Super Monkey Ball Adventure

 GameCube
Metascore
51

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 24
  3. Negative: 10 out of 24
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. 1UP
    40
    The monkeys stick to the comfortable security inside their balls and the platforming stays recognizably formulaic.
  2. Edge Magazine
    40
    It's just too hard, the physics too capricious, and the tasks too frustrating for words. [Aug 2006, p.85]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    43
    Play Adventure for the solid traditional modes and adequate multiplayer, but don't expect to get too much enjoyment out of the dull platforming. [Sept. 2006, p.98]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. eToychest
    60
    Those looking for a puzzler will be aggravated by the sub-par platforming, and those looking for platforming will be disappointed by the inclusion of mandatory Monkey Ball puzzles.
  6. Ferrago
    62
    Super Monkey Ball, it seems, just doesn't work as an adventure game.
  7. Game Informer
    48
    Long story short, the adventure motif simply didn't catch. [Sept. 2006, p.88]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. Game Over Online
    54
    A very disappointing one. If you want to get the most out of it, buy it for the new puzzles and not the story mode.
  9. GamePro
    50
    Adventure's six party games and puzzle-based challenge mode are the best this game has to offer. With multiple players, Adventure flies in the face of its weak story mode and becomes a genuinely fun experience.
  10. Gamer 2.0
    62
    While the game has a lot of solid concepts, a ton of stages, and some pretty good "boss" fights, (if you even want to call them that) the game sadly suffers from a horrible camera and just annoying challenge; and in the end, the experience isn't memorable by any means.
  11. GamerFeed
    40
    The Story Mode is a joke, and the Challenge Mode and mini-games are mere shells of what's been included in previous adventures. This Monkey Ball got dropped. Hard.
  12. Games Radar
    40
    With the failure of its flagship story mode, Super Monkey Ball Adventure becomes a rather dull product that has little reason to exist.
  13. games(TM)
    60
    Despite the bright colours, cute simians, jolly music and overarching joyous abandon, Super Monkey Ball Adventure is a tremendously difficult videogame. And phenomenally frustrating to boot. [Aug 2006, p.130]
    All this publication's reviews
  14. GameShark
    33
    As a game that's now a franchise, I cannot understand why this game was made and after playing it, I'm even more underwhelmed.
  15. GameSpot
    57
    Traveller's Tales has perverted Sega's previously charming action puzzle series into a clumsy, frustrating action adventure game.
  16. GameSpy
    50
    Unless you're very forgiving, impervious to frustration, or blindly love all things Monkey Ball, Super Monkey Ball Adventure probably isn't your idea of a good time.
  17. GameZone
    59
    There's nothing very super about Super Monkey Ball Adventure and that's thanks to a poorly conceived story mode that takes us away from the familiar elements we love the most.
  18. IGN
    48
    Super Monkey Ball games are popular today partly because of their simplistic nature. They are designed for everybody to enjoy. And yet, Super Monkey Ball Adventure throws all of this out of the window for a half-baked storyline and a hub world separated by load times and marred by technical inconsistencies.
  19. Kombo
    45
    Super Monkey Ball Adventure is not worth your time, money, or frustration.
  20. N-Europe
    60
    An attempted brand new direction only proves Travellers Tales didn't have the required monkey balls.
  21. Nintendo Gamer
    68
    It tries its best, but it simply isn't good enough. Too frustrating for younger players, and too fussy and inconsiderate for anyone else. Still, if you must... [Aug 2006, p.56]
    All this publication's reviews
  22. Nintendo Power
    55
    Unfortunately, Adventure falls way short of expectations. [Oct. 2006, p.89]
    All this publication's reviews
  23. The A.V. Club
    58
    Past Monkey Balls have let players select puzzles from a menu. Adventure only offers sets of puzzles ranked by difficulty. Get stuck on one, and there's nowhere else to go.
  24. The Sydney Morning Herald
    50
    Ambitious and frequently entertaining, but ultimately too frustrating for its own good.
  25. Times Online
    40
    As any gamer knows, frustration is part of the joy of gaming, but this level of unresponsiveness is something not even the training mini-games on the title can prepare you for. Put that together with poor level signposting and you have an unengaging experience.

Awards & Rankings

33
#33 Best GameCube Game of 2006
7
#7 Most Discussed GameCube Game of 2006
9
#9 Most Shared GameCube Game of 2006

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 14
  3. Negative: 3 out of 14
  1. Kalalaa
    Nov 29, 2013
    10
    Monkey Ball is a hard series. This is my favourite of the series so far largely due to the adventure mode in this game. Highly addictive,Monkey Ball is a hard series. This is my favourite of the series so far largely due to the adventure mode in this game. Highly addictive, frustrating and cute game.… Full Review »
  2. MrTacoBob
    Sep 16, 2017
    6
    Adventure takes a...different take. It adds a mediocre story and adds gameplay that makes me wonder why this game exists. The graphics areAdventure takes a...different take. It adds a mediocre story and adds gameplay that makes me wonder why this game exists. The graphics are also bad but besides those problems the puzzles and challenges are still fun as ever but the story addition makes the game lack a ton.… Full Review »
  3. Realreviews
    Feb 7, 2017
    10
    what is wrong with you people! this game is amazing! just because you suck at games you give this a low score? yes the game is challenging butwhat is wrong with you people! this game is amazing! just because you suck at games you give this a low score? yes the game is challenging but it's not impossible. anyone who is decent at games should be able to finish it.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »