League Bowling

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1990 video game

title: "League Bowling" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1990-video-games", "aca-neo-geo-games", "arcade-video-games", "bowling-video-games", "d4-enterprise-games", "hamster-corporation-games", "multiplayer-and-single-player-video-games", "neo-geo-cd-games", "neo-geo-games", "nintendo-switch-games", "playstation-4-games", "playstation-network-games", "snk-games", "snk-playmore-games", "video-games-developed-in-japan", "virtual-console-games", "xbox-one-games"] description: "1990 video game" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_Bowling" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1990 video game ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox video game"]

Field	Value
title	League Bowling
image	League Bowling arcade flyer.jpg
developer	SNK
publisher	SNK
platforms	Arcade, Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD
released	Arcade Neo Geo AES Neo Geo CD
genre	Sports
modes	Single-player, multiplayer
arcade system	Neo Geo MVS
::

is a sports arcade game released in 1990 by SNK for the Neo Geo console and arcade systems. The players controls characters with red and blue hair and can select balls from 8 to 15 pounds. It is the only bowling game released on the Neo Geo.

Modes

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/NEOGEO_League_Bowling.png" caption="Gameplay screenshot"] ::

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 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.

Strike 90

Played just like Regulation mode 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.

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.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed League Bowling on their February 1, 1991 issue as being the eighth most-popular arcade game at the time. Likewise, RePlay reported the game to be the twentieth most-popular arcade game at the time. 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.

*AllGame*s Kyle Knight praised the cartoon-style presentation, simple gameplay and multiplayer but criticized the audio and lack of replay value. Consoles Pluss 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. HobbyConsolas Manuel del Campo gave positive remarks to the multiplayer, character animations, appropriate music, sound and playability but criticized one gameplay aspect. *Joystick*s Jean-Marc Demoly and Player Ones Cyril Drevet commented positively in regards to the animated audiovisual presentation, realism and longevity. Joystick also regarded it as one of the best bowling simulators in the genre but was criticized for being repetitive and limited.

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 in 2010, SNK Playmore released the NEOGEO Station, which includes the emulation of the game and other Neo Geo games for the PlayStation 3 and the PSP.

In July 2011, Virtual Console version for the Wii was released in Japan.

Easter Egg

Nadia, from the anime Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water, can be seen cheering in the background.

Amusements Arcade UK: Butlin's Minehead list

Butlins (1994–2001) (Neo Geo MVS: Neo-Fruito-MVS – 5 Slot: Art of Fighting (1992), Samurai Shodown (1993), Mutation Nation (1992), League Bowling (1990) and Super Sidekicks (1992))

Notes

References

(January 1994). "Oh! Neo Geo Vol. 17 - リーグボウリング". [[SB Creative.
(Spring 1996). "Neo•Geo CD: The Arcade In A Box - League Bowling". [[International Data Group.
''League Bowling'' user's manual (Neo Geo AES, US)
Kitty. (January 16, 2021). "League Bowling". Hardcore Gaming 101.
Knight, Kyle. (1998). "League Bowling (Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System) - Review". [[All Media Network]].
Aerstut, J.B.. (July–August 1991). "Neo Geo Review - League Bowling". [[:fr:M.E.R.7.
del Campo, Manuel. (September 1993). "Neo Geo - ¡A Jugar A Los Bolos! - League Bowling". Hobby Press.
Demoly, Jean-Marc. (March 1991). "Tests - Neo Geo - League Bowling". [[:fr:Anuman Interactive.
(July–August 1991). "Console News - Neo Geo: League Bowling". Sipre.
Drevet, Cyril. (May 1991). "Tests De Jeux - Neo Geo - League Bowling". [[:fr:Média Système Édition.
(1 February 1991). "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
(August 1991). "The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Software". RePlay Publishing, Inc..
(January 1992). "Neo Geo For Real! - Previously Played... - CyberLip". [[International Data Group.
(July 1992). "Super Soft 大特集 - 今、『NEO・GEO』がおもしろい！: リーグボウリング". [[:ja:電波新聞社.
(August 1993). "Special - Neo Geo - League Bowling". [[Computec]].
(March 1995). "Reportaje - Clásicos en CD -- Titulos disponibles para el nuevo formato de SNK: League bowling". [[Axel Springer SE]].
(June 1997). "NF編集部にまる - ネオジオゲームㇱインレビュー: リーグボウリング". Geibunsha.

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