Platform reviewed: Steam (Steam Deck)
Price: $11.99
When I was younger, I participated in a youth bowling league, and my team was quite good. Despite having me on the roster, we ended up as league champions several years in a row. I was never particularly skilled at bowling, but I did enjoy it. Another big reason I looked forward to Saturday mornings at the bowling alley, though, was for the arcade; that was my true motivator. So when I saw an arcade-style bowling game called Sparedevil, my interest was immediately piqued.
Sparedevil is a first-person arcade-style game in the purest sense. There’s no story, no explanation—just me in a circular room with alleys extending outward like spokes on a wheel. Sets of ten pins appear, each with an evil grin, ready to jump and attack. I have two options: I can hold the right trigger to charge my ball and toss it at the pins, or tap the trigger to swing the ball at them. Tossing the ball for a strike is key—every perfectly timed shot adds more points to my score.
The graphics have a retro feel, reminiscent of the PS One era; if the game relied on looks alone, I might not have been inclined to try it. However, the mechanics are what truly hooked me. Sparedevil offers two modes: Standard Mode, where I try to survive as long as possible, and Time Attack Mode, where the goal is to score as high as I can within a limited time. In Time Attack, scoring strikes and spares adds extra time, keeping the pressure on me to try to get strikes and spares. Both modes have their own leaderboards, and with each run only lasting a few minutes, I found myself jumping right back in, determined to beat my previous score.
Scoring strikes not only boosts my score but also charges my secondary weapon. There are a few different weapons available, but I found myself relying most on the laser. Each strike grants a laser blast, letting me quickly clean up any leftover pins with a blast of my gun.
Sparedevil offers two levels: Hell’s Alley—the one I mentioned earlier—and a recently added Halloween level, The Wheel of Misfortune, which has a haunted castle vibe. Like Hell’s Alley, The Wheel of Misfortune is a circular arena, but it includes multi-level platforms. Jump squares on the ground let me take the action to the upper level, adding a vertical twist to the gameplay.
Movement in Sparedevil is managed using both joysticks: the right stick controls forward and backward movement, while the left stick adjusts the direction I’m facing. As I juggle both sticks to move and aim, the game’s performance falters a bit when a lot of chaos occurs on the screen, hindering my ability to pull off that perfect strike.
The variety of enemies in Sparedevil impressed me. Giant clown pins spit smaller ones my way, while sticks of dynamite pins threaten to blow up my streak. I was also drawn in by the unlockable achievements; earning a turkey (three strikes in a row within a set time) unlocked a new pattern for my ball. Additional achievements allow me to unlock different colors and glowing effects for the ball, adding a nice touch of customization. While there’s plenty to unlock and the enemy variety is engaging, I’d love to see even more levels added. It sounds like the developers are committed to expanding the game, and I’m eager to see what they come up with next.
Final Grade: B
Despite a few technical issues, I’ve genuinely enjoyed my time with Sparedevil. It’s meant to be a straightforward arcade shooter set in a bowling alley, and the developers nailed that goal. With quick gameplay and leaderboard ranks, it easily captured a few hours of my time. Whether as a palate cleanser between more complex games or a way to unwind after a long day, Sparedevil delivers exactly the kind of fun I look for in arcade style games.
Review code provided by keymailer.
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