Hello there and welcome to the next entry in Retro Revival, the series where I cover classic games that have been given another chance at life. Here I cover HD remasters, emulated ports and compilations in part or as a whole. This week we continue going through the NEOGEO library, this time with League Bowling, a unique bowling arcade game developed by SNK in 1990. This title is available on modern platforms via the ACA NEOGEO series by Hamster Corporation.
Disclaimer: the games discussed in this feature have been my own purchases, so all opinions contained within are my own. There has been no sponsorship of the content in this feature, with links to the different versions of the game where available.
So with the introductions out of the way, let’s get started. I will be discussing the general gameplay experience, then provide my personal thoughts on the release.
About the game
League Bowling is a straight forward arcade bowling simulation, where players play through ten frames of arcade bowling action. This game can be played with up to four players, with the first two going first, then the second pair taking their turns. When starting the game, there are three modes that players can jump into to play. These modes are the following;
- Regulation – this is the standard bowling mode, where the action plays out in the traditional format, bowling 10 frames to get the best possible score. The maximum perfect score is 300, just like real world bowling.
- Flash Bowling – the game plays out just like regular bowling, but the scoring is different with flashing score bonuses at the top of the screen. There are three different types of bonuses ranging from 50 to 200 for spares and 100 to 300 for strikes. There are no bonus shots on the tenth frame, with a maximum perfect score of 3000.
- Strike 90 – Similar to Regulation and Flash bowling, the player will bowl 10 frames just like the others, but like Flash bowling the score system has changed. Each time the player gets a strike, they will earn 90 points, there will be 60 points for a spare and for special trick shots, 30 points will be awarded. The perfect score for this mode is 900, with no final frame bonus shots.
After selecting the number of players and the mode, the pre-game screen will appear where players can select the weight of their ball, as well as their hand. The ball weights that can be chosen are between 8 and 15, with different colors for each of the balls to differentiate between them. The weight of the ball doesn’t seem to have any real effect on the way they work, with all balls function nearly identically with the color being the only difference.
Once all of the selections have been made, the game will begin with Pete the player on the lane. The game is played in vertical split screen, with two players being able to play simultaneously, rather than turn based as most other games are. If there is one player or three players, the empty side on the right will have Jessica the lane girl filling the space. When she is on screen she will be holding a sign with the controls to play the game.
During each throw of a frame, the player needs to line up their shots moving along the line to get into position. Then the player can set the control of the ball, using a sliding control gauge that players can stop to throw straight or add a curve to the shot. After the position and control has been set, players can use the power meter to set how hard they throw the ball. As the throw is made, there are animations at the top of the screen.
There are a variety of animations that play out during the throws, with unique animations for each strike, spare and miss. The different animations mimic the fanfare present in real-world bowling alleys, but with the added twist of animations for more than just strikes. These add a lot of charm to the game experience, elevating it above other bowling arcade titles of the time. If playing Flash Bowling, the animations are missing and replaced with the bonus scores.
At the end of the game, players will appear at an awards ceremony with the players ranked from first to last. This occurs with any number of players, with single player defaulting to the top spot, and if the player sets a high enough score they can add their name. The game is relatively short with a game taking between 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the players. But the whole game is played with a single credit, so players get the full experience every time.
As mentioned in my other ACA NEOGEO features, there is the High Score and Caravan modes, where players play through a full game. The objective is to set the highest score possible for the global rankings, as the game is rather short, both modes are mostly the same. Alongside the modes, there is the international and Japanese release, alongside the adjustable settings, digital manual and the retro CRT filter the give it an old school look.
Personal Thoughts
I have many fond memories of League Bowling, having played it both at home and at arcades while on family holidays. When I was a kid, I wasn’t too good at it as my timing was pretty terrible, but as I got older and gave it more time, I have improved. But I can still be a bit hit and miss when playing the game, adding too much spin, being in the wrong place or just being off with timing. Yet, I still have a tremendous amount of fun when playing the game.
It is as simple as it gets, being a single button game that is played with only the A button. But this doesn’t take away from the fun and challenge on offer, as players can practice and get good enough to hit that perfect 300 game. It is also one of those rare four player arcade games that only needs two controllers, as players pass the controllers after each frame. The odd players share the player 1 controller and the even players share player 2.
The game is rather short, but that adds to the replay value for it, as you can get several games done in an hour. This makes it perfect for solo and group play, as you can try to set a score and beat it, or play through several games during game nights to see who is the best bowler. It is one of those evergreen games, which you can pick up and play whenever you feel that bowling itch, or break it out when you have company around.
League Bowling was released during the first year of the NEOGEO MVS, then was released around 7 months later for the home system. Even though it is one of those early games, released as SNK were finding their feet with the system, it looks and sounds as good as the best games in the library. It is one of those that I do hope gets a re-release as part of the AES+, as the price for the original cartridge has a rather hefty price tag.
If you have enjoyed this feature, then take a look at the other content available and see what catches your eye. There are reviews, sometimes news and features that cover a variety of games. There is the lost gems series, special Gaming Oddities and more coming in the future. So stick around for a while and check out the other content.
Link to Nintendo Switch Version (HERE)
Link to Xbox version (HERE)
W.Kohaku Media 