Brunswick Pro Bowling Review for PlayStation 2 (PS2)

System: PS2, Wii	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Point of View	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Crave	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Aug. 27, 2007	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Anyone familiar with golf video games will be comfortable with the power meter control system. You pull the stick back to start the meter and push it forward at the most opportune time to determine your accuracy. Then you prepare to release the ball at a specific power level. As long as you can get your accuracy within range, you'll have no problems making your way up to Kingpin status. You can aim the ball, put spin on it, and try for a hook shot in the pocket but all you really have to do is throw it down the middle with lots of power and the pins will topple like Michael Richards career.

Brunswick Pro Bowling screenshot

There are four modes: Practice, Quickplay, Career, and Multiplayer. None of which have any depth. In the Career mode you enter into tournaments comprised of seven league games of three matches each. It drags. You have to wait for the other bowlers to do their thing. After a few minutes it begins to get irritating, and there's no way to speed things up. It takes a while before you can earn some money and when you finally do all you can buy are new shoes and balls, none of which affects your abilities in any noticeable way. The money just allows you to enter into more tournaments. The multiplayer mode is almost as boring, except that you might have some friends that would join you in making fun of it.

There are no trick modes of any kind. You won't be throwing balls off of skyscrapers and onto airplanes. This is a no-frills bowling game, and by "no frills," I mean "no fun." Don't even consider renting this. I wish this were a baseball game because at least after three strikes, I would be out.

By Cole Smith
CCC Senior Writer

Features:

Brunswick Pro Bowling will give players a detailed, realistic bowling-center experience, complete with authentic sights and sounds, and official Brunswick bowling gear.

Brunswick Pro Bowling will be highly customizable, allowing players to choose everything from their character's appearance and accessories to ball styles.

In Career Mode, players work their way from amateur to professional by competing in a year's worth of bowling tournaments.

Ten authentic bowling centers, modeled after actual Brunswick locations, will set the scene.

Up to four players can face off in Multiplayer Mode, and Quick Play Mode allows for a fast round of bowling.

Realistic physics engine simulates real-time changing lane conditions and accounts for momentum and spin.

Unlockable content includes a variety of Brunswick balls, additional bowling centers, equipment and apparel.

Players in career mode will face rivals, who seek out and challenge them throughout their careers.

Rating out of 5	Rating Description
3.4	Graphics Average budget title graphics. Too much gloss on everything.
2.8	Control Easy to master, too easy. Reduces the challenge.
1.3	Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting Generic rock music is out of place. No voiceovers.
1.0	Play Value You'll only play it again to show friends how lame it is or how stupid you are for buying it.
2.1	Overall Rating - Poor Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

3.4

2.8

1.3

1.0

2.1