If the saying "stick to what you are good at" has ever been more relevant to any developer, it would be none other than Celeris. With years of electronic pool craftsmanship behind them, these guys clearly know how to replicate the finer nuances of Aramith and lacquer soaked maple. To the uninitiated Celeris have been to billiards and snooker what Hoyle has been to cards. However, while several consoles have experienced some form of this video game, for the most part, the genre has been left to the enjoyment of PC gamers. Considering how relatively uncharted this territory is for the Xbox, it is with great interest and enthusiasm that we welcome Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition.

Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition offers gamers and amazing library of table-top madness, consisting of 18 unique variations of pool, snooker, and billiards. Ever played six-ball, eight-ball, nine-ball, bank pool, cowboy, or cribbage? Well now you'll get the chance to experience all of these and more in this well crafted pocket-play collection. The fantastic array of billiard games offered in Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition can be effortlessly experienced in the game's Quick Play setting. Here players may compete against AI, a friend, or in their own company. However, this mode is mainly used for practice or a bit of one-on-one with a friend.

Snooker is probably well known for its more venturous element and for those of you who are looking to wager your lunch money the game's Career mode should offer much nail biting tension. The high stakes action begins with players 'chalking-off' against numerous AI controlled characters ranging from inexperienced rookies, to sniper-elite sharks. Placing wagers and winning games will see you increase your prize money, which will ultimately permit access to a cunning collection of skilled opponents (refer swimming with sharks). Players will travel from pool hall (garage), to pool hall (bar/pub), vying for the opportunity to compete against the games ultimate pool shark, Curly. Keep in mind however that this will not be an easy challenge and it is recommended that you spend a little time practicing those razor sharp strokes and baffling trick-shots. The difficulty of Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition is probably one of its greatest strengths, and gamers will witness how accurately it captures the authenticity of playing against a well trained snooker mind.

Furthermore, in mute contrast to the Quick Play option the Career mode limits gamers to selecting one variation of pool for the entire duration of the tournament. Considering how exciting it was to experiment with different styles, rules, and techniques in the Quick Play mode, it would have been great to see the game's career mode make use of its inherent variation. Unfortunately, players will need to choose wisely before they start their pool hustling career, as the game type cannot be changed mid tournament.

Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition also offers a Trick-Play mode, which some may find handy for practicing the finer points of the game. However, while the option to practice a wide range of novel shots was well received, the execution was found to be a little less than pleasant. There was no real explanation of how to pull-off shots, how much thrust was required for example, and a pool table covered with disorienting lines and other squiggles severely detracted from the grace and elegance that this game offers.

The controls for Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition have been fairly well executed, if not a little uneasy at times. Players can rotate the position of their cue with the left thumb-stick, press the Y button to zoom, use the Black button to move the angle of the cue, White button to move the ball, and press the A button while thumbing the left analogue stick to create and execute the shot. The game also has a list of alternate controls, which are accessed by pressing the left trigger. Most of these alternative controls will allow players to experiment with ball positioning and various tactical views. Overall it's a fairly inclusive assortment of executable moves even if the button layout feels a little less than intuitive. It should also be noted that aiming and executing a shot with the analogue stick may at times produce a few 'twitchy' moments. It is nothing that cannot be managed, but an overpowered and mishandled shot can mean the difference between winning and losing a longstanding game, or career.

The overall presentation of Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition leaves a little to be desired, however it is satisfactory overall. It's clean and crisp, and the inclusion of full motion video during career mode and 720p is nice, but the bland repetitive collection of garages and pubs, really made the environments feel more like an afterthought. Clearly the visual highlight of this game occurs closer to the action and if any game should receive the title of 'the most beautifully rendered set of balls' it would surely be this one. Billiard balls are affectionately recreated in highly polished sheens and characteristics reflective of their environments.

Play in a burnt out bar and you'll get the impression that the owners don't really care for cleanliness. Balls are often marked with chalk stains and pool tables have clearly been used as coasters - amongst other things, one can only imagine. A point of discomfort is that you never get to see your opponent in play. Rather than a virtual construct pacing around the room, following every shot with candid anticipation, all gamers witness is a photograph of their opponent's avatar in the screens right hand corner, and a mysterious cue that floats around the table. It was never certain if the creators of this game were fans of wizardry, but playing against non-corporeal opponents (no matter how virtual), was found to be a little unsettling.

The ball physics system utilised in Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition is of a noticeably high caliber. Watching billiard balls spin and gyrate in an avalanche of momentum was found to be almost hypnotic and clearly a masterful interpretation of realism. The flow of the table is also influenced by it selected felt and dimensions characteristic to the playing surface. Hit a billiard ball to hard, or at an inconvenient angle, and you may just foul the shot and send the ball flying from the table. Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition sure has a lot to be proud of when it comes to its technical accuracies.

The games audio is less than noticeable. While the clash of billiard balls and the occasional aural cue from Curley established a feasible soundscape, it did little to entice the imagination. Considering how mild the presentation of this game is, it would have been nice to see it flared up with some audience participation. A few crowds letting off some excitement, a bit of commentary, or some pre/post match rhetoric, could have helped to spice things up a little. It may not be the done thing, but it certainly would have helped to relieve the tedium. The soundtrack is unfortunately less than inspiring comprising of gentle rock riffs (a double-negative if ever there was one) and hackneyed 'muzak' playing in the background. Fortunately, Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition does support Xbox custom soundtrack, so while this is a game of concentration, feel free to concentrate along to your favorite death metal or idyllic pop play-lists.

Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition doesn't boast online multiplayer support; however it does offer Xbox Live Aware. Considering that this would be a perfect game to play against others online it was a little surprising to find that it was limited in this regard. Still, playing with a friend in your living room may continue to offer excitement and the AI is cunning enough to create some unbelievable solo moments. If you want to improve your billiard skills or just romance over a collection of novel game twists, then Virtual Pool: Tournament Edition has a great deal to keep players happy.