This article contains everything you need to know about Arkadium's 9 Ball Pool game.
Use the list below to navigate specific topics about 9 Ball Pool.
How to play
Difficulty level. Before starting your pool game, you have the option to choose Easy, Medium, and Hard. The harder it is the more accurate the opponent's moves will be.
Goal. Your goal is to pocket the 9 ball correctly: whoever does it first wins.
The 9 Ball. You can pocket balls in any order, but the one you hit first (with the cue ball) must be the one with the lowest number. Only after all other balls have been pocketed you can hit the 9 ball directly.
As shown here, you shoot the ball by clicking on the left mouse button and clicking back after aiming. The more you pull back, the stronger the shot.
The nine ball. After you pocket all eight of your pool balls, you need to pocket the nine ball (yellow stripe ball) to win — hence the name 9-ball pool. You must also pocket the ball exactly into the pocket you choose.
NOTE: should you pocket the 9 ball incorrectly, it will reset to its original position, or as close to it as possible
Up top, you have the game's main menu options. You have the guide for the game, sound and music icons to mute these sound options, the options menu and the exit icon to exit the game.
In the game's options menu, you can customize your player, choose the table color or your type of cue.
Tips
Additional shot. You alternate turns with your opponent. When you pocket a ball correctly, you are always given a free additional shot. You can chain this effect multiple times.
Foul. A move that goes against the rules (FOUL) will ruin your streak, negate your free shot, and pass the turn to the opponent. The same applies to you if your opponent fouls.
Any balls pocketed remain pocketed but reward no score. 9 ball pocketed with a foul is reset to its original starting position (or as close to it as possible).
You foul when:
- You do not hit any balls or cushion (table edge) with the cue ball.
- The ball you hit does not touch anything else, is not pocketed and does not hit a cushion.
- You hit a wrong ball first (not the one with the lowest number).
- You break the pyramid without any balls being pocketed and with less than four balls hitting cushions.
- You pocket a cue ball, with or without any other balls.
English spin. You can spin the cue ball by aiming at specific points.
- The center: normal hit.
- Slightly below the center: STUNS the ball, making it stop dead after hit.
- Above the center: FOLLOW, moving in the same direction after hit.
- Below the center: DRAW, moving backwards after hit.
- Left and right: leans to left or right after the hit.
Moving the ball. When permitted, one may place the cue ball manually in the desired position. While the cue ball is highlighted with a circle, you can drag it before striking. After your opponent fouls, you will always be able to do so; you can also drag the cue ball in the limited area while breaking the pyramid.
Scoring
General scoring. Here is how the scoring works:
- Pocketing a ball = (base points + no foul bonus + chain bonus) * difficulty
- Base points = 500 * (number of balls pocketed)
- No foul bonus = 500
- Chain bonus is 2 or more pocketed balls in a single shot without fouls = 500
- Pocketing the 9 ball = 5000 * difficulty
Achievements. The user gets a new achievement panel and bonus score every time he performs a cool play trick:
- Lemans shot (pocket 2 or more balls with the opening hit) = 1000 + (number of balls * 500)
- Double strike (pocket 2 balls in one shot) = 500
- Triple strike (pocket 3 balls in one shot) = 1500
- Quad strike (pocket 4 balls in one shot) = 3000
- Chain (pocket a ball after hitting at least 3 others) = 500
- One cue (win the entire game without ever letting the opponent shoot) = 5000
- Perfection (no a single foul) = 1000