GAMES
.: REVIEW
GAMECUBE
July 2002
by Jae Lurman
SUPER
MONKEY BALL
Sega's
end to console production has seen them deliver strongly to all consoles
as a third party developer. Many (if not all) of their biggest franchises
are spreading across various next generation platforms as we speak.
Many gamers are showing concerns over Sega's decision to settle titles
exclusively on opposing consoles. With the XBox getting the next Shenmue
installment, Crazy Taxi 3 and Jet Grind Radio Future and the PS2 receiving
the excellent Virtua Fighter 4 among others - What do Gamecube owners
have to look forward to? Quite alot actually. Sega are strongly supporting
Nintendo's flagbearer and this wasn't more clearer than during the
launch period with Sonic Adventure Battle 2 and this great little
title: Super Monkey Ball.
Did
I say little? My mistake, this game is absolutely HUGE with virtually
endless lastability. Based on the sleeper hit Japanese arcade game,
in Super Monkey Ball, you assist 4 helplessly cute monkeys trapped
inside transparent spheres rolling their way though about a hundred
pattern covered levels of increased difficulty. The official Dole
endorsement means the game is littered with bananas for your monkey's
consumption.
The main game looks to be inspired by the classic 80's game Marble
Madness, but Super Monkey Ball has one fundamental difference - you
don't control the ball or the monkey itself, you control the surface
beneath. If you have ever played with one of those ball bearing tilt
games on the wooden mazes then you get the point here.
There is plenty on this disc to distract you and possibly hold your
interest even longer than the main game itself. After the frustration
of perilously negating floor after floor in the main game, try your
hand at Monkey Golf, Billiards, Bowling, Racing, Monkey Fight (much
like a minigame in a Mario Party title) and my personal favourite
Monkey Target (reminiscent of the hanglider levels in Pilot Wings
64). It's clear that the ball physics/gravity in game engine is the
foundation upon which these minigames can be implemented. Each one
can be enjoyed as multiplayer tournaments and each one has its own
score table all stored in a mere 3 save blocks on your memory card.
Kudos to Sega for bringing a very wacky Japanese arcade game home
to our western Gamecube consoles on launch day. A risk that has surely
played in their favour, with future Super Monkey Ball titles planned
after the widespread acclaim they have received from this port. Super
Monkey Ball is an incredibly addictive, unique and challenging game
experience that sits perfectly into Nintendo's ethic of FUN.
IMAGE
SOURCES
Screenshots
are from the almighty Planet
GameCube.
GBA
Wishlist (Part 2)
