the cutting room mirror

Virtual Bowling

To do:

Virtual Bowling is one of two bowling games on the Virtual Boy, the other being Nester's Funky Bowling. That is to say, the Virtual Boy library is almost 10% bowling games. It is generally held to be the better representation of the sport on the platform.

This Japan-only game was re-released internationally through the Nintendo Classics library for the Nintendo Switch Online service in 2026.

Debug Menu#

Download Debug Mode Restoration Patch

File: Virtual Bowling-VB-Debug Hack.zip (250 bytes) (info)

By modifying 0x3EFA in the ROM from 43 to 41, the game can be forced to launch into a debug menu containing a sound test ("MUSIC" and "SE") and level select ("MAINFG"). Alternatively, the above patch will boot into the debug menu only if the Select button is held on boot, otherwise starting normally. This menu was featured in this (privately held) prototype, but was cut before the final.

(Source: Parasyte)