The comic book style storytelling was easy to skip past when it became a bit too much but it was also important to take it in every now and then as the illustrations are quite stunningly put together. I reviewed Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania on a PS5 and the step-up in graphics was extremely noticeable.
#Super monkey ball banana mania local multiplayer series#
Some of the levels you’ll recognise from previous titles in the series and that is just a case of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, those Iconic levels are really part of what makes this title so much fun. There are 10 beautifully coloured worlds with over 300 stages, so we are talking HOURS of gameplay. While it may be lacking in expected features like online multiplayer, it makes up for it by having iconic gameplay that's somehow still one-of-a-kind, twenty years later.You play as AiAi and his monkey buddies to thwart the nefarious Dr Bad-Boon (great name) who is trying to keep the world’s banana supply away from you. Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania reinforces the unique charm of the series, for fans both new and old.
New players will certainly struggle once they get past the first few levels, but it's worth getting the hang of the game's gimmick.
That being said, Banana Mania's difficulty may also be down to the fact that there's nothing else quite like the Monkey Ball games. Some levels, especially in the challenge modes, will require a bit of exploration to figure out. The controls feel like something that players must master just as much as the levels. Perhaps that comes down to the precise nature of Super Monkey Ball's gameplay. While this may simply be down to the previously mentioned learning curve, it feels like even some of the easier levels are both encouraging players to go fast and punishing them for going too fast. Some stages require players to build up some intense acceleration only to throw turns or obstacles at the player that feel incredibly difficult to navigate at high speeds. Unfortunately, there seems to be a major disconnect between what the stages expect from the player and what they're capable of. Banana Mania is perfect for life-long Super Monkey Ball fans, though, and the Nintendo Switch feels like a great home for Monkey Ball, thanks to the gyroscopic controls that allow players to engage by moving the Joycon. However, the steep learning curve that pops up about halfway through the otherwise well-balanced story mode may end up turning new fans away. With ten different worlds in story mode, three unique sets of levels for each challenge mode and the unlockable special modes, there is more than enough content to keep players invested. There's also a hefty learning curve that new players will have to deal with if Banana Mania serves as their introduction to the Monkey Ball series, hailing from the unique control scheme of the series, where players tilt the stage to move their character to a goal.Īll of this is really only scratching the surface of what Banana Mania offers. The Special Modes provide a unique challenge to both new and experienced players, though things like Dark Banana Mode and DX Mode are clearly designed with long-time fans in mind. Notably, the DX Mode unlocks levels from Super Monkey Ball DX, marking the first time these levels have ever reappeared in the series.
Dark Banana Mode and Golden Banana Mode challenge players to avoid dark bananas or collect every single golden banana on brand new stages. Fortunately, you'll still have the special modes to fall back on.
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