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Preview  Super Monkey Ball
- By Dan Doll [Editor In Chief]
Update: 11.07.01
A new press release from Sega offers more information:
In "Super Monkey Ball," gamers can choose to play as one of four adorable monkeys: Aiai, Meemee, Baby or Gongon, in Main-Game, Party Game and Mini-Game modes. The Main Game features 10 beginner, 30 advanced and 50 expert levels, challenging players to collect play points while racing through outrageous terrains in an effort to reach the goal without falling off the edge. Play points come in handy as they help players unlock hidden Mini-Games including Monkey Billiards, Monkey Bowling and Monkey Golf.
Gamers can also try their hands at one of three exciting Party Games. In Monkey Race, players race laps around bizarre tracks, complete with boost strips and power-ups to hinder their opponents' progress. Monkey Target invites players to take turns launching off an enormous ramp and trying to land on specific point targets scattered over a variety of islands. Monkey Fight lets players duke it out on floating platforms, knocking each other silly in an effort to become the last monkey standing.
"Super Monkey Ball" for the Nintendo GameCube is rated "E" for "Everyone" and will be in retail stores nationwide November 2001 for a suggested retail price of $49.95.
Sega's Super Monkey Ball is exactly like it sounds. It's a super game in which you control a monkey trapped inside a ball...
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What? Fair enough, I suppose we could dive a bit deeper.
Super Monkey Ball, developed by Amusement Vision, allows players the rare opportunity of rolling sphere-enclosed monkeys from one level to the next. To do so, the player uses the analog stick to tilt the maze-like landscape that the monkey is on, causing gravity to pull the poor, little guy along.
As the game progresses, the levels get increasingly more complex, and falling off the edge into monkey oblivion becomes a real danger. To make up for the risk involved, Sega has littered the environments with Dole bananas to give players something to collect as they roll towards the goal.
While collecting bananas may not seem so rewarding, Sega has hidden some extra modes that are sure to make players go ape (let the puns begin). Six modes including monkey bowling, billiards, boxing, and even monkey golfing will make for some fun, unique additions to the gameplay.
The real 500-pound gorilla in this game will be its multiplayer. Up to four players can roll a Monkey Ball at a time, an event that could surely serve up some motion sickness. The bonus modes will only increase the fun, possibly making this the first real GCN party game.
Graphically, the levels are simple and there isn't much going on in the environment what with each level being suspended somewhere in a psychedelic universe, but the look is appealing enough to absorb the player into the mind-bending challenges that await.
Not convinced about the challenge in rolling a monkey around in a ball? While it's still around, give Sega's flash game a whirl to see if you have the (Monkey) Balls it takes to get through four demo stages. You can find the flash demo by clicking here.
Sega has created something unique in Super Monkey Ball, and players will be going bananas over it when the Gamecube launches on November 18. From 'A' to Chimpan-'Z,' this game should be more fun than a barrel full of monkeys!
- 11.7.2001 |
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Don't lose your balance
Interesting level design
Try not to get dizzy
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Release Date:
11.18.2001
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