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Preview  Super Monkey Ball 2
- By Dan Doll [Editor In Chief]
Update: 8/22/02
One last update - Sega's official preview below:
AiAi, MeeMee, Baby, and GonGon are on a roll -- again! Super Monkey Ball 2 brings the party to a whole new level with six brand new party games, six revamped party games, a new Story Mode, and 150 new Main Game stages. Casual gamers will love the easy pick-up- and-play gameplay while the more seasoned gamers will be put to the ultimate test in the later stages. In the new Story Mode, you'll fight as AiAi to stop the evil plans of the deranged scientist, Dr. BAD-BOON and his mysterious sidekick, simply known as Dr. BAD-BOON's Assistant. But Story Mode is just the beginning -- you'll want to grab some friends and get groovin' with the 12 new Party Games! Take on totally revamped versions of your old favorites like Monkey Bowling and Monkey Target, or step up to the competition on any of the 6 brand new Party Games. With its new modes, awesome graphics, and exciting multi- player features, Super Monkey Ball 2 is guaranteed to keep your party guests going bananas for hours.
One to four players can compete, cooperate and collide in 12 addictive Party games.
Explore 10 Monkey Worlds filled with unique themes and incredible visuals in the new Story Mode.
~ 6 totally revamped Party Games: Monkey Race, Monkey Fight, Monkey Target, Monkey Billiards, Monkey Bowling, and Monkey Golf!
~ 6 brand new Party Games: Monkey Tennis, Monkey Baseball, Monkey Soccer, Monkey Boat Race, Monkey Shot, and Monkey Dog Fight!
Update: 5/23/02
Another day, another good time spent with Super Monkey Ball 2.
On this day, Lander from NAdventures and I played a couple multiplayer modes.
The first was a new option to the Monkey Fight mode; each minigame from before now has multiple variations. For this game, the arena now crumbles away to nothing and it's the last monkey standing who wins.
This mode is frantic and goes by extremely fast. It seemed to rely a lot on luck, but it was fun nonetheless. Players continued until one person had five wins.
After a few rounds of Monkey Fight, Lander and I switched to some basic-style main game. Only the beginner mode was available at the show, so we began.
The levels are all new, 10 in all with three extra courses rewarding those who do well.
In one extra course, zippers were placed in rows on the track and sent back any slow-moving monkeys. The trick is to go full tilt while still maintaining control.
Other obstacles included a course littered with bars which sent the monkey skyward, making it all the more challenging to stay in control.
Beyond that, we noticed that the backgrounds were much more detailed, some with running water effects. The tracks even have eye-catching decorations.
Try keeping your concentration while rolling under an enormous, spinning gyroscope.
Again, Super Monkey Ball 2 is scheduled for a Fall release.
Update: 5/22/02
Super Monkey Ball 2 was first mentioned during the pre-E3 Nintendo press conference to much applause and cheering. Today both Sega and Nintendo had setups dedicated to the game.
Super Monkey Ball 2 most notably features several new minigames. Today on the showfloor we played Monkey Boating.
By using the L and R triggers to correspond with each end of the paddle, the monkey navigates the water in the bottom half of his sphere.
The tricky part is turning, handling the current, and not oversteering.
Again, not oversteering.
Of a five lap one-on-one race, it wasn't until the third lap that we finally got the hang of the turning controls.
Basically, by pressing L a lot without R, the monkey will paddle to the right. The trick is to begin paddling in a straight direction before completing the turn. The momentum is what gets you.
The original mode featured all new levels, and even one that had us stumped.
Players rolled down a ramp to a round platform. The platform was almost completely covered by a rapidly rotating structure. Go near it and face almost certain death. Go around it and... well, we couldn't find anything around it!
Needless to say, they've upped the puzzle challenges.
We hope to have more impressions from the showfloor tomorrow, so stay tuned.
Update: 5/17/2002
Thanks to IGN, more information is available on the many modes of Super Monkey Ball 2.
* 150 new stages
* Story Mode with 10 unique worlds
* Six new mini-games: Monkey Boat Race, Monkey Shot, Monkey Dog Fight, Monkey Tennis, Monkey Baseball, and Monkey Soccer!
* Improved originals: Monkey Race, Monkey Fight, Monkey Target, Monkey Golf, Monkey Billiards, Monkey Golf, and Monkey Bowling
As evidenced by this movie, Monkey Boat Race cuts the sphere in half to act as a boat, freeing up the monkey to wield a canoe paddle. Games like Monkey Baseball and Monkey Tennis somehow allow the monkeys to hold a bat or racket through the ball.
Regardless, it sounds like a lot of fun. Fall 2002 couldn't be further away, could it?
Looks like NPuzzles might have something of interest at E3, afterall.
Sega's Amusement Vision has opened its heart to Gamepro magazine, revealing information and screenshots of the previously unannounced Super Monkey Ball 2 for Gamecube.
Super Monkey Ball 2 will feature over 150 levels with new challenges and backdrops to make the game new again.
So far, the bananas are notably absent, hinting that the game may be early in its development, but word is that a Fall 2002 date is expected.
Multiplayer mini-games will return with new four-player events including Monkey Football (Soccer).
If that wasn't enough, the recent announcement of a Monkey Ball game for Gameboy Advance adds the possibility of a connection between the two. We'll see what we can find out, although it may turn out Amusement Vision has once again closed its heart until E3.
- 5.23.2002 |
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Fiery Dragon
Path with Jumps
Pirate Ship
Jungly
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INFO |
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Release Date:
08.26.2002
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