.

Images Taken From:
Ultrapool | PC