Super Monkey Ball
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| Super Monkey Ball {{#if:{{{image|}}}|<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">{{{image|}}} | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Amusement Vision {{#if:{{{publisher|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Publisher(s)<td>{{{publisher|}}} |
| Release date(s) | 2001 |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer {{#if:{{{ratings|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Rating(s)<td>{{{ratings|}}} |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Nintendo GameCube {{#if:{{{media|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Media<td>{{{media|}}} |
(Super) Monkey Ball is an arcade platform game developed by Amusement Vision and distributed by Sega featuring 4 characters (3 in the arcade version) named Aiai, Meemee, Baby and (appearing only in the console versions) Gongon. The game debuted in Japan in 2001 as an upright arcade cabinet called simply "Monkey Ball" (which featured a banana-shaped joystick) and later that year was released as one of the three original Nintendo GameCube games. The popularity of the simple game in Japan, the United States and Europe has led to several sequels and ports: Super Monkey Ball 2 for the GameCube; Super Monkey Ball Deluxe for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, which included levels from both GameCube releases plus original levels, as well as updating the party games; Super Monkey Ball Jr., a release for Nintendo Game Boy Advance based on the original title; a release under the original title for the Nokia N-Gage gaming system; and a release for the Nintendo DS entitled Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll. It is also featured in the Sega SuperStars Eye Toy game for the PlayStation 2. The franchise will take a new direction in the upcoming Super Monkey Ball Adventure developed by Traveller's Tales. The bananas in the game feature advertising for the Dole Food Company.
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Main game
The objective of the main game is to guide a cartoon monkey character encased in a ball (hence the name "Monkey Ball") across a suspended series of platforms and through a goal. The main game is very simplistic--in fact the only control required is the directional analog stick. By moving the joystick, the player actually tilts the entire set of platforms that make up the level, called the floor, and the monkey ball rolls accordingly (hence, you don't control the character itself). Although practically this is virtually indistinguishable from actively moving the ball, it is revealed subtly in the general tilt of the camera when turning. While moving across the floor the player can collect bananas by rolling into them to score points and attempt to earn an extra life (earned at every 100 bananas). If the monkey ball rolls off the floor it is a fall out and the player loses a life. If the player can complete all of the floors in beginner or advanced difficulty in succession without falling out (10 floors in beginner difficulty, 30 in advanced) or complete all 50 floors in expert difficulty without using a continue, extra floors are unlocked.
Strategy
Bananas are worth 100 points each and time left on the floor timer is valued at 100 points per second if finishing with less than half of time remaining or 200 points per second if finishing with more than half of time remaining. Thus, it is advantageous to make detours for additional bananas if it will take less than 1 second or 0.5 seconds per banana respectively. It may also be appropriate to sacrifice time and points if the player is close to reaching 100 bananas and an extra life.
Party games
The GameCube version, known as "Super" Monkey Ball includes three party games for up to four players. Monkey Race is a lap racing game combining elements of the main game and racing classics like Mario Kart. Monkey Fight places four monkey balls with attached boxing gloves in a king-of-the-hill punching battle. Monkey Target, perhaps most unique of the three, is an accuracy game in which the monkey ball is launched off a large ramp and splits in half to form wings, which the player must guide over a large body of water to floating targets of varying point values.
Minigames
Three minigames are also featured in the GameCube release, based upon actual games and sports. These games must be unlocked by earning play points gained by repeated play of the main game. Monkey Billiards is a 9-ball pool game; Monkey Bowling is a stylized arcade version of the sport; and Monkey Golf is an arcade miniature golf game. The monkey characters are of course prominently featured in the balls traditionally used to play these games.
See also
- Neverball, a similar game available under the GPL for Windows 2000 / XP, Linux, FreeBSD, and Mac OS Xfr:Super Monkey Ball