Downhill Bowling

Lindeisha | Feb 4, 2009 Games

User rating:

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Loading ...

I am not a big risk taker or thrill seeker kind of person. I’ve only downhill skied twice in my life – and that was on the bunny trail a loooong time ago. No, I prefer safe fun in the comfort of my living room, in an overstuffed chair while playing games like “Downhill Bowling” by GameResort. This is when my inner-child gets to come out.

Downhill Bowling is an app creation of genius. I have played a few of the bowling apps. They provide a little mind-numbing fun. I’ve also played a few racing games and they provide a little more heart palpitating sort of diversion (minus the car crashes). Dh Bowling combines the aiming and score-acquiring fun of bowling plus the agility challenge of racing, PLUS a little bit of clever strategy. Even my inner child can quickly grow weary of even the most expensive games, but I have quickly become addicted to this one.

Like a race, the game begins with the bowling ball at a starting line situated at the top of a hill. Once you press start, the ball gets rolling – and rolling and rolling. There is no forward arrow or break to control the momentum. Instead of a bowling alley are 10 different landscapes (levels). The graphics for the landscapes are detailed enough to be semi-realistic, but simple enough to help you stay focused on the path. The scenery ranges from grassy hills to artic wasteland to the fiery depths of Level 10. Like bowling, there are 10 “frames.” As you steer the bowling bowl down a ravine or around an artic abyss, you aim for the middle of a bowling pin set. At the bottom of the screen are 10 triangular pin formations to keep track of how many pins you’ve knocked down. An X marks the sets you’ve missed altogether.

The excitement comes with the racing momentum of the ball. If you’re not careful, it could roll into a rushing river of water or lava. Along its path are strings of gold coins. These not only gain extra points, but also help steer you to the center of the pin set or the hole of a canon (more on that later). Plus there are some cube-shaped “pickups” for getting things like extra speed, bounce or bombs (a sure-fire way to get a strike). The strategy comes in when you have to remember when each pickup is needed along the path, as well as what things to avoid, like the cute, but poisonous mushrooms.

But wait, there’s more! When you carefully aim yourself into the hole of a canon, a friendly little raccoon is waiting for you. At that point, you can aim the canon with the slide of a finger across a very deep chasm to the finish line where the last set of pins is waiting. Of course, the end game varies at each level, but I do enjoy those raccoon canon ball rides as the raccoon yells “Wheeeee” (I’m assuming out of pleasure and not terror).

What I really like:
• The level of challenge – not so hard as to cause immediate frustration, and not too easy so as to not leave plenty of room for improvement.
• Varied and colorful landscape (snowmen, cliffs, big pot holes, etc.)
• No other buttons to touch besides using the pickups and firing the canon.
• The music – a kind of updated surfer rock
• Fun sound effects
• The ease of getting a strike
• The ability to play for points or for speed

What I would like to see improved (and these are nit-picky):
• A glossier ball
• Bigger arrows for the detours (or else better glasses)
• Eventually more levels (no big hurry, but eventually I may need new challenges)