Ten Pin Alley

Ten Pin Alley is a ten-pin bowling simulation game released by ASC Games in 1996 and developed internally at Adrenalin Entertainment.

This game is not to be confused with the similarly titled Animaniacs: Ten Pin Alley, which was developed by Saffire.
Ten Pin Alley
North American PlayStation Box Art
Developer(s)Adrenalin Entertainment
Publisher(s)ASC Games
Platform(s)PlayStation
Saturn
PC
PlayStation Network
ReleasePlayStation
  • NA: November 30, 1996
  • PAL: June 1997
Saturn
Windows
PlayStation Network
  • NA: August 13, 2009
Genre(s)Sports game
Mode(s)Single player Multi-player

The game was released on November 30, 1996 in North America, and eventually released in February 1998 in the United Kingdom. Just before its North American release, Sony selected the game's demo to be included on its PlayStation sampler disc.

A sequel to the game entitled Ten Pin Alley 2, by an unknown developer, was mooted for a release on the PlayStation 2, but for unknown reasons was shelved. The sequel, developed by Pronto Games and published by XS Games, was released on the Game Boy Advance to dismal reviews.

Ten Pin Alley should not be confused with an audio game with the same title made by PCS Games.

Gameplay

Players choose from a set of characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses.[2] The game play modes are single player, multiplayer, tournament and practice.

Each shot is controlled in a similar fashion to many of the golf games of the era: with an accuracy based pendulum system. With this the player decides the power, accuracy and hook for each shot.

Critical response

Response to the game was favorable. Critics applauded the accurate and realistic physics,[4][5][6][7] the mechanics for controlling the ball's release,[5][6][7] and the humorous behavior of the bowlers.[4][5][6][7] Some critics remarked that the multiplayer capabilities, in combination with its other positive aspects, make Ten Pin Alley an ideal party video game.[4][6][8] Next Generation, for example, called it "the perfect party game, with multiplayer capabilities, wacky characters, and solid game mechanics."[6] GamePro summarized, "Striking sparks into the world of bowling, Ten Pin Alley delivers enough fun per frame to be recognized as the kingpin of its sport."[7] Dean Hager of Electronic Gaming Monthly commented, "Despite its cheesy atmosphere and goof-ball characters, this sleeper-hit delivers an accurate and entertaining bowling game to the 32-bit platform."[4] GameSpot deemed it "more fun than real bowling."[5]

GamePro assessed the Saturn version as inferior to the PlayStation version, elaborating that "Although the [Saturn version] contains new camera angles, the alleys and bowlers don't look as cleanly animated as they do in the PlayStation version." However, they considered it a recommended title for Saturn owners due to its strong gameplay.[8]

Ten Pin Alley was inducted into the International Bowling Hall of Fame in 1997, with an exhibit including an interactive kiosk.[9]

References
  1. Staff (May 1, 1997). "More Games Shipping". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on February 18, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2019."...[a]lso hitting the stores...[is] Ten Pin Alley, a fun but realistic bowling game."
  2. "Ten Pin Alley". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 87. Ziff Davis. October 1996. p. 170.
  3. "Ten Pin Alley for PlayStation". GameRankings. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019.
  4. "Team EGM Box Scores: Ten Pin Alley". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 91. Ziff Davis. February 1997. p. 151.
  5. "Ten Pin Alley Review". GameSpot. December 1, 1996. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
  6. "Ten Pin Alley". Next Generation. No. 27. Imagine Media. March 1997. p. 90.
  7. Johnny Ballgame (February 1997). "PlayStation ProReview: Ten Pin Alley". GamePro. No. 101. IDG. p. 70.
  8. J. Boogie (December 1997). "Saturn ProReview: Ten Pin Alley". GamePro. No. 111. IDG. p. 180.
  9. "Picking Up the Spare". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 102. Ziff Davis. January 1998. p. 22.
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