Super Monkey Ball
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| Super Monkey Ball | |
| Missing image SuperMonkeyBallbox.jpg Super Monkey Ball GameCube box cover | |
| Developer(s) | Amusement Vision |
| Publisher(s) | SEGA |
| Release date(s) | 2001 |
| Genre | Puzzle game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Everyone (E) |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo GameCube |
Super Monkey Ball is an arcade-style platform game developed by Amusement Vision and distributed by Sega. The game debuted in Japan in 2001 as an upright arcade console and later that year was released as one of the three original Nintendo GameCube games. The popularity of the simple game in Japan, the United States and Europe has led to several sequels and ports: Super Monkey Ball 2 for the GameCube; Super Monkey Ball Jr., a release for Nintendo Game Boy Advance based on the original title; and a release under the original title for the Nokia N-Gage gaming system. It also features in the Sega SuperStars Eye Toy game for the PlayStation 2. The bananas in the game feature advertising for the Dole Food Company.
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Main game
The objective of the main game is to guide a cartoon monkey character encased in a ball across a suspended series of platforms and through a goal. The main game is very simplistic--in fact the only control required is the directional analog stick. By moving the joystick, the player actually tilts the entire set of platforms that make up the level, called the floor, and the monkey ball rolls accordingly. Although practically this is virtually indistinguishable from actively moving the ball, it is revealed subtly in the general tilt of the camera when turning. While moving across the floor the player can collect bananas by rolling into them to score points and attempt to earn an extra life (earned at every 100 bananas). If the monkey ball rolls off of the floor it is a fall out and the player loses a life. If the player can complete all of the floors in succession without falling out (10 floors in beginner difficulty, 30 in advanced, and 50 in expert) extra floors are unlocked.
Strategy
Bananas are worth 100 points each and time left on the floor timer is valued at 100 points per second if finishing with less than half of time remaining or 200 points per second if finishing with more than half of time remaining. Thus, it is advantageous to make detours for additional bananas if it will take less than 1 second or 0.5 seconds per banana respectively. It may also be appropriate to sacrifice time and points if the player is close to reaching 100 bananas and an extra life.
Party games
The GameCube release of Super Monkey Ball includes three party games for up to four players. Monkey Race is a lap racing game combining elements of the main game and racing classics like Mario Kart. Monkey Fight places four monkey balls with attached boxing gloves in a king-of-the-hill punching battle. Monkey Target, perhaps most unique of the three, is an accuracy game in which the monkey ball is launched off a large ramp and splits in half to form wings, which the player must guide over a large body of water to floating targets of varying point values.
Minigames
Three minigames are also featured in the GameCube release, based upon actual games and sports. These games must be unlocked by earning play points gained by repeated play of the main game. Monkey Billiards is a 9-ball pool game; Monkey Bowling is a stylized arcade version of the sport; and Monkey Golf is an arcade miniature golf game. The monkey characters are of course prominently featured in the balls traditionally used to play these games.
Sequels
Super Monkey Ball 2
Super Monkey Ball 2, also for the GameCube, is the sequel to Super Monkey Ball. Gameplay in the main game is identical. Original to Super Monkey Ball 2 is a story mode, in which one completes levels in the main game in sets of ten, with cut scenes in between.
Super Monkey Ball 2 has "sequels" to each of the six minigames in the original Super Monkey Ball. It also has six new party games: Monkey Boat Race, Monkey Shot, Monkey Dog Fight, Monkey Tennis, Monkey Baseball, and Monkey Soccer.
Super Monkey Ball Jr.
Super Monkey Ball Jr. is a version of Super Monkey Ball for the Game Boy Advance. The main game is remarkably similar in gameplay to that of the GameCube versions. Since one can only use the Game Boy's D-pad, as opposed to the GameCube's analog stick, control is somewhat limited. This limitation is reduced, but not eliminated, by the use of the A and B buttons; holding the A button increases the amount of inclanation of the floor while holding the B button decreases it.
Super Monkey Ball Jr. includes versions of Monkey Fight, Monkey Bowling, and Monkey Golf similar to those in the original Super Monkey Ball. These games can be played either single player or multiplayer, using a Game Boy Advance link cable. They require one game cartridge per player.
In Sega SuperStars
A special version of Super Monkey Ball appeared on the PlayStation 2 in Sega SuperStars. This version was controlled with the player's arms which were tracked by the Eye Toy rather than using the standard controls.
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe was released on the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox in May 2005. It includes all the levels from SMB 1 and SMB 2 along with 40 new ones.
External links
- Neverball (http://icculus.org/neverball/), a similar game available under the GPL for Windows 2000 / XP, Linux, FreeBSD, and Mac OS X
- http://dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/Games/Computer_and_Video/Super_Monkey_Ball/