| League Bowling | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | SNK |
| Publisher(s) | SNK |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer (up to eight players via link-up) |
| Arcade system | Neo Geo MVS |
League Bowling [lower-alpha 1] is an arcade game released in 1990 by SNK for the Neo Geo console and arcade systems. [1] [2] The players controls characters with red and blue hair and can select balls from 8 to 15 pounds.
League Bowling has three types of modes, played up to 4 players. [3] [4]
Played just like a normal game of bowling, with 300 being a perfect score.
Values of 100 to 300 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. Below each strike value is a smaller point value, which is added to the score for a spare.
Unlike regular bowling, bonus shots in the tenth frame are not awarded; once a strike or spare is thrown, the game ends.
The maximum possible score is 3,000.
Played just like regulation except that a strike scores 90 points for the frame, and a spare scores 60 for the frame, with no carry-over bonus. 30 points are awarded in the case of a field goal (throwing the ball in between the 7 and 10 pins). Like the Flash mode, there are no bonus shots in the tenth frame.
The maximum possible score is 900.
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.
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| AllGame | (NG)   [5] |
| Consoles + | (NG) 68% [6] |
| HobbyConsolas | (NG) 85/100 [7] |
| Joystick | (NG) 80% [8] [9] |
| Player One | (NG) 91% [10] |
In Japan, Game Machine listed League Bowling on their February 1, 1991 issue as being the eighth most-popular arcade game at the time. [11] Likewise, RePlay reported the game to be the twentieth most-popular arcade game at the time. [12] The title was met with mixed to positive reviews from critics, many of which criticized its awkward controls for being passable but praised its humorous artstyle as well as the characters and their reactions. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
AllGame 's Kyle Knight praised the catoon-style presentation, simple gameplay and multiplayer but criticized the audio and lack of replay value. [5] Consoles Plus's J.B. Aerstut also commended the visual presentation, comparing it with the works of Tex Avery , audio and playability but felt mixed in regards to its longevity. [6] Hobby Consolas ' Manuel del Campo gave positive remarks to the multiplayer, character animations, appropriate music, sound and playability but criticized one gameplay aspect. [7] Joystick 's Jean-Marc Demoly and Player One's Cyril Drevet commented positively in regards to the animated audiovisual presentation, realism and longevity. [8] [10] Joystick also regarded it as one of the best bowling simulators in the genre but was criticized for being repetitive and limited. [9]
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.
Nadia, from the anime Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water , can be seen cheering in the background.
Aero Fighters 2 is a vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game released in 1994 by Video System.It is developed by SNK and released in Japan, USA and Europe. It is the second part of the Semi-Hit Aero Fighters series followed by the third part Aero Fighters 3 and a spin-off Aero Fighters Assault. Aero Fighters 2 belongs to the long running series of Golden Age era of gaming of 80`s and 90`s. It was initially released as a cabinet token base game. It`s sega mega drive port followed after it. It was also re-released as a SNK Classic Collection for ps3 in 2007.
3 Count Bout is a wrestling arcade game released by SNK in 1993.
Magician Lord is a side-scrolling action-platform arcade video game developed by Alpha Denshi and originally published by SNK on April 26, 1990. It was one of the launch titles for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms, in addition of also being one of the pack-in games for the AES.
Baseball Stars Professional is a baseball arcade video game developed and originally published by SNK on 26 April, 1990. A follow-up to the original Baseball Stars on Nintendo Entertainment System, it was one of the launch titles for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms, in addition of also being one of the pack-in games for the AES, as well as the first baseball title released for the Neo Geo.
Cyber-Lip is a side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter arcade game released by SNK in 1990 for the Neo Geo MVS. It was then released for the Neo Geo AES home console in 1991.
Last Resort is an arcade shoot 'em up video game by SNK released in 1992. It was also released for the Neo-Geo and Neo Geo CD systems, SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 for the PS2, PSP, and Wii, as well as ACA Neo-Geo for the PS4 and Xbox One. Its gameplay was heavily inspired by R-Type and its system of a pod attached to the player's ship.
Burning Fight is a beat 'em up arcade game released by SNK in 1991 for the Neo Geo MVS system. Introduced to capture a share in the then-popular beat 'em ups market, it was meant to compete with Technōs' Double Dragon, the leader of the genre at the time. Three years after its release in the arcades and on the Neo Geo AES, it was released on Neo Geo CD as the only other home version.
