Hustle Kings Vita preview - authentic billiards without the bar

Hustle Kings for Vita is about as pure billiards as it can get – it’s all about hitting balls into other balls and then into some holes. Everything about it is designed to give the authentic pool experience without having to navigate around some drunk dude at the nearest bar.

But what good is having all that in-game money if you can’t, well, hustle some folks? Multiplayer allows for betting against your friends. Sure, it may not be real cash, but imagine the bragging rights when they can’t purchase those chrome balls they’ve had their eyes on after you run the table immediately after the break.

If the name Hustle Kings sounds familiar, it’s because it came out on PSN last year. In a wonderful move, the Vita version introduces cross-platform play. On top of that, it allows asynchronous online play ,so instead of having to sit around and play out a whole game at once, you and your friends can each take your turns whenever you have a free moment. Go ahead, take your shot and turn off your Vita. Your buddy will take theirs as soon as they’re ready. No big deal, man.

Really, that’s what pool is all about. It’s a leisure sport, and Hustle Kings is all about making it as leisurely as possible. Play a couple turns on the bus, in bed, or on the toilet. It’ll take care of the rest. Don’t worry about it. Just remember to call your shots.

Taylor Cocke is a Los Angeles-based writer and producer who spends too much time watching numbers go up in MMOs and ARPGs. You name it, he's written and/or produced for them, which is shocking considering the aforementioned MMO playing.