MONKEY BOWLING FAQ
By: Mike Minehart (MJM249)
E-Mail:
[email protected] (read Legal for more info about E-Mail)
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Table of Contents
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1: Legal Information
2: Introduction
3: How to Play (Controls)
4: Strategies - Monkey Bowling: Standard
a: Explanation/Scoring
b: How to Strike
c: How to Spare
5: Strategies - Monkey Bowling: Challenge
6: My Final Notes/Credits/Updates
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1: Legal Information
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This FAQ is copyrighted Mike Minehart, 2002. The only site (as of right
now) allowed to use this is www.gamefaqs.com. You MUST ask for permission
before you are allowed to post it on your site. DO NOT E-MAIL ME, all mail
is blocked. Instead, add me to your MSN Messenger and try there.
SUPER MONKEY BALL is copyrighted 2001 Sega of America.
SUPER MONKEY BALL is licensed by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
2: Introduction
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Welcome to my Super Monkey Ball FAQ, my first ever FAQ. I find that the
two minigames I play the most on SMB is Monkey Billiards and Monkey
Bowling. And since there already is a Monkey Billiards FAQ, I will do a
Monkey Bowling one.
The ultimate goal of Monkey Bowling is pefection. I will teach you how to
reach pefection in both Standard and Challenge mode. All the information
and tips I give are as precise as possible. The rest relies upon your
skill and timing. So if something isn't working for you, practice makes
perfect.
ALSO NOTE: ALL OF THESE THING I HAVE ACHIEVED WITH ONLY AIAI, NOT ALL OF
THEM
After you have unlocked the Monkey Bowling game by playing normal mode,
go to Minigames ~ Monkey Bowling. You then have a choice of Standard or
Challenge mode. Standard is for up to 4 players alternating, so you only
need 1 controller. Challenge mode is for only 1 player.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
3: How to Play (Controls)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In-Game Controls:
Control Stick: Move your Monkey left or right before setting throwing
postion
A: Set throwing position
Set throwing direction
Set throwing strength
B: Cancel throwing position or direction
X: Show last 3 frames/Show all 10 frames
Y: Show full scorecard
L: Put left spin on the ball (after selecting strength)
R: Put right spin on the ball (after selecting strength)
Start/Pause: Pause the game and display pause menu
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4: Strategies - Monkey Bowling: Standard
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
a: Explanation/Scoring
------------------------------
The goal of Monkey Bowling is to knock down as many pins as possible with
every shot. Perfection results when you achieve a score of 300. This is
done by getting a 'Strike' (knocking down all 10 pins on your first shot
of the frame) 12 times in a row.
This is how the pins are set up:
7 8 9 10
4 5 6
2 3
1
^ ^
| |
| |
These 2 spots are the 'pocket'
The spin ratio is: If you were to aim stright forward and put exactly 1/4
spin on the ball, it would reach the edge of the lane. Therefore, 1/2
spin = Lane width. (this appiles on straight shots. If the shot is
angled, you must compensate with more or less spin depending on the angle
of the shot.)
Some common bowling terms
***************************
Frame: There are 10 of these in a game of bowling. An extra shot (or 2)
can be earned in the last frame if you 'mark' in the last frame.
Mark: A strike or spare
Strike: Knocking down all 10 pins on your first shot of any frame. You
can strike up to 3 times in the final frame.
Spare: Knocking down all the pins remaining after your first shot of a
frame.
Split: A spare situation where the pins are a distance apart from each
other, not close together
Pocket: The area between the 1 and 3 or 1 and 2 pin, the ideal spot to
hit to get a strike
Gutter: The channels along the edges of the lane, a zero results if the
ball goes in it
Lane: The path from the starting point to the pins
b: How to Strike
------------------------------
To consistently strike, you must hit the pocket. Here is the precise
formula for the ABSOLUTE perfect strike:
Step 1: DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT MOVE the ball. Not even a smidge.
Step 2: As the aimer goes back and forth, try to land it on the little
side edge of the 'box'. Here is what it should look like:
--------
| |
++****++
++ ++
++ ++
Legend
-: The top edge of the 'box' surrounding the pins
|: The side edges of the 'box' surrounding the pins (HIT THIS!)
*: The pins
+: The gutter
Step 3: If you land the aimer PERFECTLY, try to get ABSOLUTE maximum
power. If it's even off by a notch, you'll have to adjust.
Step 4: If you achieve BOTH absolute pefect aim and absolute pefect
power, all you have to do is use maximum spin in the opposite
direction the ball is going. (i.e., if it's going right, spin
left, and vice versa)
This results in the ABSOLUTE PEFECT STRIKE. You'll know by how the 8
pin falls straight back after being grazed by a sliding pin. I've done
this countlessly.
Now, it is IMPOSSIBLE to do this every time, so here is how to adjust:
Common Errors (Situational adjustments)
Note: There is no situation where you can fix the wrong amount of spin
after the shot. It was just your own error.
