

Leaning in specific directions would cause the level to tilt that way, which in theory makes for an intuitive experience. Of all the games to make use of the Wii’s Balance Board peripheral, Super Monkey Ball is perhaps one of the least expected, but Step & Roll introduced Wii Balance Board controls that kind of make sense. Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll Super Monkey Ball Step & Rollĭeveloper: SEGA Publisher: SEGA Platform(s): Wii They also changed Monkey Race to look like a Mario Kart knock-off, which is the biggest offence of all.ĩ. However, the levels were designed with motion controls in mind, with huge grooves in the level design to prevent motion control players from zooming into oblivion every 10 seconds, meaning thumbstick players were left with no challenge. The motion control gimmick didn’t pair well with the 3D feature of the 3DS, which is the main selling point for the entire handheld, as players would be left with migraines after a while. While it might seem like we’re bagging on all the handheld games, Super Monkey Ball 3D tried to accommodate both motion controls and regular thumbstick play, diminishing both as a result. Super Monkey Ball 3D Super Monkey Ball 3Dĭeveloper: SEGA Publisher: SEGA Platform(s): Nintendo 3DSĪs the name Super Monkey Ball 3D suggests, this game was developed specifically for the 3DS in mind, utilising the dual screen gameplay to display information on one screen while you focused on avoiding obstacles with the other. Reviewers weren’t too kind to the motion controls and level editors, while woeful sales for both this game and the PS Vita in general has meant that there’s been no new traditional Super Monkey Ball game ever since.ġ0.
#Super monkey ball banana mania motion controls series
While these sound like good innovations that would help Super Monkey Ball evolve as it moved through the early 2010s, Banana Splitz nearly killed the SMB series as we know it. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz Super Monkey Ball Banana Splitzĭeveloper: Marvelous Publisher: SEGA Platform(s): PS Vitaįrom one dismal handheld platform to one that massively underperformed, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz debuted the iconic series on the PS Vita.īanana Splitz had some good ideas, like the ability to use motion controls to move the monkey instead of the joysticks, and the Creation mode used the Vita’s in-built camera to create levels based on real-life environments. Adventure likely did more reputational damage than this footnote in Super Monkey Ball’s history.ġ1. If it wasn’t for the fact that the N-Gage is all but forgotten, it would probably be at the bottom of this list. However, for a Super Monkey Ball release, that’s a shocking lack of content compared to other games. Despite launching after the Game Boy Advance release, Super Monkey Ball Jr, the N-Gage version of this classic game felt like a pale imitator instead of a proper release, with terrible graphics and awful controls.Įssentially a scaled down version of the normal game, Super Monkey Ball for the N-Gage includes 50 levels across the usual difficulties of beginner, intermediate, expert and master, along with three party games. It also wasn’t very good, so it stands to reason that the Super Monkey Ball game is one of the worst entries in the series. Super Monkey Ball (N-Gage) Super Monkey Ball N-Gageĭeveloper: Amusement Vision Publisher: SEGA Platform(s): N-GageĬonsider this your reminder that the N-Gage existed, albeit for a brief period. Think Angry Birds but with monkeys in big balls and you’re about there. It’s not completely devoid of quality though, as the Monkey Cannon party game was actually incredibly fun. It was an ambitious move, but the execution really left a lot to be desired.įrom poor controls to the game’s crushing difficulty, Super Monkey Ball Adventure was pretty much lambasted from pillar to post by everybody, and is widely considered to be the worst Super Monkey Ball game in the entire series. Instead of the usual maze levels, Adventure opted for a huge story mode with players exploring many different worlds, solving puzzles and completing missions. If nothing else, Super Monkey Ball Adventure has to be commended for at least trying something different with the Super Monkey Ball brand.

Super Monkey Ball Adventure Source TheGamerĭeveloper: Traveller’s Tales Publisher: SEGA Platform(s): PS2, PSP, Gamecube
