Super Monkey Ball Article Index for
Super Monkey
Articles about
Super Monkey Ball
Website Links For
Super Monkey Ball
 

Information About

Super Monkey Ball




  developer Amusement Vision
  publisher SEGA
  released 2001
  genre Puzzle Game
  modes Single Player , Multiplayer
  ratings ESRB : Everyone (E)
  platforms Arcade , Nintendo GameCube
  media 15 Gigabyte Optical Disc


''(Super) Monkey Ball'' is an arcade '', exclusively for the Wii console. The bananas in the game feature advertising for the Dole Food Company .


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 Banana s 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 Glove s 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 Target s of varying point values.


MINIGAMES


Three Minigame s 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