So far at just under 3 hours, there's still a bunch to do. I made it to level 10. Yeah, I'm not great at pool so it has taken me awhile to get to this point. I felt like it was worth writing my review for it now, as I can always update it in the future if I want.

Asta-Pool is pool, in space. Billiards, if you want to think of it that way. Same thing. Different name. Anyway, there's also a bit of a story that plays out as you win games. The short version is you take a lady out on a date to play some pool, only to find out you took her to a robots-only night. So now she gets to watch you play against robots to win the chance to play against her. The funny thing is I absolutely guarantee she wouldn't have stuck around for my playthrough considering it took me an hour and a half almost to finish one match successfully.

You also have an instant battle mode, where you can just jump right into the games you've finished once before. I like that. There are some games that are a bit more difficult than others, but overall I'd say this is one of the more impressive billiards titles I've played.

I was a beta-tester for Asta-Pool before it's release, and while I was paid to test the game, I was not paid to write this review. Here's my review of the game so you can decide whether it's worth your money!

Asta-Pool is a story-focused game following Lieutenant Jerry "J.J." Johnson during his visit to the robot-centric Asta-Pool Club. Rather than being a casual date night with his girlfriend, Cisco, J.J. will have to prove his skills in pool matches - can he defeat his robot adversary?

You take the helm as J.J. himself, learning how to play pool, and then using that knowledge to ace new and inventive pool game modes. These modes include the hectic Scramble, where both players shoot simultaneously, the classic throwback Sloppy 8 (basically regular pool), and my personal favorite, Freeze Ball, where freezing the opponent's balls is the goal and they can unfreeze them just as easily. Every level is a new game mode, a new challenge - and more often than not, a new progression of the story.

The cast consists of four recurring characters: Lieutenant J.J., his girlfriend Cisco, a robot referee and a salty fish-bot. Yes, you read that one right, but that's not a bad thing - he's memorable, I'll say that much. While the main cast is small, each character has a clearly distinct personality, and the interactions between characters actually evolve as the story progresses. Watching the characters interact in between every few levels was a very nice reward for me during my playthrough of the game!

The icing on the cake is that the game is very much family-friendly - J.J.'s girlfriend Cisco does show him some affection, but nothing explicit, and forget gore - the game isn't violent in the slightest. One character is a poor sport at times, but this behavior is not encouraged by the others. Games don't have to be dark or push maturity ratings to be fun, and Asta-Pool understands that. The story and multiplayer games are positive and wholesome for you and your children to enjoy!

To top it all off, the game features local multiplayer to play with friends on the same computer. It's not true splitscreen because everyone uses the same screen, but you and your friends share the same computer. While the game does not support true online multiplayer, there is one option left - the game does support Remote Play, so as long as Player 2 uses a controller plugged into their computer, and you set up a player character for them on the host's side, you can technically play online with a friend.

I personally enjoyed playing the campaign and it's story - while most game franchises I tend to play are action-packed fighting games, I still found the story engaging, the mechanics quite fun and the main characters memorable even after I finished the story. I rate this game a 9 out of 10, and if you like pool, story games and a family-friendly experience, I'd recommend trying Asta-Pool. It's only six to seven dollars!

Asta Pool offers a fantastic virtual billiards experience that is both visually stunning and highly playable. The game's amazing character design, voice acting, and detailed environments create an immersive atmosphere, complemented by a highly accurate physics engine that makes every shot feel real.

This game offers an innovative space-themed pool experience. Join Lieutenant Jerry J. Jensen for an exciting night in space. With over 25 game modes and 40 levels, you can play classic 8-ball and 9-ball, as well as fast-paced new games like Asta-Ball. It's family-friendly and educational, appealing to all ages. Enjoy local multiplayer support for fun times with friends. The graphics and sound are stunning, a true visual treat!

Rating: 9/10