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Developer: Idol Minds
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Misc
Sub-Genre: Arcade
Release Date: Nov 29th, 2007
Additonal Info: Exclusively on the PlayStati...
Developer: Lightweight
Publisher: SCE
Genre: Misc
Sub-Genre: Arcade
Release Date: Feb 7th, 2008
Additonal Info: Available exclusively on the...
Developer: SCEE
Publisher: SCEE
Genre: Sports
Sub-Genre: Snowboarding
Release Date: Sep 30th, 2007
Additonal Info: Available exclusively on the...
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User rating: 9.2 (based on 10 votes) 
Tired of hearing the guy at the retail store tell you how incredible and innovative Wii Bowling is? Forget him. PlayStation 3 now has their superior version in High Velocity Bowling. It’s almost as though the PlayStation team looked over at the success of the other consoles and said, “Hey, people seem to enjoy those types of arcade titles. Let’s bring them over to our console and place them on steroids to play so much better.” What they’ve ended up with is not only a superior title but a superior experience all around.
High Velocity Bowling is one of the latest PlayStation Network titles to be released. The game features very detailed cartoon-like graphics without taking away from the realistic bowling experience. All of HV’s elements seem to have come together without flaw. The only thing that could have made this title over the top is if they had added an online portion to the game. However, at least they have something to build on if a sequel were to ever take place.
The game comes with 8 characters built into it. Unfortunately, only two of them are ready from the get go. Jill and Joe are the starting characters and are completely sub-par compared to the rest of the available class. Each character offers multiple clothing options as well. In order to unlock the remaining six characters you must complete the challenges provided in Challenge Mode. We’ll discuss that more in a little bit. Outside of the 8 initial characters, the game has already been given the ability of having two more characters added on. Amber, who is a trucker looking woman with a heavy ball and little Mike, who may resemble the Hispanic version of Mini-me are both available for $0.99 in the PSN.
Each character is also equipped with a couple of witty lines of dialogue that may meet their expected stereotypes. You’ll laugh the first couple of times, but with any repetitive dialogue, it does get old.
High Velocity certainly gives you enough ball options, most certainly. The game starts you off with 5-7 balls, each with a different weight, as well as grade from D’s to A’s. You’re also able to unlock new balls as you play as well. With the different clothing options and the ball changing abilities, you're offered a pretty decent customization set for you to personalize your bowler to a certain extent. Though, we all would have loved to see a Create-A-Bowler, I’m sure.
Let’s delve a little bit into the game modes. HVB doesn’t offer a lot of modes; however, the two they do offer seem to be more than efficient. The game comes with a Let’s Bowl Mode, as well as a Challenge Mode.
In Let’s Bowl mode, you’re given the opportunity to just play some straight up bowling. There isn’t much else to it outside of that. You’ll be given the option of playing on your own or with 3 other people for a team of 4. Great for a little two-on-two action.
Challenge Mode offers you three challenges per level. These challenges when completed will enable you to unlock different balls, clothing options, and even extra characters to play with. Challenge Mode is a single-player event. Some of the challenges include one-on-one competitions, tournaments, as well as a trick shot challenge.
If you bowl a perfect game, you won’t have to worry about anyone missing it. The game will log your perfect score for you and place it in the Trophy Room. This way you can go back and brag to all of your friends about your accomplishment. Since they’re already your friends, chances are they won’t think you’re any more of a loser for boasting over a video game bowling achievement.
Despite not having any online capabilities, that didn’t prevent them from adding a Leaderboard option. This will allow you to see how you stack up against the rest of the world. The Leaderboard covers everything from total perfect games, to top score, and even to top scores with each individual character. This way, you’ll always have ... (continued on next page)
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the high review still wont tempt me enough to buy this game i just dont find virtual bowling fun ...maybe its just me :S
It's not going to be for everyone, Omen. I'm not a big Virtual Bowling fan either... Not even close. I try to write my reviews based on what the game brings to the table in comparison to biasely looking at it from just my perspective. I try to look at these reviews from the perception of the "average gamer"...
F sake!!! abit late for reviews PSU get ur act together!!!
i have the game while its an ok game i dont think its a 8 maybe a 6.5 or 7 for a psn game and they should've at least added online play
psn id J08hawks
lol better late than never, and good on DaveW for putting up reviews for things that have been overlooked by the other writers. EU doesn't even have a lot of the titles that he has reviewed yet.
I heard this wasnt too flash at all.. and no online play sucks.. we should be able to vs each other.
I don't think "late" reviews are bad, in fact they are better than a person under pressure to put a review out a week after receiving the game on their desk and trying to blaze through it just before a game comes out. Games are not movies or music albums. They are an interactive media that takes time to really enjoy because the game has so much to it....unless, of course, the game flat out sucks...
Just to further clarify, I reviewed this more as a "party game" than anything, since it closely resembles that feature. Especially with it being very family-oriented. So with 3-4 people, the value of this game is very high, IMO. Especially at PSN pricing.
not sure if anyone realizes this,
but you can play music from your hdd in game.
loading screens and all.
that made the game for me.
HVB is a decent game for the money. I like the fact that my girlfriend was able to quickly get up to speed with the game and even beat me (and I got a reward for that!). I only play when friends come over. The game would have been better by allowing user created bowlers and a few more game modes with 4 players. Definite part game. If you don't have any friends, then you're better off keeping your change.
great game, i love it
Ive been waiting for this darnd game ever since it was advertised so how on earth is it that everyone seems to be playing it and ive not seen it anywere? Im in the UK. whats going on??????
Im from Australia and seen nothing at all on PSN, come on release it already.
psn id: gingo.... hope this game comes out in Europe soon, cant wait to play this and see if it really is better than wii bowling
I own a Wii as well and I find it a bit more enjoyable Gingo. Hopefully, you will too.
the game is really fun and has good graphics and the characters are so Unique and funny, and makes you use your ps3 controller like never before,like ur really holding a bowling ball(it makes Wii Bowling look stupid), so i think that for the price it's a must buy !!
@Jono-PK: Nevermind just the delays on the PSN games for the EU store, try comparing the ridiculous pricing!!! It's not as if they come in a box or gets shipped/delivered to other regions...they're just virtual games that does NOT "physically" exist in the world!!!
Such an annoying RIP-OFF!!! NO JUSTIFICATION WHATSOEVER!!!!
May 17th 2007 High Velocity Bowling coming to PSN ........ January 16th 2008 Still no High Velocity Bowling in the EU/UK PSN ...... if its a virtual game why cant it be virtually on all the PS Networks????? the PS 3 Rocks but the PSN really has me scratching my head
I agree with DaveW that HVB is an awesome party game, but for a stand-alone experience, there needed to be a lot more content (and not the 'but a new character for $1' either). I'd give it an 8 just for the fact that the motion sensing in HVB is probably one of the best out of all the PS3 games (PSN and retail).
Hey DaveW did you buy this game,or was it a review piece(if they do that with downloadable games)
Review piece, I didn't pay for it.
Got it last week and still playing the single player mode. Looks great on 1080p to.....
the game is amazing compared to the wii bowl. Nice to know the ps3 can do the exact same motion sensor tech that the wii does. Without even trying. Just shows you how shallow the wii really is.