Pocket Bowling Game Boy Color

Pocket Bowling for the Game Boy Color brings the popular blue collar sport to the tips of your fingers (and thumbs). You can choose from six bowlers, including a secret android character who appears only after you reach a certain level. Each bowler is rated on power and technique and uses a different weight of bowling ball. Apparently, all the bowlers are ambidextrous because each one can bowl right- or left-handed.

Three modes of play are available: Standard, Tournament and Training. Standard mode is for one or two (alternating) players and consists of a single match. In the Tournament mode, you select a character and compete against four computer-controlled opponents in four different bowling alleys. Training mode lets you practice knocking over specific pin arrangements. In any of the modes you can play the game with or without wax on the lane.

When it's time to bowl, you must first decide where you want to aim by positioning the ball somewhere on the lane. A spin indicator lets you choose what direction to throw the ball and how much spin to put on it. Finally, a power gauge lets you determine the speed of the throw.

Just like in the real sport, a game of Pocket Bowling consists of ten frames where the goal is to achieve a perfect score of 300. Strikes, spares, gutter balls and even 7-10 splits are all part of the action, and a password feature is available if you want to save your progress in the Tournament mode. ~ Brett Alan Weiss, All Game Guide