Side Pocket

Side Pocket is a pocket billiards simulation released as an arcade video game by Data East in 1986.

It was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy, while an enhanced remake was later released on the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Game Gear.

The game spawned two sequels, as well as arcade spin-off series titled Pocket Gal.

G-Mode owns the intellectual property rights to the Side Pocket series, and licenses these games globally.

Gameplay – Side Pocket

The primary play mode, called “Pocket Game”, is a straight pool game set within a limited number of lives; the player must achieve a predetermined score to advance through four or five levels, each with increasing number of balls.

The player earns points by potting balls, potting balls on consecutive shots, and potting balls in numerical order.

On occasion, a flashing star appear in a pocket, and if the player pots a ball into that pocket in the same shot, a bonus will be awarded in the form of points, extra lives or a bonus round.

One life is lost if the player scratches or fails to pot a ball in two consecutive shots.

In the two-player mode, the player can choose between Pocket Game or 9-Ball Game.

In two-player Pocket Game, the game plays similarly, except the two players take turns and there are no lives; if one player misses or scratches, control of the ball simply changes to the other player.

In 9-Ball Game, each player has three lives and one life is lost if a foul is committed.

However, the lives will be restored if the player makes a legal shot on the next turn.

In the Game Boy and Game Gear version, there is also an additional practice mode, which is essentially a single-player version of 9-Ball Game.

A variety of trick shot challenges are also available to the player(s), to earn additional points or extra life, requiring the player pot all balls into select pockets using a single shot.

The player may put various spins on the ball, such as left and right english, and perform massés and jump shots.

The Genesis and SNES versions features a photo-realistic representation of the player characters.

The characters are a homage to the 1986 billiards-themed film The Color of Money; with the characters bearing resemblance to Vincent Lauria (played by Tom Cruise) and Fast Eddie (played by Paul Newman), the two main characters from the film.

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