Jamdat Bowling is one of mobile's success stories. It's a game whose massive popularity won downloadable mobile games some positive press in a time when mobile data's business model was considered shaky at best. While Jamdat has ported Jamdat Bowling and its sequel to virtually every handset to come out in the last three years, the formula of the game hasn't changed much, save for some online play in Jamdat Bowling 2. A launch title for the new LG VX8000, Jamdat Bowling 3D actually takes things back a step, eschewing multiplayer in favor of a slick, three-dimensional presentation. Apparently, when it comes to mobile bowling apps, you can't have your cake and eat it too. While there's something to be said for sticking to a winning formula, Jamdat Bowling 3D doesn't even pass as an incremental update. Jamdat's bowling windup seems to be "one step forward, two steps back."
Jamdat Bowling 3D, like all previous versions of the game, uses a meter system to control shots. You pick your standing position, where you aim the ball, your shot power, and the amount of spin you want to put on your shot. All this requires timing. Just as it always has, this system works just fine. That's not to say, however, that it's not in need of certain refinements. It's unrealistic, for example, to use a sliding meter to control shot spin. It's not as though a bowler can accidentally put some spin on a ball. It requires a deliberate twisting of the wrist. It's tough to simulate bowling given the constraints of a cell phone's control capabilities, but some shake-ups to the system seem in order.
What's new is a selection of three bowling alleys: the classic alley, an updated version of the classic, and a zany disco stage, complete with strobe lights. You can even exit to the main menu, midgame, and continue playing on a different alley. It's also possible to view each shot from multiple camera angles, which are chosen by pressing one of the number keys. You can even save replays of your games and analyze your performance. That's pretty darn cool.
Considering that a lot of this "3D" game is actually sprite-based, though, perhaps the game's most notable addition is its improved sound. When you bowl, you'll be greeted by the familiar ambient noises of a bowling alley. While you can't see the handiwork of other bowlers in your periphery, you can hear the distant, echoing sounds of crashing pins. The game's opening ditty is very catchy and sounds as though it might come from an arcade cabinet, idly displaying its high-score board and splash screen.
As mentioned, Jamdat Bowling 3D does not include an online multiplayer component, which is incredibly disappointing. While Jamdat Bowling 2 suffered from some latency issues in its online mode, competitive play was still a compelling option. It seems silly for Jamdat Bowling 3D to offer only pass-and-play multiplayer, after a superior solution already proved successful. Even if you own an LG VX8000, you still have to bowl in two dimensions if you want to play online.
If you already own Jamdat Bowling 2, you'll be disappointed with Jamdat Bowling 3D. If this is your first mobile bowling game, and you're just looking for some pretty single-player bowling, JB3D isn't a bad choice. However, without online play, or even a single-player tournament mode, JB3D isn't recommendable over many other mobile bowling offerings, whether in three dimensions or two.
