Archer Maclean's Pool (a.k.a. Pool Shark) Download (1992 Sports Game)

Using the game engine from Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker, this game recreates pool in minute detail. A bold 3D graphics engine with realistic physics and millions of shot permutations (in terms of direction, speed and spin) is at the heart of it. Three versions of pool are offered - UK and US 8-ball as well as the fast-paced all-action 9-ball game.

There are 20 computer opponents, with the hardest of them being almost unbeatable, as well as 2-player and trick-shot modes. Unlike the original release of Whirlwind Snooker, you can save more than 1 game on the disk at a time.

This is another Pool game from the beginning of the 90s. Several of this game typer were made, in which you can use our mouse to aim and rotate around the table and stuff. In this version you can play almosy every pool game and even do some trickshots.

The sequel of sorts to the higly popular Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker, Archer Macleans Pool uses the exact same engine as the first game, the only obvious difference being the switch from snooker to pool. You are given a choice of either UK 8-ball, US 8-ball or US 9-ball and the option to play either matches or tournaments against friends or AI players (of which there are over 20).

The graphics are nice and clear, the interface is simple and well thought out and the physics model is spot on. It's hard to criticise AMP because it is a damn good simulation of the real thing. Oh, and for a little surprise leave the mouse pointer static for a few moments and keep your eye on the balls - it always cracks me up.

Archer Maclean's Pool is an excellent follow-up to Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker, which he also designed. The review at Amiga Games Database says it all about this rare old game:

"Archer Maclean had a success in 1991 with Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker, so to widen his audience he put together a pool game using the same 3D-engine he devised for Snooker. As well as adapting his engine to the rules of 3 pool variants (UK 8-ball, US 8-ball and US 9-ball) and altering the dimensions of balls and table, he also included many new computer opponents (16 more than Snooker's 4) and added the option to play matches or a tournament as well as single frames. The game is just as good as Snooker was in terms of realism, with the exception that in the US pool-variants, in which the balls are numbered, the numbers stay fixed in the centres of the balls, giving them the impression of sliding across the table instead of rolling."

With a combination of great graphics, fluid gameplay, and accurate ball physics, Archer Maclean's Pool ranks among the best pool games ever made, and arguably the best PC pool title until Celeris? Virtual Pool three years later.

How to run this game on modern Windows PC?

People who downloaded Archer Maclean's Pool (a.k.a. Pool Shark) have also downloaded:
Arcade Pool, Pool Champion, Archer Maclean Presents Pool Paradise, Maximum Pool, Virtual Pool, Pool Shark, Alley 19 Bowling, World Championship Pool 2004