Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios·Released Oct 5, 2021·Single player
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a "modern HD remaster" of Super Monkey Ball, Super Monkey Ball 2, and Super Monkey Ball Deluxe. This bundle was created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise.
Still, it all looks gorgeous, moves smoothly, and sounds exuberant as ever. We'd say that for Monkey Ball fanatics this is a bit of a must, but then said fanatics are the ones who will notice the cracks more than anyone else. So we're not sure, ultimately, who this is for. Newcomers may find themselves wondering what all the fuss is about.
Without the nostalgia goggles, Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania quickly rolls downhill.
There isn't much new in this best-of compilation, but when the core package is this well-made and feature-packed, that's easy to overlook.
Let's get some important stuff out of the way up front. While Super Monkey Ball Mania is effectively a remake of Super …
It may not be saying much but Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is the best the series has been in almost two decades and newcomers are bound to find a lot to love. It wears its heart on its sleeve and clearly the team has true passion for the franchise. It's packed full of content, new ways to play and there are so many extras and improvements that never existed in the original. Unfortunately, the engine beneath it all isn't quite up to the job. What they've achieved with Unity simply isn't on par with the originals and while the main game is still enjoyable, many of the party games are severely hindered. Until Monkey Target returns to its former glory, we cannot truly say Super Monkey Ball is back.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania isn't going to win any game of the year awards, but it's undeniably fun. While it's perhaps not the entry that will put the series back into the mainstream, fans of the original will likely have a good time and newcomers will see what the fuss is all about. While there are some questionable design choices, such as a finicky camera and microtransactions that feel out of place, this is an enjoyable adventure with AiAi and his friends.
