Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is the Best Since the Original!

This game is a warm nostalgia blanket that all players can enjoy.

For older gamers out there, including myself, Super Monkey Ball has been one of those games that pops up from time to time and is either wildly enjoyable or completely underwhelming. I can recall playing the game on my cell phone back when you had to buy the individual data packets to download the game. Love it or hate it, Monkey Ball has a way of growing and changing with the times. While that is sometimes a bad thing, trying to appeal to too large of a base, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble shows just how inventive the franchise truly is.

The franchise was initially released in 2001 as an arcade game and has since released 21 sequels. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the culmination of these efforts and combines some of the best aspects of the previous 22 games. The gameplay is simple enough, you need to roll your monkey from one side of the map to another while avoiding traps and solving puzzles. This iteration features 200 maps across 20 worlds, each world holding 10 maps to try out.

The graphics are standard for this type of game. Each world and stage looks somewhat cartoonish in a delightfully nostalgic way. Not only does this match the franchise, but it also creates an environment that is easy to get swept away in. Each level provides cute little details that are reminiscent of the old Donkey Kong Family games. I realize how much that reference dates me but it can’t be understated the levels of nostalgia for retro gaming Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble delivers.

As expected, the game’s controls are nearly perfect, allowing for a near precision level of control as you work your way through the map. Although this is what you would expect from this genre of game, not all of the Super Monkey Ball games have been particularly easy to control. This is yet another reason the game should be celebrated. The fundamentals are nearly perfect while at the same time, it advances the franchise as a whole.

Let the Rumble begin! Go bananas with AiAi and friends in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble.

Unlike the last two entries of the game, Split screen multiplayer is included in the game. Now, it is easier than ever to grab your friends and play on the couch or online and work as a team as you try to clear the 200 maps provided. This allows you to split up and accomplish different goals. While one person searches for the golden banana, another can clear the map readying you for the sweet taste of victory. Once you have completed everything there is to do, you could even help some struggling players reach their goals. Proving once and for all that you are the master of rolling a small monkey across a puzzle map.

Like most modern games, you can equip your monkey with various cosmetic items that are available in the shop. However, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble leans into its classic origins by allowing players to earn points by completing tasks. These points can be spent inside of the shop instead of having to use real world money to buy an in game currency to do so. OF course, if you would like to spend money you can always buy the SEGA pass which allows for some Sonic the Hedgehog shenanigans. Is this a little bit of nostalgia bait? Yes. Is it absolutely worth it as an old school SEGA fan? Absolutely.

All of this is to say that Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a fantastic game. It manages to cash in all the nostalgia of a simpler time in gaming while also bringing the franchise to the modern era. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the best entry in the franchise since the 2001 GameCube version. We can only hope that this game will thrive and allow the franchise to continue to explore new ideas while continuing to provide the campy experience the series is known for.