iPhone / iPod Touch App Review: iBowl Deluxe

ABOUT IBOWL DELUXE:

iBowl is one of the most popular games ever released for the iPhone and iPod touch, and has been installed by millions of people! iBowl lets you practice by yourself or compete in bowling games over the internet with up to eight people around the world. Using the iBowl ‘Challenge” menu, you can invite your friends to play or face off against opponents over the Internet.
Features
– Accelerometer based bowling control – just swing your device!
– Tenpin bowling physics – curve your ball into the head pins for the best results like in real bowling.
– 3 cool lanes to play on.
– Compete online in 2, 3, or 4 person multiplayer games.
– Join a bowling tournament against 7 other people online!`
– Challenge your friends by starting a lobby, or go up against long distance opponents over the network or Wi-Fi.
– Find your friends with Facebook Connect and start a challenge match with a push of a button!
– Check your high score against our national leaderboard!
– Earn trophies by playing on- and off-line.
– Brag about your achievements to your friends by sending them a challenge email from our trophy screen.

Additional Features with iBowl Deluxe Purchase:
Unlock new features in iBowl! We revamped our insanely popular free bowling app into a bigger and better game by redesigning iBowl from the ground up and adding tons of new features for you to try out.
– Earn Pippins to Unlock New Content: Get rewarded for each strike and spare and spend your new pippins to customize your game experience. Unlock exciting new alleys, bowling balls and outfits.
– Custom Avatar: Personalize your very own cute guy or girl avatar with new duds!
– Bluetooth Multiplayer: Challenge your friends to a game anywhere, anytime over local Bluetooth connection. Now you can enjoy iBowl competitively even off-network and out of Wi-Fi range.
– 3D Alleys: Choose from three different 3D alleys to play in, or download a new themed package lane.
-iPod Jukebox: Listen to your favorite music tracks and playlists while you bowl.
– Twitter Integration: Publish your game results to Twitter and let your followers track your progress.

MY REVIEW:

When you download iBowl and open it up, it gives you then option to upgrade to iBowl Deluxe iPhone bowling app.  Whether you play the free version or upgrade, iBowl is a classic and fun bowling game, and eventually you will proably want to upgrade for all the extra features!  This is the first game that I have tried where you have to really move the iPod Touch.  What I mean is to bowl you place your thumb on the screen bowling ball, and swing your arm like you are actually bowling.  At first I admit I felt like I was going to throw my iPod Touch into the wall and really wanted a Wii remote strap for it, but after a while I got the hang of it.

It is exciting to bowl and then check the screen to see how many pins you knocked down.  It is a pretty realistic feeling and the graphics are colorful and fun.  You can even challenge your friends via online or Facebook, but I haven’t had the chance to try out this feature yet.  I do like how you can really customize your experience with new lanes, outfits, and balls so there is more to do than just bowling!  I don’t know which way I like bowling better on my iPod Touch, whether by swinging my arm or just moving my finger on the screen, but this new way from iBowl Deluxe is definitely something to try out and experience – just be careful not to really get into it and let go of your device as you swing!  I also would not recommend this game for kids whose parents let them play with their iPhone / iPod Touch – for example, I will not be showing my 3 year old how to play this one or he will throw my iPod!  Overall, this is a fun iPhone bowling game and perfect for when you don’t have the chance to actually go to a real bowling alley.

BUY IT:  You can buy iBowl Deluxe for $2.99 from within the iBowl iTunes game.

Mama’s Money Savers Disclosure:  I received this review as a member of the Game Review Network. Visit the site to win a copy of this app for yourself. This review is 100% my opinion and has not been edited by anyone.