There used to be a commercial on TV for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.  It went something like this:  a man is walking down the street eating a chocolate candy bar.  A woman is walking down the street in the opposite direction eating peanut butter.  They bump into each other, causing them each to drop their snacks.  They get up, dust themselves off and realize that the candy bar has landed in the peanut butter.

Her: Hey, you got your chocolate in my peanut butter.

Him: Hey, you got your peanut butter in my chocolate.

They both try the new combination  and realize it now tastes better than either did alone.  Thus, according to the commercial, a delicious snack food was born. 

This is how I felt the first time I played Ultimate Bowling Fighter from Astraware.  It offers all of the fun of a standard bowling game, with the colorful personalities, locales, and head-to-head competition of a street fighter combat game.  The first time I played, I almost hollered, "Hey, you got your street fighter in my bowling game!!" 

Installation and Registration: When you initially download the game, you can install it through the desktop installer and immediately begin playing the trial version which is limited to one character and limited locations.  Registering will initially unlock four of the five characters and four of the nine locations.  The remaining character and locations are unlocked as the game progresses.

Gameplay: There are three modes of play in Ultimate Bowling Fighter: Solo Game, Tournament and Multiplayer. 

The solo game provides an excellent opportunity to practice your bowling skills and learn the nuances of each character and location.  In solo play, there is no opponent; it’s just you, a ball, and ten pins.  You can choose any of the four available characters and play at any of the four initial locations.  As the game progresses, you will be able to unlock additional characters and locations. 

The main game play occurs in tournament mode.  There, you compete in four round tournaments.  You play one round against each of the other three characters, and a final round against the mystery character.  Win all four rounds and you will unlock a special location or character.  You must win a tournament as each of the characters to unlock all of the special locations and characters.

Multiplayer is a head to head bowling extravaganza.  Each player selects a character and you engage in a one round bowling "deathmatch".  Multiplayer games can be played against the computer, or against up to four live players (you and three friends).  There is no way to connect multiple devices together, so multiplayer mode requires you to pass the computer from player to player.  Although it would have been nice to be able to connect multiple handheld devices together in this mode, I have to admit that it did not significantly detract from gameplay. 

Bowling: The bowling element of the game is handled much like other, more traditional bowling games.  You control the character, trying to knock down as many of the ten pins as possible with two throws of the ball.  You control the position of the player in the lane, the "spin" on the ball, and the power of the throw.  This can be done either with meters like most bowling games, or by swiping the stylus down the lane.  I never could get used to the stylus option, (too set in my ways, I guess) and stuck to the more traditional method of using the meters.

Street fighter: Where the game differs from other bowling games is what I refer to as the "street fighter" element.  This is the head to head competition between multiple characters in various exotic locations.   The "street fighter" element gives this game more of a plot than most bowling games; requiring players to win tournaments to unlock additional features.  This aspect, and the opportunities it provides for exceptional graphics, is what sets this game apart from the rest of the genre.  

Characters: Again, where most bowling games represent the player with a mark on the screen or a ball hovering at the top of the lane, Astraware really went the extra distance.  There are five individual characters, each with their own unique personalities and "local flavors".  

Ryo is the skillful Japanese Warrior.  Kelly is the all-American bowling heroine.  Jose is the smooth Spanish hustler.  Maya is the "bootylicious" Brazilian diva.  There is also a mystery player which can only by unlocked by winning tournaments. 

Each character plays with his/her own individual flair and style.  Learning the personalities of the different players is half the fun of the game.  Additionally, each player has a special skill which the utilize only when you are able to throw the ball at maximum power.  Because you will have to win tournaments using each of the characters in order to complete the game, I strongly advise you to practice in solo game or multiplayer in order to learn the idiosyncrasies of each character.

Locations: The game starts with four locations, representing the homes of each of the four characters: Japan, the United States, Spain, and Brazil.  In solo game and multiplayer modes, you can select any of the locations in which to play.  Additionally, as you unlock locations by winning tournaments, these locations become available to you in solo game and multiplayer modes. 

The locations are drawn with dazzling graphics, utilizing images which represent and symbolize each location.  The United States, for example, bears the stars and stripes across the lane; the Spanish lanes wield a bull’s horns over the pins. Japan, Brazil, and other locations are also well represented.  The locations, a creative and well executed feature, add to the excitement of the game.

Graphics: It would be easy to make a bowling game with minimal graphics.  It is essentially just a lane with ten pins and a ball.  A few extras for scoring and you could call it a day.  Fortunately for us, Astraware did not take the easy way out.  In addition to the personalized bowling lanes and characters, the game provides exceptional animation to celebrate a strike or a spare.  It also has various amusing animations for missing a shot, such as getting thrown under the bus or down a well; and throwing a split.

One of my favorite features of this game, however, had nothing to do with gameplay at all.  Due to the high quality of the graphics, it is reasonable to be concerned about the battery life of your device.  Therefore, the creators wisely included a battery meter which sits off to the side (away from the action) and graphically displays the amount of power left in the battery.  Frankly, this is a simple feature, which I wish more game developers would implement, particularly in games with such exquisitely detailed graphics and animation.

Conclusion: This is where I could say, "for a bowling game, this is a great game;"  or, "anyone who likes bowling games would thoroughly enjoy Ultimate Bowling Fighter."  But, pigeonholing this game like that would sell it far too short.  Unlike most bowling games, Ultimate Bowling Fighter includes the "street fighter" element which gives this game a much broader appeal than just to bowling aficionados.  It takes a standard bowling game and turns it into a fast paced bowling "death match".  With Ultimate Bowling Fighter, Astraware has again delivered a fast-paced, action packed masterpiece with superb graphics. 

Ultimate Bowling Fighter is published by Astraware, and is also available at the clickgamer store.  There are three versions of the game for Palm, Pocket PC, and Smartphone. There is also a VGA version available for the Pocket PC.  The full version costs $19.95.

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