Expert 01

Believe it or not, I've actually died on this level a few times just due to the number of times you're required to play it. Just hold up for a quick and easy victory.

Challenge:Beat it in five seconds or less with all the bananas.

Expert 02

Until you have the necessary skill, you probably want to avoid the small shortcut on the right. On the left, just take your time and work your way to the exit. For the right, you'll want to line up straight in front of the ramp and then push forward until you make it to the top (making minor adjustments to the left and right as needed).

Challenge: This isn't really challenging, but try getting the bananas on the top then jumping down to the normal exit (helpful when you need extra bananas).

Expert 03

Because of the direction that the platform starts rotating in, you'll want to approach the goals from the right side. You should jump onto the moving platform before it finishes rising up towards you. This will give you the maximum amount of time to get to the goal before it reverses directions. For the warp goal, use the same principle, just do it much faster since the platform won't be stopping. I don't recommend taking this warp.

Expert 04

There isn't much advice that I can give on this level. You need to keep a steady hand and watch your Monkey carefully on the curved track at the end. Let the gravity carry you down the skinny ramp at the end, but you'll need to push forward to make it up the other side.

Challenge: Jump over the edge to the left of the starting point directly into the goal (thanks to Xen).

Expert 05

The standard bonus stage. Just trace the squares as usual.

Expert 06

One of the most important things to do on this level is always take the same path. If you go right, always go right. You'll need to learn how to balance on the small moving squares as well. Once you can do this, it's simply a matter of choosing your path through the level.

Challenge: Get all of the bananas. It's not easy, but it's just barely possible.

Expert 07

The dreaded level seven. There are a few tricks to this level to help make it go easier, but if you don't have raw skill, you're going to lose a lot of lives on this one. The first obstacle can be easily beaten by simply holding forward since the game starts you out lined up with the ramp. When you get to the top, you should veer to the left and stop at the left-center of the platform. Now turn 90º to the right so that you're facing the upside down "V" obstacle. Wait for the camera to line up directly behind you. Once you're lined up as straight as possible, gun it. When you reach the top of the platform, let gravity carry you down. You may want to brake a little as well so you don't roll off the other side. The key to this is mastering the ability to control the where the camera is--I suggest practice mode for this. The staircase obstacle is similar to the previous one. Just line up and be careful to slow down as you reach the end (since the stairs tend to speed you up). For the holes in the ground, you have two choices. The fast but dangerous way is to blitz over the left or right side of the platforms and brake hard when you reach solid ground. This saves precious time for the difficult curves ahead, but it's risky. The other way is to carefully weave through the pattern by "angling". This means you'll have to basically roll from one square to the next at a 45º angle. Although it's slower, it's easy to do once you know how to do it. When you reach the curves, you should have thirty to thirty five seconds left. Try to keep a constant speed of about 10 miles per hour on the first and second curves, then slow down to about five for the last one. If you constantly stop and restart, you'll waste a lot of time and simply make things harder. If you get dizzy pause the game for a few seconds. I routinely finish this level with one or two seconds to spare, so try not to lose your nerve when time runs low.

Expert 08

Beating this level the obvious way is actually more difficult than using the following trick. Carefully roll down the first two ramps at your leisure. Now continue from the ramp straight to the back of the platform. Turn left and get ready to move quickly. You'll have to roll straight off the edge and land on the platform below by passing two ramps. It's not as hard as it looks, and it's a lot of fun to jump around like this. Once you land on the bottom platform, you can roll right into an easy finish. You can also jump off of the first platform, but it's more dangerous (smaller landing strip) and not necessary to beat the level easily.

Challenge: Try beating this level by taking only the ramps (no jumping) and get all the bananas. You can also try beating the level in 8 seconds or less by jumping off to the right.

Expert 09

Try to keep a constant speed of about fifteen miles an hour for the curves. Double that to about thirty for the straightaway. Keeping your speed constant will allow you to have a constant reference point for just how sensitive the control will be when you move the stick. This is an endurance level, and it's not a whole lot of fun. It's not too hard once you tighten your control though.

Challenge: What's the smallest string you can successfully navigate? I've never felt the need to do anything but the largest one, but 0.4 is pretty easy.

