Date Night Bowling
- November 26, 2021
- Serenity Forge
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
Get on SteamTen characters in search of love gather around two neon-lit bowling alleys for some date night bowling. Choose your character, find your date, and try your best to hit it off—or at least hit some pins.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The pixel art and retro graphics are charming and visually appealing.
- The mini-games between bowling frames are fun and add a unique twist to the gameplay.
- The arcade bowling mechanics are solid, providing a casual and enjoyable experience.
- The dating sim aspect is lacking, with minimal character dialogue and interactions.
- The game suffers from crashes and lacks sufficient content, making it feel unfinished.
- Instructions for mini-games are vague, and some mini-games can be frustratingly difficult.
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Date Night Bowling" are praised for their retro aesthetic, reminiscent of classic SNES titles like "Super Bowling." This vintage art style adds charm to the game, making it a visually appealing experience that enhances its overall enjoyment.
“The graphics of the game are very retro, which is a nice touch for the game.”
“Date Night Bowling shows up aesthetically like the remastering of Super Bowling from the SNES you didn’t know you wanted, and it’s dope.”
“The bowling and vintage art style still makes this game worth playing.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is reminiscent of Tekken's Tekken Bowl, offering decent bowling mechanics that fans will appreciate, though some players find the user interface confusing and the mini-games clunky. Additionally, there are calls for better time management and clearer explanations of the game's mechanics.
“The confusing UI, poor time management, clunky mini-games, and underexplained mechanics make for a frustrating gameplay experience.”
“Fans of Tekken's Tekken Bowl will feel right at home with this style of gameplay, though I do wish there was an on-the-fly adjustor when you duff your shot.”
“The gameplay is decent, but it lacks depth and variety.”
- music4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is limited to just two soundtracks, which some players feel detracts from the overall experience, likening it to a low-budget title. While the art is appreciated, the lack of variety in music and dialogue leaves a sense of incompleteness in the storytelling.
“There's not enough dialogue to make a story and comes with only two soundtracks, which feels like a two dollar game.”
“I like the art, but I didn't mind the only two music tracks.”
- story4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for its lack of depth, with insufficient dialogue and minimal character backstory, making it feel underdeveloped and akin to a low-budget title. Enhancing side games and expanding character narratives could significantly improve the overall experience.
“There's not enough dialogue to make a story, and it comes with only two soundtracks, which feels like a two-dollar game.”
“If the developers could redo some of the side games while adding some character backstory, this game would elevate itself to some of the other bowling games in existence.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is highlighted by its charming pixel art, witty dialogue, and endearing characters, creating an engaging and lighthearted experience for players.
“The charming pixel art combined with the funny dialogue makes for a delightful experience.”
“The characters are incredibly likeable, and their humorous interactions keep me laughing throughout the game.”
“I love how the humor is woven into the gameplay, making every moment enjoyable and entertaining.”
Critic Reviews
Date Night Bowling
Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.
70%Date Night Bowling (Nintendo Switch)
Serenity Forge has had a hand in bringing some of my favorite games to the Nintendo Switch. But Date Night Bowling feels like an unfinished proof of concept and failed to hold my interest. It’s a bush league release with much room for improvement. One could argue that it’s a better alternative than going to a real-life alley and running the risk of catching COVID. But given that choice, I think I’d rather skip bowling altogether.
30%Date Night Bowling (Switch) Review
When the date ends on a gutterball.
55%
