In 1992, the late Ted Turner launched Cartoon Network broadcasting previously aired cartoons including Looney Tunes, Tex Avery, Chuck Jones and Hanna-Barbara TV shows. Most notably, “The Flintstones.” The modern Stone Age family were a big deal as the first cartoon to air on Primetime television in 1960. Parents who grew up in the 1960-1980s introduced their kids and grandkids to The Flintstones pacing a new wave of cartoon enthusiasts. Cartoon Network eventually produced original content. The Flintstones along with Looney Tunes and Hanna-Barbara shows were transferred to Boomerang. Sadly, it’s now a streaming only service since 2024.
Anyway, The Flintstones ventured into video game territory under their first game, “Yabba Dabba Doo.” However, it’s only available in Europe. It wasn’t until 1991 when “The Flintstones: The Rescue of Dino and Hoppy” became available as the first game for Americans. A side-scrolling platformer on the NES. Followed by another game based on the 1994 live-action film Super NES which came out a year after the poorly received flick. Five Years Later, around the same time “The Flintstones: “Viva Rock Vegas” came out, The Flintstones made it to three-dimensional territory as a bowling themed game titled, “The Flintstones: Bedrock Bowling.”
One evening, just as Fred’s about to head out to enjoy his favorite hobby with Barney Rubble, Fred’s manager, Mr. Slate instructs him to dig a huge trench or else he’s fired. Feeling trapped, Fred desperately wants to bowl. The Great Gazoo pops up. Creates a massive trench as a bowling lanes. It’s not that kind of bowling. Fred & Barney try out Gazoo’s unorthodox version bowling.
Released in 2000 (same year The Emperor’s New Groove came out) on PlayStation, the game was poorly received by critics and gamers alike. To add insult to injury, The Flintstones’ most recent game, “The Flintstones: Big Trouble in Bedrock” was also poorly received. It came out in 2001. YIKES!
Rich & Poor Qualities
Rich: Voice Actors all did a good job for their respective voiceover performances.
Graphics for a PlayStation game in 2000 is acceptable.
Gameplay/Mechanics
- Presented as some sort of third-person racing/bowling hybrid, you play as five characters, Fred, Barney, Pebbles, Bamm-Bamm & Dino in a series of levels riding in a giant bowl. Your job is to hit as much bowling pins as you can and make it to the finish line before time runs out in one continuous run.
- Earn points by hitting pins and collecting gems. Hitting all ten pins grant you bonus points.
- Evade obstacles like explosive barrels, environmental hazards and roaming dinosaurs.
- If you fall off into the side where the gutters are, you lose a life and points decrease. if yo keep falling off, the lane ends.
- Obtaining dodo birds unlocks a mini-game.
Random Thoughts
- I used to play this game when I was in first or second grade.
- The Great Gazoo is my favorite Flintstones character. I thought he was interesting. I don’t understand why he’s hated by fans. He’s funny and guides Fred & Barney as the voice of reason.
Poor: Although labeled as a racing/bowling game, there’s no co-op mode to play with your friend. It’s single-player only. What’s the point of playing a racing/bowling game, if you don’t have anybody to compete? It’s like playing “Mario Kart” without four pals.
Wilma & Betty are on the cover. Wilma only appears as an NPC chilling outside the backyard. Betty’s absent. It would’ve been nice to add them as playable characters. What about Mr. Slate? He only appears in the opening cut scene.
You can complete the game with a single character in 30 minutes. 5 times 30 equals 150. Approximately 2-and-a-half hours. Leaves me no choice, but to Triple Down this con. Absolutely ridiculous charging $19.99 for this piece of crud. I’d rather watch an extended cut of Viva Rock Vegas.
What do you get when you collect all three dodo birds? A mini-game hitting all ten pins until time runs out.
There are only 12 levels and a mini-game.
Controls can be a frustrating to deal with hovering around a giant bowl.
There’s no additional modes. All you get is the same mode hitting all ten pins, collecting gems and dodo birds. Mind numbingly repetitive.
There’s no rival for Fred. At least in the live-action movies, Cliff Vandercave & Chip Rockefeller served a purpose. Heck, Green Goose from “The Man Called Flintstone” was relevant to the plot.
The Final Verdict: F, FOR FAKER!
Like the horrendous prequel Viva Rock Vegas, Bedrock Bowling is one big pile of dinosaur poop as in that one scene from “Jurassic Park.” Do not waste your money buying Bedrock Bowling on eBay or Amazon. Buy a complete series of The Flintstones and The Man Called Flintstone. It’s the closest thing to proper movie.
Someday, I wanna play a Flintstones game taking a page from “Super Mario 64” or any three-dimensional platformer game. Suits well for Fred overcoming obstacles like Mario and Crash Bandicoot.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 