Expert 10

This is the same bonus stage from Advanced mode. Just follow the circles and get the leftovers after you've attempted to trace the entire circles.

Expert 11

Go ahead and cruise through the first four sets of bumpers at normal speed, but before you approach the fifth set, slow down as much as possible. That's really the key to this level. Just slow down before you have to fit between the bumpers. If you do the entire level slow you'll run out of time, so go fast where you can.

Expert 12

To beat this level, you cannot simply ride the gears. They are too slow. Instead, roll to the right on the first gear. It's almost as easy as if it weren't moving at all. If you make it to the second gear with about 45 seconds left, you can just ride the gears from then on to reach the exit. If you're trying to unlock the extra levels, you'll want to get the two banana bunches. I've found it easiest to follow the first gear to the right until I reach the first banana bunch, then I quickly turn around and head to the next gear to get the second bunch in the same way. As soon as you have the second one, turn around and follow the gears normally to beat the level.

Challenge: Beat the level by rolling against the rotation of each gear. Also get all the bananas. This isn't too difficult. You might also try beating the level in fifteen seconds or less (go with the rotation).

Expert 13

At the beginning of this level, simply hold up on the control stick until you jump over two large holes. Then turn right onto a down-ramp and move forward until you get to the up-ramp. Next you should turn to the right to see two long paths with sections missing at either end. You'll have to jump one of three holes. The most obvious is by taking the long path and jumping the gap at the end. If you're too slow, you'll fall in the gap. If you're too fast, you'll fly past the landing strip. The alternative to this is stopping in the middle (where the bananas are) and jumping the gap side ways. To do it, face down the length of the strip, then start moving left for a moment, then quickly swing back to the right with as much speed as possible. Once you have the trick down, it's by far the most secure way of clearing this obstacle. The third possibility is jumping the gap at the beginning of the right most path. It's very difficult to get the speed necessary to do this, but if you do, your landing strip is more than long enough. Once this obstacle is clear, you simple need to "angle" across the final bridge before entering the goal.

Challenge: It's difficult to do, but this level can be beaten in less than six seconds.

Expert 14

There aren't really any special tricks for this level. However, you should note that there are two ways to pass the 6th and 7th bumpers. You can either pass between the two when the 6th one is moving left, or you can pass to the right of the 6th as it moves right, and then follow the 7th one to the left to reach the next path. Do whichever you're most comfortable with. Be careful when passing the final three bumpers; you have plenty of time. For the skinny path at the end, line up straight and rush over it as fast as possible.

Challenge: This level can be beaten in less than nine seconds.

Expert 15

Start moving forward at full speed, and slow down as necessary when you approach the goal to go right in. I recommend avoiding the bananas on this level. For twenty bananas, you should only take the risk if there is less than 20% chance of dying (which is pretty unlikely in this case).

Expert 16

The trick to this level is pulling back like mad to slow down as much as possible. By pulling back and moving at an angle, you can get your speed below five miles per hour. After you master this technique, you play it like any other flat level. Just remember to pull back more than you push side ways. I always get the banana bunch on this level. I find the top path to be more difficult (though you might consider trying it before you master the slow movement technique).

Challenge: Beat my best time of 2.77 seconds.

Expert 17

I used to blaze through this level thinking it was easy. Then at some point, I started having trouble with it, and now it's one of my most dreaded Expert levels. Begin the level by weaving in and out of the walls picking up all of the bananas. You can skip one banana (or even two) at a time, but don't try this unless you're having a problem with time. When you reach the banana bunch, stop and face whichever direction you're most comfortable with. The problem with the last section is that it's raised above the outer track slightly. You'll need a little bit of speed to get up the bump. To gain this speed on a conveyer belt that is moving against you can be difficult. There are two tricks you need to remember. The ledge you're trying to get onto gets steeper as it goes further up the belt. Try to hit the low part. The other trick is to use the lip on the edge of the level. If you walk forward onto this lip, not only is it not moving, but it's also raised up a little bit. This bump will give you a little extra kinetic energy that can often help you onto the goal platform. This is a stage you'll have to practice a lot of you want to unlock the Expert Extra levels.

