Rocket Bowl Review

DFG Exclusive Review Summary

Read Full Rocket Bowl Review

Game Description

RocketBowl adds another dimension to the king of all leisure sports. At the '58 Kalamazoo World's Fair the lanes are curved, the balls are rocket-powered, and the future of bowling is now!

Win cash, wager on matches against veteran RocketBowlers, play fast-paced Mini-Striker bonus levels, and unlock all the RocketBowl courses!

Here is some of the crazy fun you can have playing Rocket Bowl:

• Use special rocket-powered bowling balls to curve, boost, and hop your way over hills, around water traps, across bridges, and through winding chutes, all at a fun and relaxing pace.
• Knock over special Dollar Pins, collect bonus coins, and wager on matches against local pros to fatten your wallet
• Save up money to buy more advanced bowling balls for extra rocket boosts and special curve shots

Rocket Bowl Review

RocketBowl is an unusual and thrilling mix of bowling and miniature golf with a few extra surprises thrown in. Bowling is done on courses instead of lanes and bowling balls have special powerups. You can play alone or compete against the computer for money that can be used to buy new and better bowling balls. A relatively simple game with simple controls, but still entertaining.

You've Never Bowled Like This

The gameplay is similar to bowling, with a few twists. There are ten frames to each course, and you have three chances per frame rather than the typical two to knockdown ten pins with the bowling ball. However, you can't earn a spare if you don't knock down all the pins before the third attempt. Another change is the bowling balls themselves.

Bowling balls can have powerups, like a rocket shot that allows you to change the direction of the ball after you've already bowled it. There are also no lanes in the game - the ten frames are spread out across a large course. You have the option to knock down pins from any frame regardless of what frame you're on. For example, if you were on frame 3 but had a good shot on the pins of frame 7, you could knock them down.

7 Courses, Wish There Were More

There are seven different courses in the game with a variety of layouts and obstacles to deal with. Hills and bumps bounce your ball around and make aiming a shot a challenge. Walls and pathways limit where you can shoot. Water presents another hazard you'll need to avoid. The one downside to the courses is simply the low number of them. There are only seven different courses to play on, and it would have been a great improvement if there were more.

Different Game Modes

RocketBowl also offers several modes of play for each course. The free play mode lets you play through the ten frames of a course by yourself, with no requirements on a score or competition. The challenge mode lets you take on a computer opponent for some cash. You can make a bet and if you score higher on the course, you win the money. You can then use the money to buy better bowling balls with more powerups.

There's also a tournament mode that lets you play against several computer opponents at once. This mode require you to pay a decent entry fee, but you'll more than make up your money if you get a high score and finish in a position that rewards prize money. The one thing missing when it comes to modes is an option for traditional or normal bowling. It'd be nice to have a simple choice that provides you with a normal bowling ball and lane.

Another downside to the game is the lack of difficulty options. Once you get the hang of this game, you might find that the computer opponents don't provide much of a challenge. It would be nice to have the ability to ramp up the difficulty and face something a little more formidable.

Easy Controls

The controls in RocketBowl are few in number and very simple to use. You simple click a button to start powering up your shot, then click it again to launch the ball when it's at the level you want. Once the ball is launched, you can activate any powers by clicking buttons on the screen near your ball. You won't have any difficulty learning to play this game or using the controls.

Basic Graphics

The presentation isn't amazing and doesn't really stand out all that much, but it's still a good fit for the game. The music and sounds add some atmosphere without being annoying, and the graphics look pretty good as well. They won't win any awards, but they don't detract from the gameplay either.

Conclusion - A Fun Twist For Bowling Fans

Overall, RocketBowl is a fun and exciting bowling game. The mix of miniature golf and powerups means that it's not going to feel like normal bowling, but they add some action and enjoyment to the game. There are a few modes that let you play a simple, relaxing game alone or take on computer opponents for cash prizes that can help you buy new bowling balls. This is certainly a game well worth playing.

Player Reviews