1: YOU MISS WITH THE AIM 1 NOTCH OUTSIDE
2: YOU MISS WITH THE AIM 1 NOTCH INSIDE
3: YOU MISS WITH THE AIM MORE THAN 1 NOTCH INSIDE
4: YOU MISS WITH THE AIM MORE THAN 1 NOTCH OUTSIDE
5: YOUR SHOT IS TOO WEAK BY 1 NOTCH (with correct aim)
Adjust your spin to BARELY over 3/4 spin. It should hit the pocket
correctly.
6: YOUR SHOT IS TOO STRONG (aim missed outside)
You cannot strike, the spin will not bring it back to the pocket. Start
over.
c: How to Spare
------------------------------
Well, if you can't strike, at least pick up the spare. Here are some
COMMON (not all) spare situations you will encounter, and how to pick
them up.
Recall that this is the pin setup:
7 8 9 10
4 5 6
2 3
1
NOTE: DO NOT MOVE THE BALL UNLESS NOTED. KEEP IT IN PLACE.
2ND NOTE: WHEN DOING A SPARE OPPOSITE THE DESCRIPTION, SIMPLY FLIP THE
INSTRUCTIONS
Legend
Number: The pin numbers that are still up.
*: Pins that are knocked down and gone.
1-pin spares
===============
Simply aim at the pin.
2-pin spares
===============
1-2, 1-3, 4-7, 6-10, 5-8, 5-9, etc.
Difficulty: Easy
---
7 * * *
4 * *
* *
*
Any two pins that are next to each other (one in front and one slighty
behind), just put the ball in between them.
2-7 and 3-10 pin split
Difficulty: Easy
---
7 * * *
* * *
2 *
*
+This is the challenge spare number 3+
Angle your shot between the 2 and 7 pins (same applies for 3-10 pin
spare). The ball should hit off the 2 and then hit the 7. Compensate
with spin.
2-8, 3-9, and 1-5 spare
Difficulty: Easy
---
* 8 * *
* * *
2 *
*
+This is the challenge spare number 4+
This is a situation where 2 pins remain, yet you can only see one of
them. LINE THE BALL UP DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PIN YOU CAN SEE. Aim
straight at it. If your aim misses, try to put spin on the ball so that
the ball goes right through the middle of the pin, not clipping an edge
of it. The ball should go through the front pin and hit the back one.
5-7 and 5-10 split
Difficulty: Medium
---
7 * * *
* 5 *
* *
*
+This is the challenge spare number 8+
This is a tricky spare. You must hit the edge of the 5 pin, causing
the pin to slide over to the 7 pin and take it out. Aim 1 notch to the
right (or left, depending on the pin) and add some spin. The ball should
graze the 5 pin and kick out the 7 pin.
7-8 and 9-10 split
Difficulty: Medium
---
* * 9 10
* * *
* *
*
+This is the challenge spare number 5+
Very tricky to aim on this split. You must either land the aimer on the
9 pin, or where it looks like it's inbetween the pins. If it is on the
9 pin, add right spin just so you can see the head of the arrow. If
it's inbetween, add just enough left spin so you can see the tip of the
arrow. The ball should squeeze between the pins and take them both out
at once.
4-9 and 6-8 split
Difficulty: Hard
---
* * 9 *
4 * *
* *
*
This is the challenge spare number 9, minus the 7 pin. MOVE THE BALL
ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE OF THE LANE. THEN, MOVE THE BALL IN A FULL STEP
(watch Aiai's feet). Aim straight forward, and pray. If you miss, try
to compensate with a little spin. The ball should graze the edge of the
4 pin, and the pin should slam into the 9 pin and take it out.
4-10 and 6-7 split
Difficulty: Hard
---
* * * 10
4 * *
* *
*
This is the challenge spare number 10, minus the 7 pin. MOVE THE BALL
ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE OF THE LANE. THEN, MOVE THE BALL IN A HALF-STEP
(watch Aiai's feet). Aim straight forward, and pray. If you miss, try
to compensate with a little spin. The ball should graze the edge of the
4 pin, and the pin should belly-flop over to the 10 pin and just barely
take it out.
7-10 split
Difficulty: Impossible (so far)
7 * * 10
* * *
* *
*
I HAVE YET TO COMPLETE THIS SPARE, EVER. IF YOU HAVE, I'D LIKE AN EXACT
FORMULA, AND I WILL CREDIT YOU WITH PICKING UP THE MOST DIFFICULT SPARE
(if it works, and if it is possible)
3-pin spares
===============
2-7-10 and 3-7-10 pin split
Difficulty: Medium
---
7 * * 10
* * *
2 *
*
+This is the challenge spare number 7+
Exactly the same as the 2-7 spare, yet you must hit the 2 pin perfectly,
so that the ball hits the 2 pin, the 2 pin hits the 10 pin, and the ball
hits the 7 pin. The ball should hit the left edge of the 2 pin, for the
record.
4-7-9 and 6-8-10 split
Difficulty: Hard
---
7 * 9 *
4 * *
* *
*
+This is the challenge spare number 9+
MOVE THE BALL ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE OF THE LANE. THEN, MOVE THE BALL
IN A FULL STEP (watch Aiai's feet). Aim straight forward, and pray. If
you miss, try to compensate with a little spin. The ball should graze
the edge of the 4 pin, and the pin should slam into the 9 pin and take
it out.
