When you truly consider the scope of videogame technology, can there be anything more inherently simple than bowling? After all, we are talking about lining up a shot and letting mathematics take over.

Simple, right? Well, it should be so, but bowling is anything but simple. It requires putting the right touch on the ball, aiming it just so and hitting your marks. Crave Entertainment and Lab Rats Studios have released Strike Force Bowling on the PlayStation2 console system.

This is a game that has a wealth of playing options, from six modes of play to eight bowling alleys in a variety of locations and even different styles of games – such as golf, where you see a series of different pin arrays and the object is to know them all down in as few shots as possible.

There are tournament modes, skins games, open bowling, and practice modes as well.

There are built-in avatars you can rename but are otherwise not customizable, though there are a couple of others you can unlock. The avatars’ movement are a little stilted at times, but the ball movement seems fairly good and the pin physics are also well done.

The game does have some cleverness. If you pick the old West setting, instead of pins, you are knocking down whiskey bottles. The lane over the bridge in China has an Asian theme, from the dragon markings on the ball to the characters used to register the score. In the medieval setting, you are bowling with pumpkins, and if in a single-player mode, your opponent is a skeleton.

The idea to controlling the game does not require a lot of effort. You pick a game and enter the play mode. You can move your bowler from side to side, click to aim, and then click to initiate the action. There are two bars, and both use the sliding bar. You click to try to hit the hot zones on either bar. From there it is simply a matter of timing.

Strike Force Bowling is the kind of game that is a small little time-filler, or a game that the family can gather round to play. It will certainly not consume vast amounts of time. The game does have a few little animation problems, but these are connected to the bowlers and not the game physics. It appears that the ball movement, and pin interaction is solid.

The graphics are rich and three dimensional, but the sound of this game turns quickly from light, upbeat music to an irritating loop that is best left turned down or off.

This is, at best, an average diversion. It is not too-quickly played, but can provide some enjoyment. The pluses outweigh the negatives in this game, but rather than spend money on it, it may be better to see about renting it for the weekend.
 

Gameplay: 6.8

The game does have breaks for animation sequences and could move at a brisker pace.

Graphics: 7

The environments are lush and the ball/pin dynamics are well done.

Sound: 5.8

The music is upbeat and gets rather irritating within 6 minutes. The rest of the ambient sounds are limited to ball rolling down the lane.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium

The scope of the game is not overly complex, but finding a rhythm can be challenging.

Concept: 7

This game features a nice array of lanes and games that can be played.

Multiplayer: 7

Playing in competition with up to three others is more fun than playing alone.

Overall: 6.5

This title falls into that category of a game that is not likely to be a mainstream success, but can find a niche crowd of players who are looking for a mild diversion. Strike Force Bowling has decent graphics and play options, but turn the sound off.