Super Monkey Ball (GameCube) > Reviews (19)

Super Monkey Ball was one of the first games that I bought for the Nintendo Gamecube. I bought it because it looked fun and because you can play with up to four players. Just the thing when your mates are round for a session.

The idea of the game is to collect as any bananas as you can and get through the goal as quickly as possible using a monkey in a ball.

There are four characters to choose from AiAi, Meemee, Gon Gon and Baby.

The game can be broken down into three different categories, the main game, party games and mini games.

The main game has three different options to choose from Normal Mode, Practise Mode and Competition Mode and four different difficulties Beginner, Advanced, Expert and Master
Mode.

There are 10 beginner's levels and three bonus levels if you complete all 10 levels without dying. The advanced levels consist of thirty different levels and five bonus levels if you complete them all without dying and finally the expert levels. Here there are fifty levels and 10 bonus levels if you complete them without dying. Finally in the Master levels this comprises of ten extremely hard levels

On some of the levels there are secret goal posts that will teleport through the levels quicker. So keep an eye out.

Practise Mode

This mode allows you to practise on any of the levels that you have unlocked.

Competition Mode

Play with up to four players and race to be the first to go through the goal.

Next up in the monkey madness is the Party Games. Here you will find Monkey race, Monkey Fight and Monkey Target.
Monkey Race

In monkey race you must be the first one past the finish line to win. Sounds easy but there is a twist, along the track are items and weapons to pick up to either help or hinder your race. These include speed stars, banana peel, bowling bomber, polygon ball and Ice cube. Use the directional pad to control the monkey ball and use the items/ weapons with the "A" button. You can race in three different modes one course race, Grand Prix or Time Attack

Monkey Fight

Battle it out with up to four players on three different arenas in a bid to knock them out. Use the analogue stick to control your monkey ball and use the "A" button to punch your opponents. There are three different types of weapon that can be picked up the first being a big glove. The more big glove power ups you get the bigger the glove. Then there is the spinner, this allows you to do a spin attack. Combined with the big glove this is an excellent weapon. Last but not least is the Long Arm. With this power up you can punch for longer distance with a greater impact and it combines really well with the big glove.

Monkey Target

Launch your monkey of a ski ramp, open the ball and glide through the air. Then try and land it on a target. This for me is by far the best Party Game because it is so difficult to master. To control the monkey ball use the directional pad and use the "A" button to open your ball when you leave the ramp. Once in the air you must use the wind to take you to your chosen target.

Before each round you get to have a go on the wheel of danger. The wheel of fortune consists of ten slots each containing a forfeit, this could be a smoke screen, big bombs or spiked mines. You get points for picking up bananas, one single banana gives you ten points and a bunch of bananas gives you 20 points. Each time you collect a banana or bunch of bananas the help meter will go up one space. For one banana you will get 0"mph" meaning no wind at all. The next help item is brake ball, this will allow you to stop quicker when you land on a target. Then it goes to double score this doubles your score if you land on a target successfully. After this is the magnet ball, probably the best help item you can get. This will stop you dead on the target ensuring that you do not fall off. And last but not least is Triple points, like double points you must land successfully on a target to be rewarded three time the amount of points. If you collect more bananas you will go back to the beginning again. So use them wisely.

Now for the Mini games.

Monkey Billiards

Play 9-Ball against the computer or with a friend all you have to do is pot the 9-Ball and it's game over. To line the ball up use the directional pad and shoot using the "A" button. The "C" stick controls the camera angles . The "Y" button changes the view from 2-D and 3-D and changes the power of a shot. The "X" button displays the ball numbers. The "B" button take you to the overhead camera view.

Monkey Bowling

Play ten pin bowling against the computer or with a friend, knock all ten pins down to get a strike.

Monkey Golf.

Play nine or eighteen holes of crazy monkey golf from the front nine or from the back nine. All you have got to do is pot the ball in the least amount of shots to win. But be warned it is no easy task what with pitfalls and curvy ground you could be playing for a while. Especially if your playing eighteen holes with four friends.

This game has stood the test of time, even after three years of playing the game I am still only up to the advanced levels of the main game and it doesn't seem like I can progress any further. The Mini Games and Party games are addictive and fun. I especially enjoy playing Monkey Target. The childish but sweet voices of the monkeys may be primitive but they will make you laugh all the same. It is definitely a game for all ages and I would definitely recommend it to a potential buyer.

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