is an arcade game released in 1990 by SNK for the Neo Geo console and arcade systems. The game was unique in that it was the first arcade to put emphasis on bowling. The players controls characters with red and blue hair and can select balls from 8 to 15 pounds.
Modes
League Bowling has three types of modes, played up to 4 players.
Regulation
Played just like a normal game of bowling, with 300 being a perfect score.
Flash
Values of 100 to 500 will flash on a randomizer during the time the bowler throws his shot. A strike adds the bonus flash value to the score accumulated at the end of the game.
Strike 90
Played just like regulation except that a strike adds 90 points to the next two shots, and a spare adds 60 points to the next shot. 30 points are awarded in the case of a field goal.
Multi Link Play
In addition, it also has the option to link up to 4 Neo-Geo MVS machines to become the 8-player game. This is the only Neo-Geo game that features the 8-player support. The 8-player gameplay video are shown on YouTube with the link below.
Reception
In Japan, Game Machine listed League Bowling on their February 1, 1991 issue as being the eighth most-successful table arcade unit of the year, outperforming titles such as Super BurgerTime and Final Fight. The game met with mixed to positive reviews from critics. Many critics criticized its controls for being a bit awkward, but for one of the first arcade bowling games, it's passable. Also, many critics praised its humorous style of graphics and the characters, especially the reactions from the player if he gets a strike, spare or misses.
Ports
Tom Fulp, the founder and CEO of Newgrounds, ported the game to Flash in 2002. The port features no ball selection, a regulation mode only, fewer animations, and the different player's sprites are the same. Later on 2010, SNK Playmore releases the NEOGEO Station, which includes the emulation of the game and other Neo-Geo games for the PlayStation 3 and the PSP. On July 12, 2011, Virtual Console version for the Wii was released in Japan.
