Elf Bowling 7 1/7: The Final Insult

I figured I would download the demo for Elf Bowling 7 1/7: The Final Insult, just to get into the holiday mood.  But I ended up purchasing it so I thought I would give a brief overview of the game.  I grabbed it on Big Fish because I had some game credits, but you can do a search for the title and find plenty of other options for picking it up. Obviously, there have been previous iterations of this game, but this is the first one I’ve ever tried.  The basic idea is that you are bowling, except the pins are replaced with funny little elves.  Tired of wrapping presents and writing out cards?  Just crush some helpless elves and you’ll be infused with the holiday spirit in no time.

The mechanics are pretty simple.  You set the starting location of the ball and the speed before launching it. There is no arcade-ish element to this (as there is in, say, Hot Shots Golf)…you pretty much have total control.  And, since this is more about fun than a realistic bowling experience, you actually control the ball with the mouse once it is rolling.  That’s really where the skill comes into play.

You can also pick up a number of crazy bonuses.  Want boxing gloves attached to your ball?  How about a giant magnet to pull your opponent’s shot off course?  There are a ton more and there is some strategy involved in knowing when these bonuses are best used.  You can also counter an opponent’s dirty trick with a bonus of your own.  Did they throw down sandpaper?  Just shrink the gutter so you can go around it.  Did your enemy supply the elves with shields?  Take them out one by one on the rebound with a basketball.

This game is really about the theme so there are plenty of bells and whistles.  The elves are always saying some hilarious phrase and their reactions to your shots are pretty amusing.  The backgrounds are colorful and fun.  Elf Bowling also features some enjoyable cinematic effects: a Matrix-like shot when you nail a strike or a camera shift to the final elf to let him spout just one more quip when you are about to hit a spare.

You can jump into a quick game or partake in the Story Mode, where you are helping Santa (what else?) save Christmas.  It’s not a terribly long story - there are only three bowling alleys, though they are each very well done.  The game makes good use of each setting.  For instance, on the Pirate Ship alley, elves tend to end up as snacks for sharks. The difficulty level does get pretty hard towards the end.  You can also collect trophies and unlock different bowling balls to use.  When playing the multiplayer or single player mode, you can choose to play with no bonuses or only certain bonuses.

I had a great time playing this game…after an hour of play I ended up buying it.  It’s rather funny without being too corny or annoying.  The gameplay is smooth and the bonuses really add a lot more depth than you would expect from an elf bowling game.  I counted 20 bonuses in all. They are fun to use to your advantage and also to disadvantage your opponent.  It keeps things fresh when you often have to overcome the negative bonuses that are thrown at you.  Adults will not be bored playing this game at the harder levels and I think kids would have a great time with it.  It’s easy to grasp the mechanics and the humor, graphics and sound effects really add a lot.

If I have to criticize something, I’d say it’s the whole thing is a little on the short side.  Also, I like a bit of probability in my games, but, sometimes, this luck of the draw aspect in Elf Bowling gets a tad frustrating.  One time I was up against my greatest foe, Ms. Kringle, and I felt like I was bowling the game of my life.  I was nailing a strike every single time the lane was clear (no bonuses in play) and I was overcoming the bonuses she threw at me with those of my own. I’m telling you…that game I was the better bowler (yes I take Elf Bowling rather seriously).  But she just got a ton more bonuses that game than me.  What’s more, her bonuses were better - automatic strike, the slot machine, etc.  She ended up winning and I thought that was kind of bogus.  But maybe I’m just a sore loser.   Elf Bowling isn’t really about whether you win or lose!

Hey, this is the most enjoyable holiday-themed game I can recall playing.  It’s crazy fun and I think anyone (especially kids) will have a good time with it.  Get bowling!