Overall Rating

Those who worship at the alter of irony will appreciate the fact that one of the launch titles for the GameCube stars a monkey encased in a sphere. Those who worship at the alter of solid gameplay will be happy to discover that Sega's aptly titled arcade port, "Super Monkey Ball," is an enjoyable game with pick-up-and-play appeal that will entice both gamers and non-gamers alike.

The premise is simple. In a nod to those old wooden labyrinth games with the knobs and the tilting floor, "Monkey Ball" challenges you to maneuver through a series of increasingly difficult courses in order to reach the goal before time runs out. You can also collect bananas generously provided along the way by the good people at Dole. Collect 100 bananas and you win an extra monkey.

All of this may sound a bit simplistic, and it is, at first. The beginner difficulty level offers wide paths and mild slopes. These initial levels are designed to get you accustomed to moving your monkey.




Super Monkey Ball
Platform: GCN
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
ESRB Rating: Everyone

Ratings
Graphics: 4
Sound: 3
Playability: 4
Gameplay: 5
Overall: 4

While the one-stick control scheme is easy to figure out, the game requires a very delicate touch that is put to the test in the advanced and expert levels. Expect to encounter some frustratingly devious courses. Players will find themselves negotiating pinball bumpers, sliding tiles, jumps, spikes, undulating terrain, and all manner of obstacles designed to keep you from your goal.

Graphics
The graphics in "Super Monkey Ball" are somewhat hard to pin down. Everything on the screen is clean and colorful, and there's not a hint of slowdown. There are plenty of nifty effects (the reflective surfaces are very pretty), but it's hardly a showcase title for the GameCube's graphical capabilities. Still, the fun, simple style of the game almost demands a light touch. Too many superfluous bells and whistles would almost assuredly bog the gameplay down.

Sound
Music and sound are a mixed bag. While the various cries of elation and desperation coming from your monkey avatar are fun, the music selections feel like generic Japanese game music track with little or no personality.

Party games add replay value
Sega could have seen fit to end development right there; with over 90 courses, there's plenty to do. But instead, the developers added 3 party games, each for one to four players.

"Monkey Race" is similar to "Mario Kart," complete with wild tracks and power-ups. However, the physics of rolling a ball along the course are somewhat different, which adds a great deal of strategy. Smash into your opponent, and you're liable to send him careening off the track and into the void. Very satisfying.

"Monkey Fight" arms you with a giant boxing glove, and you score points by knocking rivals off the platform. While there is a certain amount of fun to be had, there's not a whole lot to do here. Still, with four players, the action is fast and furious.

"Monkey Target" is my personal favorite, as it reminds me of the hang gliding and parachuting challenges from "Pilotwings." Once the monkey is launched into the air, the ball cracks open to become a pair of wings, allowing you to guide your monkey to one of several target platforms. It's much harder than it looks and keeps you coming back for just one more try.

More mini games
In addition, there are three mini games that are initially locked away. In order to access them, you need to collect points by playing the single-player game. One evening with a couple of friends will be enough to unlock all three. The games are fun variations on bowling, pool, and golf, each requiring enough skill and finesse to warrant multiple plays.

The extremely clean graphics, married to addictive, simple gameplay are enough to recommend this title. But the extra game modes Sega added to the mix, make "Super Monkey Ball" an excellent title for anyone remotely interested in games.