Strikes and Spares
Ten Pin Bowling hasn’t been recreated on computer very much, and this is an
ambitious attempt, which appears to have been written by someone with an
unhealthy love of the game. The options you’d expect are present, such as
multi-player games and saveable statistics, with all the subtleties of the
scoring system implemented correctly. The alley is represented in 3D, with the
pins flying depending on the impact speed, and several other (empty) lanes in
view.
There are two control systems on offer, one of which gives the game an action
feel, and the other redefines bowling into a fairly exact science. In the
former, you press fire to pick up the ball, position it by sliding the mouse
left or right, then throw it by launching the mouse forward – the ball’s
direction and pace is dependant on the straightness and speed of the delivery.
The second mode involves using a set of options to define the ball’s speed,
swerve and starting position, then clicking on ‘Bowl’ to set an arrow into
motion, which you use to select the direction.
Strikes and Spares