Games Database
PlayStation
Sport: Bowling
| Also for: | PC | ||
| Viewed: | 3D Third-person, floating camera | Genre: | Sport: Bowling |
| Arcade origin: | No | ||
| Developer: | South Peak | Soft. Co.: | Ubisoft |
| Publishers: | Ubisoft
(GB) |
Released: | 18 Aug 2000
(GB) |
| Ratings: | 3+ | ||
| Accessories: | Analogue JoyPad, Memory Card | ||
| Features: | Vibration Compatible | ||
Summary
The folks at South Peak Interactive sure have good taste in TV programmes. Summer 2000 saw their Dukes of Hazzard game published by Ubi Soft, and now the same team bring us The Flintstones Bedrock Bowling. What next? Kojak was always my favourite. Are you reading this, South Peak? Let’s hope so!
This game opens with an explanation of why it’s not just your average bowling title. Dictatorial quarry boss Mr Slate has decided that Flintstone should work some overtime, despite Fred’s arrangement to get in some bowling practice with neighbour and best pal Barney Rubble. What a quandary!
However, all is not lost. Gazoo, little-remembered space alien friend of Barney’s, has a solution. Gazoo transforms Bedrock into twelve giant bowling lanes so that Fred and Barney can practice while they’re on the job. He also turns the bowling balls into shells by making them larger and cutting them in half, so the characters can ride down the lanes. Pick the character you want to be – Fred, Barney, Pebbles, Dino or Bamm-Bamm – climb into the half-ball, and away you go. It certainly is an original take on what has proved in the past to be a largely thrill-free genre. The basic premise is the same as other bowling games, however. Pins are there to be knocked down, but there are obstacles and collectibles along the way, such as dodos, lava pools and troublesome animals.
With a host of additional lanes to uncover as you progress through the game, Flintstones Bedrock Bowling should come with a certificate of longevity, but it doesn’t. It does, however, provide a solid challenge in the advanced levels, and a lot of laughs, especially in multi-player mode.
This game opens with an explanation of why it’s not just your average bowling title. Dictatorial quarry boss Mr Slate has decided that Flintstone should work some overtime, despite Fred’s arrangement to get in some bowling practice with neighbour and best pal Barney Rubble. What a quandary!
However, all is not lost. Gazoo, little-remembered space alien friend of Barney’s, has a solution. Gazoo transforms Bedrock into twelve giant bowling lanes so that Fred and Barney can practice while they’re on the job. He also turns the bowling balls into shells by making them larger and cutting them in half, so the characters can ride down the lanes. Pick the character you want to be – Fred, Barney, Pebbles, Dino or Bamm-Bamm – climb into the half-ball, and away you go. It certainly is an original take on what has proved in the past to be a largely thrill-free genre. The basic premise is the same as other bowling games, however. Pins are there to be knocked down, but there are obstacles and collectibles along the way, such as dodos, lava pools and troublesome animals.
With a host of additional lanes to uncover as you progress through the game, Flintstones Bedrock Bowling should come with a certificate of longevity, but it doesn’t. It does, however, provide a solid challenge in the advanced levels, and a lot of laughs, especially in multi-player mode.