Ports Side Pocket was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game Boy. The NES version plays almost identical to the arcade version, but the Pocket Game mode features 4 levels and the player starts with 5 lives, as opposed to 2. The NES version also introduce four different rack configuration that become standard in later versions, whereas the arcade version only feature six-ball and nine-ball racks. The Game Boy version of Side Pocket is a slight modification from the NES version, featuring a smaller playing field (to compensate with Game Boy's screen), new set of soundtrack and a different screen layout. Like in NES version, the Pocket Game mode features 4 levels and the player starts with 5 lives. One unique addition to the Game Boy version is the ability to play single-player nine-ball mode, while in other versions this mode is limited only to two players. Enhanced remake An enhanced remake was released for the Genesis, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and Game Gear. This version features completely different contents compared to the original, including revamped graphics, new smooth jazz-oriented soundtrack, new sound effects and photo-realistic background sceneries during gameplay. The main game modes remain identical to the original, with several alteration on the Pocket Game mode. This mode now features 5 levels represented as "cities" (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, New York City, and Atlantic City) and the player starts with 8 lives. In addition, a new "trick shot" mode is featured, in which the player can try one of the 19 trick shot levels, each with increasing difficulty. The SNES port is otherwise identical with the Genesis version, apart from different soundtrack set and better graphics. The Game Gear port is a stripped-down version of the Genesis version, which plays more akin to the original rendition, more specifically the NES version. However, most elements from the Genesis/SNES version are retained, such as the background images (scaled down to 8-bit), some of the soundtracks, and the trick shot levels. Reception In Japan, Game Machine listed Side Pocket on their August 1, 1986 issue as being the eighth most-successful table arcade unit of the month. It went on to be the eighth highest-grossing table arcade game of 1987 in Japan. In reviewing the NES version, Computer Gaming World declared it "far and away the best billiards simulation ever published for any system". The features that went beyond realistic