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Hustle Kings on Playstation 3 Review.

Hustle Kings is a really complete PSN package, filling a niche that’s been long overdue. Despite a wealth of single-player options however, Hustle Kings’ innovative online system is the real star of the show.

What’s It All About?

Pool. And much more of course. Hustle Kings is a sub-£7 PSN title for the Playstation 3 with a wealth of billiard-themed options: 8-ball pool, 9-ball pool, snooker, and various variations upon their rule-sets; plus some trick-shot and challenge modes. The first real thing to note about Hustle Kings is the depth of content on offer – if standard exhibition and challenge modes aren’t enough – there are multiple unlocks, custom soundtracks, numerous backdrops, ball-types, cloth colours, YouTube replay uploads, and a full single-player career campaign…

Oh and a massive multiplayer component.

What We Liked:

• Fantastic online integration. As the name may suggest – Hustle Kings is about, well, hustling. If you’ve never chilled in a smoky pool hall before – then you might not be familiar with the term. It’s essentially gambling though. Bets are placed, matches are played, money is won. Hustle Kings takes that idea to the max, with HKC (Hustle Kings Credits) earned for practically everything you do (single-player or multiplayer). This “digital” money can be brought into user created lobbies on the multiplayer side – commonly known as a “room” – an online holding where players can chat, and challenge each other. Each room is specified with a rule-set and name given by its creator, and this sets the tone for each match played in the room. Those entering the room can specify how much of their digital “money pot” they’d like to bring with them. There’s a strategy in this, as bringing vast quantities of money into the game might show your experience, but will allow you to bet higher. Cross challenges can then be made against other players in the room, and money is bet. Once challenges are accepted, the match is set and the game loads. Here you play for the “challenged” money, and the winner takes all. It’s an amazingly simplistic mechanic, but it’s so vastly rewarding. Sure, the earned money can’t really be spent on anything important (some new avatars and ball types), but that’s not the point. You know that rush you get when you’re about to win a bet? That’s how Hustle Kings feels all the time online. Kudos to VooFoo.
• Ball physics. It seems a pretty obvious thing to critique in a pool game – above all else it has to get its physics right. And Hustle Kings does. The ball always reacts the way it should do, with some scope for really advanced shooting techniques. Applying side, spin and angling the cue all has an effect on your positioning and shot selection, and the trickshots mode really demonstrates the game’s level of physics prowess with jump shots, curve shots and other interesting ball manipulation techniques.
• Tons of content. You know your PSN game has a decent amount of content when it has a “career mode,” and Hustle Kings is one such game. It’s really packed with features. Shots can easily be saved in a “Replays” section then directly uploaded to YouTube; there are custom soundtracks on offer; bits and bobs to unlock; a few different backgrounds; various billiards game types. Awesome. In fact, the only disappointing thing about Hustle Kings’ content are the “performance enhancing” chalks, which can improve your game for a nominal fee of £0.20. And that’s £0.20 in real money folks.

What We Didn’t Like:

• Not quite the graphical powerhouse expected. Hustle Kings has been billed as a real HD spectacle, but, we got nothing of that coming through. The pool cue lacks aliasing, the backgrounds are stylish yet weak, and yes, while the balls do look uber-sexy up close, it’s rare you get a view so tight to the balls you notice. Of course, it matters not one iota when the gameplay and physics are solid, but it’s still a bit disappointing.
• Music. Thank goodness for Custom Soundtracks eh? Hustle Kings’ included music is pretty darn terrible. Sure you can filter the genres and, of course, use Custom Soundtracks but, it’s a shame they didn’t push the boat out on some really chilled nu-jazz tunes to accompany Hustle Kings’ overall vibe.
• Loading. We don’t know the technical details behind Hustle Kings, but it would have been nicer if the game ran a little more smoothly. In a game, out of a game, back in, back out. It seems like the game’s taking a pause to load and save once too often. It’s never intrusive, just breaks the flow of what should be a pick up and play title.