League Bowling

"Bowling for the Neo-Geo System is as Good as VG Bowling Can Get"

Released in 1991 as one of the first Neo-Geo games, League Bowling weighed in at a paltry 26 megs. Now when you realize that the higher the meg count the better the game usually is, then you may want to skip League Bowling initially. However I strongly recommend that you don't do that and instead give it a try. Bowling games are few and far between (except for on mobile phones) and most of them are pretty terrible. However League Bowling is far from terrible, in fact its the best bowling game I've ever played. This is the kind of game that you'll remember forever, it is an excellent all-around title, that features the best gameplay in any bowling game ever, and cute, cartoon-like graphics to depict the setting. Yes League Bowling on the Neo-Geo is the second Neo-Geo AES cart I purchased, (FF Special was the 1st), and I only bought it because I found it for a great price. After playing it I realized I had discovered a diamond in the rough. League Bowling is an excellent game that represents a sport that rarely gets representation from video games. Let's check it out.

(gameplay - 10)
League Bowling features very simple controls, with the joystick being used to position your bowler in the spot you want to shoot from. The A Button is then used to set the amount of spin needed and then pressing it a second time selects the amount of power (force) you put into your roll. That is the extent of the control scheme. Very simple, especially when compared to other bowling games. The gameplay is extremely simple but it works so well. The controls are perfect, getting a strike is very manageable, and can be done repeatedly on almost every frame. The controls are smooth and on-target, there can be no excuses such as blaming the controls for your mistakes, because this game plays flawlessly.

(story)
It's bowling. Get the best score you possibly can.

(graphics - 8, sound - 7)
Being an early Neo-Geo game, the graphics on League Bowling are simply good, not great. The game is bright and colorful, and your bowler is modeled well as is the pretty blonde girl in the red dress. The ball is large and white and even has three finger holes in it. The lane is pretty detailed, with grooves in the wood being visible. Knocking down the pins is cool and it looks really good. There are varied animation clips depending on how many pins you knock down and these little animation cuts are very well done and look great. The screen splits in half when you are rolling the ball, with the top half of the screen showing your bowler as he eagerly anticipates a strike, while the lower half shows the lane and the ball rolling down the wooden floorboards on the way to the pins. The graphics are colorful and cartoon-like, and the background shows people sitting in stands cheering and screaming as the ball makes its way down the lane. Overall the graphics are bright, colorful, well-detailed, and animated nicely. The sound effects are decent. The sound of the ball making contact with the pins is very accurate to the real-life sound. The other sound effects are average, such as the people in the background and the ball rolling down the lane, it all sounds nice, but its nothing spectacular. The music that plays in the background is pretty good, it sounds crisp and clean, and is kind of uplifting in an odd sort of way. In the end the graphics are more impressive than the sound, but SNK did a very good job on both the graphics and sound effects, especially considering the year was 1991 and the Neo-Geo was just beginning to appear on store shelves.

(replayability - 10)
With three different modes of play to choose from League Bowling offers a decent amount of replay value. Up to four players can compete in League Bowling, which makes this a great party game. The gameplay is through the roof, with easy to master controls, fun gameplay, great cartoon-like visuals, and catchy music plus nice sound effects. Playing with other people really can get interesting and intense, as you begin to rack up strikes more and more pressure begins to build for your bowler to perform well. Considering this is the only bowling game on the Neo-Geo and is actually the greatest bowling game ever created, it only seems logical that anybody (and I mean anybody) can enjoy this game. I bought it simply because I had spare cash from doing chores around the house (I was 13) and I didn't expect much from this game. However I gave it a try and found it to be one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had in my days of playing video games. League Bowling is the premier, top-of-the-line, flagship bowling game that simply can't be beaten. This game is pure fun and is one of the best sports games I've ever played. You'll be coming back to this one for years to come.

(recommendations)
League Bowling is a must for all Neo-Geo owners out there. With simplistic easy to learn controls and smooth as silk gameplay mechanics, there is little to complain about here. The cartoon-like graphics provide good eye candy and the sound effects are well done and set up the atmosphere well. If bowling isn't your thing, I still highly recommend this game. League Bowling is an excellent game that can turn anyone into a loyal fan. The game is simply outstanding and should be a part of any Neo game library. With the four-player multiplayer option plus different modes of play this game is sure to deliver several hours worth of entertainment. This may be the best party game (non-fighting) ever created for the Neo-Geo Advanced Entertainment System. So give your buddies a call and tell them you're going bowling tonight, Neo style.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/19/04