Side Pocket

The primary play mode, called "Pocket Game", is a straight pool -like game set within a limited number of lives; the player must achieve a predetermined score to advance through four or five levels, each with increasing number of balls . The player earns points by pocketing balls, pocketing balls on consecutive shots, and pocketing balls in numerical order. On occasion, a flashing star appear in a pocket, and if the player pockets a ball into that pocket in the same shot, a bonus will be awarded in the form of points, extra lives or a bonus round. One life is lost if the player scratches or fails to pocket a ball in two consecutive turns.

In the two-player mode, the player can choose between Pocket Game or 9-Ball Game . In two-player Pocket Game, the game plays similarly, except the two players take turns and there are no lives; if one player misses or scratches, control of the cue ball simply changes to the other player. In 9-Ball Game, each player has three lives and one life is lost if a player incurs a foul . However, the lives will be restored if the player makes a legal shot on the next turn.

In the Game Boy and Game Gear version, there is also an additional practice mode, which is essentially a single-player version of 9-Ball Game. A variety of trick shot challenges are also available to the player(s), to earn additional points or extra life, requiring the player pot all balls into select pockets using a single shot. The player may put various spins on the ball, such as left and right english , and perform massés and jump shots . The Genesis, SNES and Game Gear versions features a photo-realistic representation of the player characters .

The characters are a homage to the 1986 billiards-themed film The Color of Money , with the characters bearing resemblance to Vincent Lauria (played by Tom Cruise ) and Fast Eddie (played by Paul Newman ), the two main characters from the film.