This is an English translation of the review of Biliardo 2 originally published in Italian by Punto Informatico in 2007. Read the original review in Italian.
Italian billiards
A 2D simulation of Italian billiards: Carom, Bowls, Pins and other home-grown games
Italian billiards in Italian, Made in Italy, not very recent but still fun, and available for DOS and Windows. The game is simulated on a 2D table seen from above, and all the rules of the available games are included – and there are quite a few: 5 Pins, Goriziana, Bowls, Carom (standard, 1-cushion and 3-cushion) and 3 Balls.
The game is realistic and comes with good sound effects, and with a bit of practice and patience (needed for the… real game too!) you can adjust every shot with the utmost precision, raise and lower the strength of the shot and even the temperature of the table, and choose a “pro” setting or a “pub” one (complete with a worn, dirty playing table!).
You can practise, watch replays and even retrace your steps (not a realistic or fair option, but much better to have it than not). Applause and grumbles underline good and bad plays; another convenience is the display of trajectories, including those of all the rebounds of all the balls that will be hit.
The undisputed strength of the game is certainly its all-Italian choice of available game types: unfortunately you can’t play multiplayer or in a group, but it’s still a little program you can download in a few seconds with broadband (less than a MB!), with graphics and sound that hold up despite their age. Two people can also play against each other on the same computer.
The “gems” such as the adjustable cloth temperature (the warmer the green cloth, the faster the ball glides) are unique and will be appreciated by the most demanding and expert players; the various visible trajectories (of one ball only, of all of them, etc.) and the replay make “Il Biliardo” an unmissable video game to keep for moments of relaxation.
Matches can also be saved while they’re in progress, so you can interrupt and resume long, exhausting matches, giving them all the time they deserve.
Luca Schiavoni – 08-02-2007