Expert 18

This is a look-alike of Advanced 24. The principle is the same, but the platform is longer and tilts to steeper angles. It's not enough to simply move onto the high part of the platform, you have to move as it tilts down and put some speed into it so that your momentum keeps you up there until it starts tilting down again. You can take this level very slowly are very quickly depending on what you're most comfortable with. I recommend waiting for the platform to finish its first tilt before getting on.

Expert 19

This level is so easy that I routinely get every banana on it with well over a 90% success rate. However, it probably won't be so easy when you first encounter it. To beat it quickly, just turn right and move down the first ramp. Then turn left and move down two ramps. Now turn right and move down two ramps using the momentum to go up the third ramp. Turn left and go down the next ramp using the momentum to go up two ramps in a row. Now's the hardest part. Move slightly away from the ramp (which is on your right) and then move hard to the right so that you can get up two ramps in a row easily. The faster you move the easier it will be to go up the ramps. Repeat this strategy for the last ramp on your left to get to the goal. If you use your momentum for the first two up-ramps, this level is much easier.

Challenge: Get all the bananas (easy).

Expert 20

Just like Advanced 20, take the bumper maze at a 45º angle and the forty bananas are yours.

Expert 21

By now you've probably tried this level a few times and hate it very much. The only thing I can tell you is that the quicker you beat it, the easier it is. Go full throttle forward and just a tad to the left. As soon as the wall hits on the right, edge back to the right just a little. If you survive, you should make it to the goal before the wall gets a chance to hit you again.

Challenge: Try and get all the bananas (I've gotten all but the first one).

Expert 22

The dreaded Sega logo. This is another level that originally seemed easy until I had to beat Expert without continuing. Once you make it onto the S, you're pretty much home free. Roll to the very edge of the first ramp and decrease your speed to almost nothing. Let gravity pull you down the ramp. When you're half way down the ramp, tap forward just a little and release. If you did it right, you should land right in the middle of the first platform. This is the most reliable method I have for getting onto the logo. Once here, follow the S until it leads you to the gap between the S and the E. Now use this strip to gain speed and jump to the E, and then over the gap in the E. Don't stop now. Keep going past the E, but slow down just as you jump off the end so that you land on the first portion of the G. Turn right and follow the end of the G to the A making the easy jump for the goal. If you over jump, then turn around and jump (not to fast) from the right side of the bottom of the A to get where you need to be. You can pick up the banana bunch by carefully going to the edge of the letter; you don't need to jump the hole to get it. The goal is now on the same platform as you. Just roll to it.

Challenge: This can be beaten in under fifteen seconds by using nearly uncontrollable bouncing. Thanks to Flarix for the inspiration.

Expert 23

This level is much easier than it looks. Just keep an eye on the floor and follow it at your own pace. I find it much easier to zigzag back and forth rather than waiting on one side as the piece line up badly.

Expert 24

Time is against you on this long level. You'll have to deal with slight slopes and turns of constantly decreasing angle. This can most easily be beaten with practice. If you're having a lot of trouble with time, then between the fifth and sixth banana you can jump to the right onto a further part of the track to give you an extra ten or fifteen seconds--more than enough to beat the level with ease. This jump can be made reliably with a little practice (you have a big landing strip).

Expert 25

The Tony Hawk level! If you just hold forward, you can make it all the way to the fifth crest, but from here you'll have to use the real strategy to finish the level. Basically, you want to ride the entire portion of each half-pipe. If you skip any of it you may not have enough speed to get up the other side.

Expert 26

Just follow the arrows. If my crazy challenges haven't taught you how to efficiently jump from high places, this level will. Don't pay any attention to the bananas, they will get you killed. You want to edge off the first two platforms with enough energy to clear the small gaps. The rest of the platforms have bridges under them so you want to roll off as slowly as possible so that your bounce is easier to control. Just follow the arrows to the goal.

Challenge: Can you beat this in six seconds or less (jump directly off the back and land on the goal platform)?

Expert 27

If you haven't mastered the "angling" technique yet, this level will teach you. Just take it slow and cross one gap at a time. When you're better you can take out entire rows in one quick roll (just be sure to stop at the end). As for the path on the right... I find it very difficult for some reason. If you can master it, then by all means pick up the 50 bananas.

