Name: Super Monkey Ball review Category: Puzzle Developer: Sega Publisher: Sega Players: 1-4
Score 9.2
Super Monkey Ball 8/3/2002
By: Kaiokenattack
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Kaiokenattack here with my first Gamecube review. Super Monkey Ball marks the first 3rd party game Sega has made after turning into a software-only developer. Let’s see how they did!
After you turn on Super Monkey Ball, you will instantly recognize the happy, cutesy nature of the game. But this isn’t a bad thing! I know that people will look at the cover art or the screenshots on the back of the box and instantly dismiss it, but they are missing out on a great game. The game features excellent water effects, reflections, and other goodies that we’ve come to expect from a next-gen console.
The music in the game is very Sega-esque. It is upbeat and flows well with the game. I especially enjoy the jazz tune while playing Monkey Billiards. The sound effects are another story. If your monkey is right about to fall off the edge of the level, he tilts and screams out “Whoooaaa!” or whatever. This can get EXTREMELY annoying, especially when you are trying to make the ball go across a very narrow strip. I wish they had added an option to maybe turn the sound effects lower or maybe even off.
The gameplay in this game is where it’s at. If you’re still wondering what the hell this game is, it’s much like a mix between Marble Madness and Kirby Tilt n’ Tumble. If you haven’t played either of those games, the basic element is trying to get your Monkey Ball to reach a goal. However, you control the stage that the monkey is on, and not the monkey. The camera is always fixed behind the monkey, so you don’t get confused. The game puts the Gamecube’s precision control joystick to good use, and is very easy to learn.
This game is a must-buy for potential Gamecube owners--if not for the main game, then definitely for the mini-games. The game features 6 individual mini-games: Monkey Billiards, Bowling, Golf, Race, Fight, and Target. Each game is great for multiplayer, and will keep you and your friends entertained for hours. In closing, I will say that my hands have never sweated so much from this game. The harder levels can get pretty tough, and call for full concentration.
GameDiscovery.com : GameCube : Super Monkey Ball Review : Puzzle