Blue's Journey is a side-scrolling platform game released by Alpha Denshi in 1990 on SNK's Neo Geo MVS arcade system and their AES home system. It was ported to the Neo Geo CD in 1994. It was rereleased on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on November 9, 2007, followed by North America on November 12, 2007.
Ninja Combat is a 1990 side-scrolling beat 'em up video game developed by Alpha Denshi and published by SNK. It was one of the launch titles for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and AES (home) systems.
Ghost Pilots is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game released in 1991 by SNK. The gameplay is straightforward with elements similar to that of Capcom's 194X games. Unlike most scrolling shooters, the vehicle is a seaplane instead of a spaceship or airplane.
World Heroes is a 1992 fighting arcade game developed and published by Alpha Denshi with the assistance of SNK. It was originally released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade cabinet on July 28, 1992. It is ADK's first game in the fighting game genre, as well as their earliest attempt in the fighting game trend of the '90s that was popularized by Capcom's 1991 arcade hit Street Fighter II. It was even the last game with the "Alpha" logo labeled within the game before the developer became "ADK"; however, the "Alpha" logo was last used on one of the arcade flyers of its sequel.
Top Player's Golf is a golf arcade video game developed and originally published by SNK on May 23, 1990. It was one of the launch titles for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms in the United States, the second golf game created by SNK after 1988's Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf, as well as one of the two golf games released for the Neo Geo, with the other one being Nazca Corporation's 1996 Neo Turf Masters.
Puzzled is a falling-block puzzle video game developed and published by SNK that was released for Neo Geo arcades in 1990, on the Neo Geo home console in 1991, and the Neo Geo CD in 1994. The game was ported to mobile phones in 2005, then was re-published by D4 Enterprise on the Wii Virtual Console in June 2011, and it is also one of the twenty games that came pre-loaded on the Neo Geo X console released in 2012. It was also ported in August 2017 to Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 as part of Hamster Corporation's ACA Neo Geo series.
Andro Dunos is a scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Visco Corporation and originally published by SNK on June 15, 1992. It is the first title to be created by Visco for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms, as well as their only officially licensed release for the AES during its commercial life span.
Riding Hero is a hybrid racing/role-playing arcade video game developed and originally published by SNK on July 24, 1990. It was the first title for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms that featured "Multi Play" (Multi-Link) support, which allowed two systems to be connected via a phone jack port integrated into each cartridge for versus LAN play.
Football Frenzy is an American football arcade video game developed and originally published by SNK on January 31, 1992. It was the second football game created by SNK after 1987's Touch Down Fever, as well as the only football game released for the Neo Geo platform.
Power Spikes II is a volleyball arcade video game developed by Video System and originally published by Taito on October 19, 1994. A follow-up to Hyper V-Ball on Super Nintendo Entertainment System, it was first launched for Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and later ported to Neo Geo CD. It is the final installment in the Super Volleyball series.
Super Sidekicks is a 1992 soccer arcade video game developed and published by SNK. It is the first installment in the eponymous series and the second soccer game released for Neo Geo MVS, succeeding Soccer Brawl (1991). Featuring an arcade-style approach to soccer compared to other games released at the time, the title allows players to choose any of the available game modes with AI-controlled opponents or other human players with the team of their choosing. Its gameplay uses a simplified two-button configuration.
Super Sidekicks 2: The World Championship is a 1994 soccer arcade video game developed and published by SNK. It is the second installment in the Super Sidekicks series and the third soccer game released for Neo Geo MVS, preceding the original Super Sidekicks (1992). Featuring an arcade-style approach to soccer as its predecessor, the game allows players to choose any of the available game modes with AI-controlled opponents or other human players with the team of their choosing. Its gameplay uses a simplified three-button configuration.
Super Sidekicks 3: The Next Glory is a 1995 soccer arcade video game developed and published by SNK. It is the third installment in the Super Sidekicks series, preceding the original Super Sidekicks 2: The World Championship (1994). Featuring an arcade-style approach to soccer like its predecessors, the game allows players to choose any of the available game modes to compete with AI-controlled rivals or other human players with their preferred team. Though first launched for the MVS hardware, the title was ported for Neo Geo AES and Neo Geo CD, in addition of being re-released through compilations and download services for various consoles. It proved popular among players and garnered positive reception from critics, however most reviewers noted that it felt as an update than a true successor to Super Sidekicks 2. It was followed by The Ultimate 11: SNK Football Championship in 1996.
