TL;DR: Recommended, with reserves.

Don't be confused by other reviews about it being 'a launcher to buy VP4'; probably those didn't get through the very hard to see option 'Login to Online', which directs you to create a free account at Celeris to play this game for free. Yes, the account is free and doesn't require you to buy the game at all. (Probably those didn't care to set the game to run at full screen 1920x1080, or whatever the graphics card allows you.)

Said that, this works on the Free To Play model (F2P, or freemium if you want) which is more or less like a limited demo with limited capabilities until you buy premium with real money. And compared to other games like LOTRO, it's very limited. You can only play challenge matches on the garage room, and only three of the 27 available games: 6-Ball, 9-Ball and 8-Ball US. You can't buy new cues or enter tournaments (you need virtual bucks), you can't make private rooms (min members = 3), and you can imagine other limitations, explained nicely in their FAQ and video tutorial for gratis players.

And this is the *only* way to play against others remotely in VP4. The VP4 that cost you money is strictly a single player game, unless your friend is physically there (thankfully it still has local multiplayer on same computer). And for me that's such a big step backwards compared to previous VP installments. Not that I'm going to mention the clunky, somewhat counterintuitive and not very user-friendly UI and UX changes from VP3, as I don't want to make too long of a review (which this will end being anyway).

So, in short:
VP4 Multiplayer (for free) allows you to create a free account and play for free 3 games with severe limitations, with several options to buy monthly or yearly gametime and virtual bucks. It has no extras at all, just settings, log in to your celeris account, visit Celeris website (which has some tutorials but no gameplay tutorials like in paid version), and ofc chat in the lobbies and play those 3 games.
VP4 (currently about $25) is strictly single player, but includes one year of premium player in VP4 Multiplayer and an amount of virtual bucks to buy stuff and bet in games against other players without any limitation (private rooms, any game, any tournament type) but again for one year. When that year ends, you pay more or get stuck with single player (it has career modes). It also contains all the extra stuff not present in multiplayer, like training videos and interactive gameplay lessons.

Virtual Pool 3 was the best pool game I've ever played and indeed I did improve my real pool gameplay with it. But VP4 (multiplayer or not) is just not as good. Its simulation is close to unparalleled, that's for sure. The rest is very bleh, from business model, to UI design choices, etc. The only reason I am recommending it, with reserves, is because it's the only Virtual Pool game in Steam, and maybe you can afford spending on an online game subscription. Personally I'm saving my money until I find a game as good with limitless local/remote multiplayer integrated in my purchase, cuz I'm not paying for a game I can't play with a friend anytime I want. Maybe if it gets discounted heavily (lowest recorded price is $10). And, if you can get a copy of VP3 somewhere, do it! (It's not in steam, but you can find it in Celeris' site.)

*Edited to correct one little thing: indeed VP4 has local multiplayer, but it doesn't have lan/remote multiplayer, only through the online service.

It's a launcher to buy the game for 30$.
Plus it's even a terrible ♥♥♥♥♥♥ launcher...

- Game unable to launch in 1920x1080p, runs in a very small window instead
- UI reminded me of videogames at least 15 years ago
- I do not use inches, so I wrote random numbers at the start
- Why would you make an "offline" button if it is just to make a popup saying "This game does not have offline mode"...

1/10, the 1 point was because it reminded me my childhood when I used Windows ME.

The game ran fine maxed out at 1080p, even at 120FPS @ 144hz. You don't need to purchase this game for $30. You simply make an account, after making the account reload the game or hit the X in the top left corner and leave the webpage, this will take you to the menu where you click login.

From there you'll be able to see an in-game server list that will allow you to chat to other players or even create your own game. I guess the negative side of this would definitely be that the minimum you can put on a room is 3 players, and you can't make it private. So if you're looking to play with just one friend, you'll most likely have to pay to create a private room.

Among all the pool games on steam, this is one that simply doesn't require the need for "tracking lines". It feels very natural and if you know how to use english in real life you won't have any issues here.

I played for several hours with my father earlier tonight and it was a good time. We played a lot of Virtual Pool 3 back in the day so this was a nice nostalgia trip. I guess my review could be a bit skewed due to the nostalgia, but as far as technical issues I haven't ran into any. Take the review for what you will, all I can do is be honest about my experience with the game.

Lets start with the game play then we shall move onto the admins.
-the game supports online players of up to 5 (only 2 players can verse each other at a time the others must spectate)
-there is no custom rules mode as far as i could see in my limited play time (i could only select 8 ball 9 ball and 8 ball us and you cannot alter the rules apart from trivial things like turn time.
-the video settings are buggy and switching to 1920 x 1080 made it so i couldn't take a shot?
this all i had time to check as i was banned within the space of 30 minutes :)

(A)miasma has arrived
A alright, was is the deal here.
A *what
A can I get an answer please? :)
(M)monkeyass lol
M just worked out how to type
(G)Grazzio Vavizoth we didn't know how to talk
G were just playing regular rules
A glad you do.
A so I am sharing the room with 3 other humans, yes?
G if you can call us that
A who are you then? :)
G the elders of the internet
A IP ban looming.
G whys that
M who are you then?
A I suspect something fishy in here, and I don't get serious answers.
M ok inspector
G there are no fish here
G question: why would someone make a bot to play pool?
miasma: you did just not confirm the fish did you
G are you one of the devs of this game and in need of a friend.
M miasma you smell like sitnky cheese feet

Your account is banned until November 2, 2020 11:11pm
For The Following Reason
Reason:
just no.

So make sure you:
1) know how to type.
2) be deadly serious while playing a free to play casual game.
3) don't hurt the admins fragile egos or suggest the absurdity of cheating in a game of pool between your brothers.
4) NEVER EVER suggest you might not be a human because that's a confirmation of guilt.

thanks this is my first speed run review so let me know how i need to improve.
tl;dr game meh admins on a ego trip.

Gave me a boner

Totally awesome game, not worth the 25 dollars subscription for just being able to play tournaments and special games that get cancelled cause there are not enough players

Ok game, multiplayer version, pretty standard.

Wouldn't recommend, as we had some random person join our game and then issue immediate bans for us all.

Seemed a bit strange to be honest.

⠀

-fishy download & login...