June 25th 2024.
It's been 23 years since the release of the first Super Monkey Ball game, and yet the franchise still holds a special place in the hearts of many gamers. With over a dozen entries in the series, Sega has been trying to keep it alive and relevant. However, it seems that most fans only have fond memories of the first two games on the GameCube. Despite several attempts to expand and reboot the franchise, Sega has come to the realization that there's only so much you can do with a game about guiding a monkey in a ball through a maze.
But fear not, because Sega has now released a brand new entry for the Nintendo Switch, called Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble. This game takes us back to the basics and tries to recreate the best elements of the original two games. It features over 100 all-new stages and five new multiplayer modes, making it a promising addition to the series.
The main mode of Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the adventure mode, which follows a simple concept. You control a monkey trapped in a transparent ball, navigating through a variety of small but challenging levels. It's a mix of a crazy golf course and a pachinko board, where your goal is to reach the exit at the end of the course. But the twist is that you're not controlling the monkey itself, but the surface it's moving on. Imagine trying to control a ball on a chopping board, and you'll get the idea.
The game offers precise and reliable controls, reminiscent of the original games. However, there's a new feature called the spin dash, where you have to power up for a couple of seconds and then shoot off in the direction you choose. While it works fine, it feels unnecessary and adds a layer of complexity to the gameplay.
The level design is impressive, with a variety of gimmicks and styles, from puzzles to mazes and platform-style designs. New elements are introduced gradually, including bumpers, trampolines, portals, and other moving parts. However, for seasoned Monkey Ball players, there's not much of a challenge until the fourth world. But once you unlock the bonus levels, things get a lot tougher.
For new players, the game offers a lot of help, including a rewind function and ghost data to follow if you're unsure of what to do. The bananas you collect along the way also serve as a racing line for speed-oriented levels, with strategically placed bananas indicating shortcuts.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble does not bring anything substantially new to the table, but it's still a solid game. The only downside is that it lacks the original's purity of focus. But the adventure mode is definitely the best since the early 2000s, especially with the option to play the entire game in four-player split-screen mode.
The second half of the game is the multiplayer mode, which became a significant part of the series with the release of Super Monkey Ball 2. However, the new multiplayer modes in Banana Rumble are not very refined or fun. The classic mini-games like Monkey Flight and Monkey Target are not included, and the multiplayer is limited to two-player split-screen, with the addition of bots. There's a self-explanatory Monkey Race, along with four new modes that are not very inspiring.
To make matters worse, the game takes a severe frame rate hit during multiplayer, ruining the smooth 60fps experience of the adventure mode. The fun of playing together in the same room, which was a major aspect of the original, is not emphasized here. It also doesn't help that the game allows for up to 16 players online, which can get chaotic and frustrating.
Despite the shortcomings in the multiplayer, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is still a step in the right direction for the series. It's a better game than the last two releases, with a reasonable price tag and plenty of content. However, the weak multiplayer holds it back from being a perfect modern incarnation of the series.
In conclusion, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a solid game that brings back the charm and fun of the original games. It's not perfect, but it's a step towards reviving the franchise. If you're a fan of the series, it's definitely worth giving a try.
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