4-7-10 and 6-7-10 split
Difficulty: Hard
---
7 * * 10
4 * *
* *
*
+This is the challenge spare number 10+
MOVE THE BALL ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE OF THE LANE. THEN, MOVE THE BALL
IN A HALF-STEP (watch Aiai's feet). Aim straight forward, and pray.
If you miss, try to compensate with a little spin. The ball should graze
the edge of the 4 pin, and the pin should belly-flop over to the 10 pin
and just barely take it out.
4+ pin spares
===============
2-4-5-8 and 3-5-6-9 pin spare
Difficulty: Easy
---
* 8 * *
4 5 *
2 *
*
+This is the challenge spare number 2+
Simply aim between the 2 and 5 pins (3 and 5 pins on the opposite).
The ball should blow right though and scatter the pins.
1-2-4-10 and 1-3-6-7 pin spare
Difficulty: Medium
---
* * * 10
4 * *
2 *
1
+This is the challenge spare number 6+
You should shoot this as if you were going for a strike, depending on
which side you need to hit. The ball should go in between the 1 and 2
pin. The 1 pin should hit the 10, and the ball should hit the 4 pin.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
5: Strategies - Monkey Bowling: Challenge
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Challenge number 1
SEE THE 'HOW TO STRIKE' SECTION
Challenge number 2
3-5-6-9 pin spare
Difficulty: Easy
---
* * 9 *
* 5 6
* 3
*
Simply aim between the 3 and 5 pins. The ball should blow right though
and scatter the pins.
Challenge number 3
2-7 and 3-10 pin split
Difficulty: Easy
---
7 * * *
* * *
2 *
*
Angle your shot between the 2 and 7 pins (same applies for 3-10 pin
spare). The ball should hit off the 2 and then hit the 7. Compensate
with spin.
Challenge number 4
2-8 spare
Difficulty: Easy
---
* 8 * *
* * *
2 *
*
This is a situation where 2 pins remain, yet you can only see one of
them. LINE THE BALL UP DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PIN YOU CAN SEE. Aim
straight at it. If your aim misses, try to put spin on the ball so that
the ball goes right through the middle of the pin, not clipping an edge
of it. The ball should go through the front pin and hit the back one.
Challenge number 5
9-10 split
Difficulty: Medium
---
* * 9 10
* * *
* *
*
Very tricky to aim on this split. You must either land the aimer on the
9 pin, or where it looks like it's inbetween the pins. If it is on the
9 pin, add right spin just so you can see the head of the arrow. If
it's inbetween, add just enough left spin so you can see the tip of the
arrow. The ball should squeeze between the pins and take them both out
at once.
Challenge number 6
1-2-4-10 split
Difficulty: Medium
---
* * * 10
4 * *
2 *
1
You should shoot this as if you were going for a strike, depending on
which side you need to hit. The ball should go in between the 1 and 2
pin. The 1 pin should hit the 10, and the ball should hit the 4 pin.
Challenge number 7
2-7-10 split
Difficulty: Medium
---
7 * * 10
* * *
2 *
*
Exactly the same as the 2-7 spare, yet you must hit the 2 pin perfectly,
so that the ball hits the 2 pin, the 2 pin hits the 10 pin, and the ball
hits the 7 pin. The ball should hit the left edge of the 2 pin, for the
record.
Challenge number 8
5-10 split
Difficulty: Medium
---
* * * 10
* 5 *
* *
*
This is a tricky spare. You must hit the edge of the 5 pin, causing the
pin to slide over to the 7 pin and take it out. Aim 1 notch to the left
and add some spin (about 1/2 an arrow head). The ball should graze the
5 pin and kick out the 10 pin.
Challenge number 9
4-7-9 split
Difficulty: Hard
---
7 * 9 *
4 * *
* *
*
MOVE THE BALL ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE OF THE LANE. THEN, MOVE THE BALL
IN A FULL STEP (watch Aiai's feet). Aim straight forward, and pray.
If you miss, try to compensate with a little spin. The ball should graze
the edge of the 4 pin, and the pin should slam into the 9 pin and take it
out.
Challenge number 10
4-7-10 split
Difficulty: Hard
---
7 * * 10
4 * *
* *
*
MOVE THE BALL ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE OF THE LANE. THEN, MOVE THE BALL
IN A HALF-STEP (watch Aiai's feet). Aim straight forward, and pray.
If you miss, try to compensate with a little spin. The ball should graze
the edge of the 4 pin, and the pin should belly-flop over to the 10 pin
and just barely take it out.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
6: My Final Notes/Credits/Updates
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Overall, this is the 2nd best minigame in my opinion on SMB. (The best
is Monkey Billiards). I have scored a 300 over a dozen times, and I have
scored a 10 in challenge mode just as often. I cannot actually tell you
what you are doing wrong when you try these, so study up on this FAQ and
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
CREDITS:
---------------
Me, for writing the FAQ and posting how to do everything
Version 1.0
***************
Added everything.
Version 1.1
***************
Adjusted formatting, working on fixing 'How to Strike' Section
