Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble can be a lot of fun, as it’s filled with creative stages that only occasionally veer into frustrating territory. If manic and incredibly charming platforming action is what you’re looking for, then Banana Rumble is for you.
Credit: Ryu ga Gotoku Studio
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble
Developer: Ryu ga Gotoku Studio
Price: $50
Platforms: Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a Switch code for review
The Super Monkey Ball series is one of Sega’s most enduring, and for good reason. There’s a seemingly endless amount of fun to derive from rolling little gachapon balls with marketable little monkey mascots inside around colorful obstacle courses. The newest title, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, continues this tradition with more challenging and wacky stages filled with tense and exciting moments.
There are a couple of different modes available in the game. Adventure mode sees AiAi and his many monkey companions searching for different treasures around the globe, with several different multi-stage worlds being separated by animated cutscenes. The videos themselves are pleasantly goofy, with the monkeys all chasing a Phantom Thief alongside the new character Palette. The voice acting is mainly composed of actors saying the different onomatopoeia of their animals in place of dialogue, which is provided by subtitles. It’s silly and charming – befitting of this series.
Credit: Ryu ga Gotoku Studio
The variety of stages throughout Adventure mode is diverse and consistently a blast to go through, especially while trying to fulfill additional optional conditions like beating a stage in a set time or after getting a Golden Banana. These conditions net you points that you can use to buy costumes, different colored capsules, and other customization items, making it feel worthwhile to attempt these challenges outside of for personal gratification. The new spin-dash mechanic, which is essentially a boost you can direct, adds another layer of complexity to speeding through stages and serves as an excellent addition to the series.
“The feeling of trying to balance on a thin platform whilst running out of time to reach a stage’s exit gate is thrilling, which is a bit silly to say since you’re a cartoon monkey.“
Of course, the core gameplay of shifting the stage to roll your monkey around is as simultaneously stressful and satisfying as it has ever been. The feeling of trying to balance on a thin platform whilst running out of time to reach a stage’s exit gate is thrilling, which is a bit silly to say since you’re a cartoon monkey. Towards the end of the mode, there are a few stages that prove to be more irritating than fun, but they’re vastly outnumbered by tightly designed levels that expertly test your reflexes and balance.
Credit: Ryu ga Gotoku Studio
I ended up rather impressed with Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble’s multiplayer, which has a few different modes that all provide different but equally enjoyable experiences. One sort had a certain number of players saddled with a bomb, with the goal being to bump into another player to pass your explosive off before the time runs out. Another had us all divided into two teams and rolling down a hill while trying to claim as many goal hoops as possible for our squad. I had a great time messing around with each mode alongside other players and experienced very few connection issues or stutters.
The Final Word
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is another exhilarating platformer from Ryu ga Gotoku Studio. Though some of the later levels can be less than pleasant, the majority of the game is a blast and will have you on the edge of your seat in the best way possible.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
