Review: World Championship Snooker 2003

By Tim Broom

WCS 2003 Format: PS2/PC/CD Rom Price: £39.99 Publisher: Codemasters Genre: Racing

Breaking news......if you fancy yourself as the next Ronnie O'Sullivan, this is the game for you.

Snooker is a bit of a niche market when it comes to console gaming. So much so, in fact, that Codemasters has a bit of a monopoly on this particular sport.

If you've played any of the previous efforts in the World Championship Snooker series, then you'll know this game has an impressive heritage.

The basic cueing system in WCS 2003 remains unchanged from last year's version, clearly following the old adage that if it aint broke, don't fix it.

The computer AI has been improved, though, and Codemasters have obviously gone to great lengths to replicate individual players' styles.

A nice touch is the addition of particle dust effects and chalk marks appearing occasionally on the otherwise immaculate green baize.

Meanwhile, the physics engine ensures the action pans out on the table just as it would in real life.

But never mind the balls, Codemasters have gone to equally great lengths to make the players as realistic as the camera-work.

You can even invest in that flashy waistcoat you've had your eye on

The character likenesses and animation are definitely an improvement over its predecessor. That said, the previous efforts were dire.

And let's face it, you're not going to buy a snooker game purely for the pleasure of seeing Stephen Hendry adopt a variety of quizzical expressions.

Nope, where this game succeeds or fails is by the quality of action on the baize. And playing WCS 2003 is probably the nearest most of us will come to competing with - and standing a chance against - Ebdon and co.

This is helped in no small way by the optional aiming aid. Suddenly you find yourself with a Williams-like potting ability which leaves you free to concentrate on the finer points of break building.

Once you get into the swing of this, the whole game becomes satisfyingly hypnotic.

Take the aiming aid off, find a similarly cack-handed mate, and you've got yourself a true recreation of friday night down the snooker hall, where two-ball breaks become an achievement of epic proportions.

VERDICT Graphics: 72% Playability: 86% Sound: 65% Realism: 80% Overall: 82%

Along with a couple of new 'fun' games, there's also the very welcome addition of 8-ball and 9-ball pool.

But if you're looking to experience a year in the life of a snooker pro, there's always the career mode, with all the authentic tournaments and venues built in.

Manage to earn yourself a bit of cash along the way and you can even invest in that flashy waistcoat you've had your eye on.

The only real gripe, is that the ball-on-cushion noise still sounds like it's been sampled from the most lifeless cushion on the ropiest table down your local club. Satisfying thuds are in short supply here.

All in all however, this game's a winner. Perhaps not a startlingly ground-breaking upgrade, but still a game that every Ronnie wannabe should have on their shelf.