Header banner Header banner

Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker

Author

ST Graveyard has written 62 additional reviews

AL Mobile

Screenshot of the site on a mobile phone

Did you know Atari Legend is fully responsive and mobile ready? You want this site to behave like an app on your phone or tablet? Simply open the site in your favorite browser and look for the 'Add to homescreen' button. In Safari on IOS, first press the 'share' icon, then the "Add to home screen" pop-up appears. In Chrome on Android, you press the button at the top right, and select 'add to homescreen'. Once you have done this, the famous Atari bee fits nicely on your homescreen and you can enjoy AL with the tap of a finger.

Written by ST Graveyard

May 22, 2002

Comments

Ok, here we go. My first sports sim review. I'm not really a sports fanatic, I don't know much about it. You can take this as some kind of warning before you begin on the actual review :-)


"Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker" is a game programmed by the marvelous Archer Maclean. This guy is also responsible for the best beat 'em up on the ST, "IK +". As the title suggest, it's a snooker game. But not just any game. When this was released in the beginning of the 90's, it lay a new standard! It was no longer necessary the go out to play a game of snooker...This was almost like the real thing! Is this simulation still worth a shot (no pun intended :-) almost 10 years later? You can bet it is!


Graphics

The first 3D snooker game...It looks fantastic! You can have a nice overview from a static "behind the white ball" viewpoint, or you can switch to a "follow the shot" camera view. Everything scrolls silky smooth and looks realistic. I just can't think of anything negative here...The aiming, the shots, the collisions with the other balls or with the cushions...It's almost real!


Sound

Well, there isn't really much to listen to here, but what did you expect! Background music would be seriously distracting! What we hear is pure quality though! From the "pops" when you shoot a ball in a hole, to the collision effects. From the scratching of the chalk to the roaring crowd when you make a great break, it's all near perfect!


Gameplay

I've always been intrigued by snooker. I don't know much about it though. When I was younger, I liked to go out and play a little game with friends. Well, that was before this game was released for the ST! The game is like the real thing and all the rules are applied here! This, of course, has a downside. If you don't like snooker, you don't like this game. Just like in real life, it can take a while before a game is over.


You have the possibility to choose from a great array of options. You can turn the camera angle, change viewpoints, follow the ball. Everything is possible here. It is even necessary to chalk the stick now and then, else you will damage the cloth! And if you're a beginner, you can even draw an imaginary line, to see where your shot is heading!


There is the opportunity to choose a level of difficulty before you have to deal with the master, Jimmy himself! The opponents play a fair game, though it can be frustrating as they will most likely never miss a shot (except for TOM). Playing safe is not really recommended here!


And of course, the real fun starts when a human opponent enters the game! Also worth mentioning is the "trick shot" section! Place the balls on the table by yourself and learn how to score those really "tricky" ones!


Conclusion

If you like snooker, you'll love this game! It's as simple as that. This is definitely one of the best games created for the ST! And I think it is still the best snooker sim, even today! I know Archer Maclean is working on a follow up for the PC. I wonder how it'll turn out!





Score
  • Graphics: 8
  • Sound: 6
  • Gameplay: 8
  • Overall: 7

Review Comments

Please log in to add your own comment to this review

Zone Warrior

February 12, 2023 by AtariCrypt

Once again, pesky aliens are giving us Earthlings lots of grief. We previously fought them off but they managed to pinch a time machine so are using that to alter history and wreak havoc by taking crucial hostages from each period in an attempt to halt their influence. From the invention of the wheel in prehistoric times to England's King Arthur uniting Britain! And where would any of us be today without Japan and its technical wizardry? Yep, we cannot allow this - the fight is on!

Son Shu Shi

March 21, 2021 by ST Graveyard

What an accomplishment this game is. Created with such a small team, the result is really amazing. The game oozes creative passion. While the gameplay is really well balanced, it is a tough cookie, very hard from time to time with its moments of sheer frustration. As of level 3, timing becomes key. You will need to practice and learn the levels to complete this game, there are so many bad guys on screen it sometimes gets a bit hard to take.

Blood Money

April 4, 2020 by Morcar

Graphically, it's also nice on the eyes with well-defined graphics and animation. You really get the feeling that the developers put some thought and love into the game. Remember what I said about the large levels? Well these are wonderful and are very different to each other, they also scroll fairly smooth in all four directions.

Currently 0 registered users online

In the past 24h there were 5 registered users online