World Snooker Challenge 2005 (PSP)

Graphics: 9/10 The graphics cannot really get any better for a snooker game, well not until perhaps the next generation of consoles churn some out. The players animations as they take a shot are spot on and they also have facial expressions. This is no Ridge Racer, but nevertheless the graphics perfectly complement the illusion of really playing snooker.

Controls: 10/10 All the controls of the PSP are utilised, but it all feels very comfortable once you get used to it. The controls couldn't be better imo.

Game-play: 9/10
This is addictive, once you get used to it. From the ingenious coaching (where Dennis Taylor actually coaches you brilliantly) to the challenge mode and through to the 10min per game of pool, this is as good as it gets for a Snooker game. The one flaw is that the flow of game play can be interrupted by pretty long waiting times for your opponent's animation to kick in and for them to actually take a shot; this could be classed as realistic and can be turned off. This didn't sway me away from the game though.

Sound: 9/10
The music is actually pretty decent in this title but does get pretty annoying after a while. However the music is only heard in the menus or during some training games and the side games like pool. Where this game really shines is through the commentating. There's John Parrot, Steve Davis and John Virgo. A choice of two of these is selected for each competitive game. They make the odd blunder but overall they create a great atmosphere. There is also crowd reactions, which are minimal, a bit like the real thing!

Lasting Appeal: 9/10
Lets get one thing straight, you will need to devote some hours practicing before you can become a serious contender. Then there's the small task of facing up to 100+ opponents! Once you have cracked the challenge mode the Championship mode opens up for you (haven't got that far yet!) Add to this unlockables like cues, videos etc. for achieving high breaks as well as other things and there is some serious playtime to be had. There is also the wireless play, which I haven't tried yet.

Final Judgement: 9/10 I have this, Lumines and Virtua Tennis for my PSP, and this game has grabbed me more then the other two. This is indeed high praise as both Lumines and Virtua Tennis are rated very highly. (By the way, I only ever watch snooker once a year, and that's the world championships, I have the odd game at the local snooker hall.)

Rent or Buy: Buy. If you're a casual or serious snooker fan, then you MUST buy this game. If you hate the game then you might not like this as it is certainly not pick up and play, it takes time to get decent at it, still I urge you to give it a whirl for a few hours or else you don't know what you're missing!.


As exciting as snooker ever can be   September 4, 2005
MB (cowdenbeath, fife United Kingdom)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

Just got the game yesterday and I love it! I've had my PSP since April ( got it on import ) and I have 3 other games including this one. Only Wipeout Pure has had me picking up the PSP as much as World Championship Snooker.
The controls in the game are very intuitive.Whether you choose the analog "sweep" to gauge the power of the shot, or alternatively, use a power meter, once a bit of practice has been put in, snooker becomes a much more enjoyable virtual sport than it is to actually play!
An astonishing amount of detail is in this tiny UMD, with loads of real pro players... extra games like pool (8 or 9 ball), bar billiards, billiards, and so on. It's hard to think of anything the makers have missed. The usual coughs and sniffs from the crowd are there too!
One aspect I really liked is the difficulty setting. 3 different settings allow you to choose whether you prefer a longer marking arrow towards the pocket, or virtually none for the seasoned pro... I'm still on the easy setting, but I'm completely sure I'll progress to harder settings with practice. Knocked in a 43 break earlier, and the break building aspect soon overtakes beating the opposition as the main goal. Next stop 147!
Fantastic game of snooker and more, and one I'd definitely recommend.