Win A Copy Of Bowling Paradise For iPad
Bowling Paradise for iPad ($0.99) by Chinh Nguyen is bowling, infused with whimsical customizations. Want to play a round in space? No problem. Perhaps on the beach? In a dome? These are just a sampling of some of the backgrounds available.
In addition to the change of scenery, there are also ball and pin customizations available. You can either play alone, against the computer, or with up to three of your friends. Game Center integration is available as well, if you want to see how you rank with your handicap.
Aside from the fantastic 3-D imagery, the setup is the same as a regular game of bowling. Throwing the ball is awkward at first, due to the small margin between it and the edge of the screen.
I almost felt claustrophobic when trying to line up a shot. After a while I realized that you really can use wider swipes to throw it.
There aren’t any fancy upgrades, like what Gutterball: Golden Pin Bowling offers, though that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker.
I think the overall complaint I have with this game is that it doesn’t have the look and feel of an actual bowling game. The transcendental music, ball and pin customizations, and even the menus don’t have that familiar ring of soggy fried food, clattering of pins all around, and smoke in the air. Sorry, but bowling is a pretty blue collar sport. The fantasy and whimsy just don’t fit in.
The animations could use some tightening, and the music could be less trippy. For $0.99, I think the app is priced correctly. But I’d rather spend a little bit more to buy Gutterball: Golden Pin Bowling. But you can find out for yourself because we have a giveaway!
GIVEAWAY: We have a code for Bowling Paradise for iPad to giveaway to a lucky reader! Just leave a comment on this post (so we can contact the winners) by Monday Feb. 12, 4 p.m. EST. We'll pick winners randomly. Good luck!
