Do you like playing billiard? Do you like spending time at your computer monitor? Then you'll certainly like Snooker 147. The game's rules are a bit complicated, but its interface is user-friendly and well-thought-out what makes the game a pastime rather than an annoying puzzle what ball to strike. An excellent combination of the price and the quality. Snooker 147 is a pleasant and interesting game.

Snooker 147 is a billiard game with rules which are not clear at first sight. So, the first what comes to the head is to read Help. And after 2 minutes of the rules studying you are ready to plunge into the gripping world of billiard.

The rules are quite simple though: there are balls of 8 colors. The white bal is a cue ball. When shooting a player must make the cue-ball contact an object-ball. They are 15 red balls and 6 balls of different colors. One ball of each color: yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black. The object of the game is to get higher score than your opponent. There exist two ways to get points: either to legally pocket balls or to wait for your opponent to foul. To pocket legally means that first of all a player has to sink a red ball; after that he can pocket any colored one. If the shots were successful, he can continue and strike a red ball etc. After you have sunk a colored ball, it's put on the table.

Score is counted in the following way: each sunk red ball gives you 1 point. In case of colored balls it's: 2 points for yellow, 3 points for green, 4 points for brown, 5 points for blue, 6 points for pink, and 7 points for black. Having pocketed all red balls, you have to in all colored ones in the above mentioned order. There is no need to memorize all the rules as Snooker's interface is created so that it displays the next ball to be pocketed without a foul; it also shows the first ball which was shot and a lot of other things which make the game easy to play.

All your fouls will be fined, and the fines are counted in the following way: a minimal fine is 4 points. They will be added to your opponent's points if the white ball is pocketed or the cue ball has not touched any ball. If you have shot a wrong ball, your opponent will get: 4 points for red, yellow, green, and brown; 5 points for blue, 6 points for pink and 7 points for black. I have mentioned all basic rules. Let's start playing!

The first impression from the game's graphics is not that great. But it couldn't be otherwise, as Snooker's size is 1,8 MB only. I like the game's Help section. Along with the rules, here we can find explanations of the interface, menu options and the physics of billiard that is where a ball must be struck to, how to spin a ball and so on.

The program's interface is quite well done. We can manage using the mouse only. There are possibilities to change shot power and spin directions. There is also one useful feature called "Boss". Pressing Esc button minimizes the game window in order not to compromise you in your boss's eyes. He doesn't need to know what exactly you do during the working hours. The sound of striking balls is rather realistic.

One detail I do not like is that it takes balls quite a time to stop after a strike. I wish there were a button for those players who are not anxious to watch the inert motion of the balls, and pressing which would organize balls into their final positions. I believe it would make the game just better.

Snooker has 3 levels of difficulty. Though your partner Computer doesn't change shot power and spin directions, it is not a partner to defeat easily, especially when playing at the highest level of difficulty.

The game is a shareware product. The trial period is 30 days. In general it's an excellent game with an ideal combination of the price and the quality. Highly recommended!