Challenge: Try to get all the bananas and make it to the goal. I've yet to do this, but my brother has.

Expert 28

The key to this level is slowing down to about 30 miles per hour when you see the goal pass beneath you. If you can maintain this speed without falling off, guiding yourself into the goal is pretty easy.

Challenge: Can you beat this level in five seconds or less? Remember that you move the board not the Monkey.

Expert 29

Use the map to determine when the conveyor belts are pulling together if your camera angle gets messed up (very likely). They don't stay together for very long so try and get a running start. This one isn't too hard. Be careful to cross from one belt to the next at a perfect 90º angle or you may roll off the front of a conveyor belt by accident.

Expert 30

Another easy bonus level. This one is new at least. Move immediately to one corner and then go back and forth picking up every banana from each row as if you're cutting grass or something. This is pretty easy after you try it once or twice.

Expert 31

Roll right up to the gap you're getting ready to jump over. Look at the pretty ice texture. Nice eh? Now turn around and get ready to rock-and-roll. Roll forward at a moderate speed and head a little to the right. Now loop back to the left, and as you turn around put as much force into your roll as possible to clear the gap. Rinse and repeat for the jump to the goal.

Expert 32

This level takes nerves of steel. Roll through the beginning as quickly a possible to save as much time for the harrowing super-thin portion of the level. It's very small, but it's also curvy. Unfortunately, there are no tricks here. I can't find any jumping locations either. Hopefully you have unlimited continues. Keep an eye on your Monkey's distress animations.

Expert 33

This level has separated by annoying posts that stick up out of the level. There are thirty-six posts here. It's usually not that difficult to beat this level with persistence, but if you're trying to unlock the Extra or Master levels, you'll need a full-proof plan. The most effective way I've found is to pick a pattern among the posts and stick to that pattern at all times. I usually turn immediately right and trace a slightly inward spiral so that I land on the final platform farthest away from the goal. It also helps to turn up the brightness on your TV since the specular highlighting sometimes makes the last group of posts difficult to see.

Expert 34

The key to this level is crossing the giant cylinders when they are all on the right. If you attempt to balance on one while it's moving at full speed you'll find that it's very difficult (this is why all the bananas are on the right side). Getting the bananas isn't too difficult either.

Expert 35

This level only requires patience. Move very slowly forward and balance on the curved structure at its highest point. Unfortunately, the most prominent indication you have that you're not on the highest point is that your Monkey is trying to roll into oblivion. The goal platform also provides a decent indication of when you're on a flat surface. You should be able to complete this without too much difficulty. Select the view map option and rotate the level to see some more specular highlighting.

Expert 36

The fast version of Advanced 21. The strategy is the same as before, follow a bumper towards the middle. However, this time I recommend staying behind the bumper so that you don't have to slow down and speed up. You can allow this bumper to pass and then get behind the next bumper, but you'll probably get hit from behind if you do this. Again, once you survive the middle, the rest is easy.

Expert 37

If you hold forward and adjust to the right a little bit once you're airborne, you can get to the very last section easily. From here, just move into the corner where the goal is and wait for the bump.

Challenge: Beat it in four seconds or less.

Expert 38

I really don't understand what this level is doing here. It's so easy compared to what you've gone through to get here. Perhaps it was difficult in the original arcade version of Monkey Ball due to the different controller (a giant banana on a stick). Just move from platform to platform as they join together. No tricks here.

Expert 39

Pick a side and stick to it. I generally choose the right side. You'll want to roll up the right side a little (but not too much) and move onto the next pass as soon as it aligns. If you roll too far up the side of the piece, you'll fall off the other end of the next piece when you move over. If you don't go high enough, you'll fall in the hole. This just requires a few tries before it's second nature.

Expert 40

Roll forward and go back and forth to collect as many bananas as possible. I just got twenty, which is one of my higher scores. There are no easy bananas on this bonus stage.

Challenge: Get all of the bananas. Is this even possible?

Expert 41

This is Advanced 12 with a hole in the middle. Jump off to the right and try to roll past the goal on your first ring. Work your way higher up as you go so that you can roll into the goal on your second pass. Some people find it easier to jump to the left initially, but you risk hitting the goal if you do this.

