Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Review
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble
Publisher: SEGA
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku
Genre:
PEGI: 7
Comments:
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble marks a triumphant return for the beloved rolling puzzle series after a decade-long hiatus. Developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (known for the Yakuza series), Banana Rumble takes everything that made the classics great, polishes it up, and throws in some clever new mechanics for good measure.
The core of Banana Rumble lies in its Adventure Mode, a sprawling collection of over 200 stages. These range from gentle slopes for beginners to mind-bending labyrinths that will test even the most seasoned Monkey Ball veterans. The level design is generally excellent, offering a healthy mix of challenge and reward. Early stages ease you in with their focus on collecting bananas and reaching the goal, while later levels introduce hazards, switches, and teleporters that demand strategic maneuvering. Optional objectives like collecting golden bananas and beating time limits add a layer of replayability, pushing you to master each course.
One of the biggest additions to the gameplay is the spin dash ability. This lets your monkey build momentum for a burst of speed, opening up new possibilities for navigating levels and performing impressive shortcuts. It’s a surprisingly deep mechanic that adds a layer of mastery to the core rolling action.
Banana Rumble takes the party online for the first co-op and competitive modes. Team up with friends to conquer stages in co-op, or go head-to-head in the frantic online battle modes. While the battle modes aren’t quite as deep as some of the franchise’s past offerings, they provide a fun distraction and a chance to test your skills against others.
The game boasts a vibrant and colorful art style that complements the whimsical nature of the series. The soundtrack is a mixed bag, featuring some catchy tunes alongside some forgettable ones. The story mode features fully animated cutscenes that are charming but ultimately inconsequential.
Banana Rumble offers a wealth of customization options, allowing you to unlock new skins for your monkeys and personalize their look. There’s also a shop where you can purchase helpful items like extra lives or hints, although these can feel unnecessary for skilled players.
Banana Rumble isn’t without its flaws. Some may find the level of difficulty in the later stages frustrating, with a few levels bordering on cheap due to unforgiving placements of hazards. The aforementioned battle modes, while decent, lack the variety and depth found in some previous Monkey Ball titles.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a fantastic return to form for the franchise. It delivers a robust package with a wealth of content, from the cleverly designed Adventure Mode stages to the online co-op and competitive options. The new spin dash mechanic adds a layer of depth to the core gameplay, while the classic physics and controls feel as tight as ever. While a few minor stumbles hold it back from reaching the heights of the absolute best Monkey Ball games, Banana Rumble is easily the strongest entry in the series in over a decade. If you’re looking for a charming and challenging puzzle experience, Banana Rumble is a must-have for your Nintendo Switch.
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Article By Kevin Austin
Kevin Austin has been in gaming journalism in one way or another since the launch of the Nintendo Gamecube. Married and father of 3 children he has been gaming since the ripe age of 6 when he got his first NES system and over 30 years later he is still gaming almost daily. Kevin is also co-founder of the Play Some Video Games (PSVG) Podcast network which was founded over five years ago and is still going strong. Some of his favorite gaming series includes Fallout and Far Cry, he is a sucker for single player adventure games (hence his big reviews for Playstation), and can frequently be found getting down in one battle royale or another. If it's an oddball game, odds are he's all about it.
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