We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
GC

North America

Super Monkey Ball

by Max Lake - August 6, 2001, 1:12 pm EDT

Max was one of the only PGCers who got to play Monkey Ball at E3. With the E3 video is nearly out of his hands, he’s finally found time to tell ya all about this wacky—yet very cool—game!

Yeah, so I played Monkey Ball forever ago back at E3 and I’m writing impressions now? Seriously, I think I can only now safely say I’ve recovered from E3 2001 & have relived much of it getting our E3 video together. I’ve reviewed lots of game footage and with the video nearly out of my hands, I’m eager to finally weigh in on many games I played at E3. One title that sticks out above the rest for me is Super Monkey Ball.

Monkey Ball holds the honor of being the first GameCube game I ever played. The first day of E3, I had several appointments which had me running ragged. When I was finally able to hit the Nintendo booth in a free moment, the crowds were overwhelming & impossible to navigate. There was no time to stand in line either; the first day I got a quick look before I had to go running off to meet with someone else. Lucky for me, my final “appointment” of the day was Sega’s Unleashed event—invite only (I owe Jon Metts & Sega big time). After filming the event for the E3 video, Justin Wood and I made our way to Monkey Ball, Amusement Vision’s first games for GameCube & a very quirky looking one at that.

Even more memorable is that just as I played it, AV president, Toshiro Nagoshi, snuck up behind me and gave me a Monkey Ball toy! (Part of this exchange is caught on PGC’s E3 video too…)

At first glance, Monkey Ball looks like a 3D version of Marble Madness with monkeys and has been likened to the Atari classic by many. Upon closer inspection, the game is actually a lot different from this old classic and so much more than this. Both games are similar though in that the only control is moving a ball throughout treacherous levels. If anything, Monkey Ball reminds me a bit of Sonic Adventure, or the Bowser levels in Mario 64 a bit with its dangerous 3D landscapes. Even these comparisons are somewhat of a reach. Monkey Ball really is just its own, unique game.

The object of Monkey Ball is to collect 100 bananas each level and then break the finish line. You can often reach the finish line before collecting 100 bananas, but when you do, you simply start over at the beginning.

The graphics are very shiny, smooth, crisp and colorful. The bananas are very detailed and all bear visible “Dole” labels on them. The monkeys are very cartoony, but also very cute. I couldn’t hear too much of the sound, though bananas make a pong-esque metallic ricochet sound as you collect them.

Monkey Ball’s control is incredibly simple. It’s just the control stick and no buttons are needed. You just maneuver your “Monkey Ball” around and make sure it doesn’t fall off the edge. If/when you do happen to fall off the edge, an amusing replay of you running and falling into darkness.

Each area is differently shaped and will have different obstacles. Some levels will move under the weight of your monkey as you move it, tilting the ground underneath you. Other levels feature moving platforms that you must ride to reach isolated parts of the level where bananas are found. In a bonus level I played, the floor actually rippled like a giant pond, with waves fanning out and making it difficult (much harder than you’d think) to collect all bananas in a timely manner.

From what I played, I didn’t encounter any enemies and perhaps they aren’t any in the game. Running around the different levels to collect all the bananas in the allotted time is quite challenging in itself. It’s simple, but certainly very fun.

I didn’t get to try the multiplayer, but if it’s Monkey Ball x4, then I am sure it will be a blast and a great party game.

Monkey Ball is simple but a ton of fun. I can’t wait to play it again. Billy, Justin and I are already quarreling about who’s going to get the review copy of this (if we’re lucky enough to get one). Seriously, we all want it. You probably will too after you try it, which should be around the same time the GameCube hits.

Share + Bookmark





Super Monkey Ball Box Art

Genre Action
Developer Amusement Vision
Players1 - 4

Worldwide Releases

na: Super Monkey Ball
Release Nov 17, 2001
PublisherSega
RatingEveryone
jpn: Super Monkey Ball
Release Sep 14, 2001
PublisherSega

Related Content

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement