In a nutshell…

Cue right up for some tip-top ball-smacking barroom action.

What’s it good for?

Keeping you occupied while you’re waiting to get on the real table down your local.

Judgement time…

The last N-Gage game we looked at (The Sims 2 Pets) was pretty dismal, but Nokia’s gaming platform is back on track with this little gem. It’s a straight-up arcade version of pool shrunken to fit on your phone – and for our money it’s one of the best N-Gage titles yet.

Everything you could want out of a pool game is here: a solid, easy to read 3D model of the table and balls, both regular and 9-ball games, easy cueing action (you just press once to start the power meter, once again to hit the ball), the ability to add spin – there’s even a pretty decent trick shot mode that lets you earn extra cash.

Several game modes are available, catering for both those who want a quick, easy game and those looking for a something a tad meatier. The story mode, for instance, sees you facing off one at a time against the entire colourful cast of hustlers and sharks in various parts of the USA, striving to amass some big bucks through gambling and pulling off trick shots. There’s no multiplayer mode, which is a little disappointing.

The game itself is very forgiving on default settings, as a guide line shows you where the cue ball and the first ball it hits are going, but you can switch this off to boost the challenge.

The 3D graphics are a little rough around the edges at times, but overall they do the job nicely, and the sound effects are adequate too. There’s a bit of music chucked in to sweeten the deal, with the unmistakeable opening licks of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” blasting out when you launch the game.

Overall we’d have no hesitation recommending Midnight Pool to anyone with an N-Gage ready phone – it’s one of the best made titles around.