Challenge: Try to jump directly into the goal (2.05 was my best time).

Expert 42

The advanced "angling" level. The goal on the left takes you to the next level, the warp goal on the right takes you to level 44, and the warp goal in the middle takes you to level 45. I recommend the goal on the right if you're trying to conserve extra lives. Level 43 can be quite difficult sometimes. Once you learn the "angling" skill (the key is lining up at a perfect 45º angle) this level is easy. There are no tricks here.

Challenge: Try to get all of the bananas, or just get the two banana bunches and make it to a goal. I haven't successfully done this yet.

Expert 43

Wait by the moving platforms until the clock hits about 51, run for the platform. There is a small gap to jump here, so make sure you have some speed. Brake hard when you land on the platform. That was the hardest part. At about 36 seconds run forward to jump down to the next moving platform. You'll have to roll forward quickly (but not too quickly) when this platform reaches the top of its rotation. If you make it this far, just wait until this platform takes you to the goal. To get a better view of exactly how the platforms move, pause the game and select view stage.

Expert 44

Stay on the green portion of the track or a little bit to the right of it when you're on the curved ones. Try and move quick and this level will be over before you know it. If you're any good at Monkey Race, this should be easy.

Expert 45

Beating this level the real way is very difficult. You have to jump onto the second set of platforms at just the right time with as much speed as possible to make it across. The other way is using diagonal speed boosting to get across with a large margin of error. Basically, once you're stuck between the rotating floors, you need to tilt forward at a perfect 45º angle (left or right). This will increase your speed by about ten miles per hour making the level a cinch (thanks for this trick goes to J Wishnov).

Challenge: Beat it without using the above trick.

Expert 46

Turn immediately to the left and start traversing the rings. The easy goal is actually not the one at the end of the level. You should be able to roll right up to it without too much trouble. You can also try turning right at the beginning instead of left, but I find that this gives you less landing room. If you're trying to reach the warp goal (which skips you forward one level) you can take either path. You'll just need to get enough speed to get up there, which isn't easy.

Challenge: Get into the warp goal.

Expert 47

Simply hold forward to get up the first two bumps (you will be diverted to the right as you hit the bumps; do NOT redirect towards the middle until you hit the second bump). You'll have to do the final bump the real way. Start rolling back towards the beginning of the level then make a quick U-Turn and move as quickly as possible to the goal hitting the bump head on. You'll need to use the u-turn to keep your Monkey stationary while you build up movement energy. This trick increases you speed faster than simply pushing forward from the edge of the platform. If you did it right you'll have more than enough speed to bounce right up there.

Expert 48

The trick for this level is to round the curves by controlling your speed rather than turning. If you simply move forward at fifteen to eighteen miles per hour, the tilt of the curve will turn your Monkey where its supposed to go. If you try to turn manually, there's a pretty good chance that you'll overturn and end up in the bottomless pit. Try not to be too slow since you only have thirty seconds. This is the last difficult Expert level.

Expert 49

This level is greatly simplified by avoiding the bananas. Just watch the goal as it comes in from the right and you can usually weave right into it without much trouble. This only takes a little practice. A more concrete method is to stand still while the first two bumper groups (with bananas) pass you. Then immediately move forward by two or three floor tiles. If you did it right the goal bumpers will encircle you for a moment and you can just walk right into the goal. It happens very quick, so practice it a bit if you're going for the Extra or Master levels.

Challenge: Get all of the bananas before getting into the goal.

Expert 50

When the next section of floor is level, move. It's as simple as that. You just have to be quick because the floor will not wait very long for you to move across it.

Challenge: Get all the bananas and get in the goal (I can't do it). Also, try jumping onto the first platforma little early so that it flings you up into the air. From here, go directly into the goal, which will be sideways on the left wall (thanks to T Church).

Congratulations you've completed the Expert mode of one of the most difficult games in recent memory. Now's a great time to try and beat Advanced mode without losing a life if you haven't done it yet. After you unlock the Beginner and Advanced Extra levels, the most difficult challenges remain: Expert Extra and the dreaded Master levels.