For those who simply can't face negotiating numerous out-of-town roundabouts to get to the local alley, or indeed, those who are always in the tavern when Roseanne is on television, ten-pin bowling is basically skittles, only the task is that much more arduous, for skittles has but nine pins, not ten.

King Pin runs with the name Arcade Sports Bowling, and after the heady success of their excellent Arcade Pool, it seems that Team 17 are regretting Pool's competitive price of a tenner. Three extra gold coins required for bowling, friends. But no matter, King Pin tackles ten-pin bowling in much the same way as its counterpart did pool, only there are less options, though admittedly, the subject matter somewhat determines the result.

You bowl. Full stop. Apart from the varying matchplay options which allow teams and such like, there is an Arcade Spares Challenge where the computer chucks down pins and you have one ball to topple them, and a practice mode. You can be male or female, balls range from eight to 16 pounds and, oh God, I'm struggling here.

Look, it's ten-pin bowling, the pin movement is smooth enough, you can vary the speed at which you deliver the balls, and you can add aftertouch for those wayward deliveries.

An arrow pings back and forth across the alley and you have to click the button at the right spot to deliver the perfect ball - the more power you put into the delivery, the quicker the arrow moves and the more difficult the shot is. The Amiga players differ in ability so you can upgrade them as you improve. But as with many sports sims, the more human folk involved, the better.

Strike it lucky

So what, dear reader, has King Pin to offer the casual player? Well, to be perfectly candid, not a great deal - if you don't like ten-pin bowling, then you ain't going to be that interested. And sure, it's as well executed a bowling game as there is, though there are some not-quite-as-competent PD games which, nevertheless, can skittles knock over. But King Pin simply doesn't have the longevity of Arcade Pool, which, because of the numerous options, holds interest a deal longer.

My only real beef with the game (apart from the fact that it really isn't terribly interesting) is that whenever you turn off the music, which inevitably, you will, the next game you play, lo and behold, the darned tune returns.

Nevertheless, King Pin is without any doubt the only computer game which features a tannoy message asking ex-AF editor Marcus Dyson to `go to reception, please.'

King Ping - Arcade Sports Bowling

Overall Verdict

King Pin bowls along like a good 'un, but does little else.

SCORE: 67%

Publisher: Team 17 01924 201846
Price: £ 12.99
Versions: A500, A600, A1200
System requirements: 1Mb
Release date: Out now