Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble

I’ve always loved Super Monkey Ball, and for a while I thought Banana Mania was the best we were ever going to get. Banana Rumble is everything a new Super Monkey Ball should be, and if you’re able to discern which game is which, then you should pick this up for one of the best puzzle platformers money can buy.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble maintains the series’ iconic arcade fun while bringing fresh new elements to enhance the game like never before.

Even if someone has never played a Super Monkey Ball game before, they will still have just as much fun with the chaos that Banana Rumble provides, and the main techniques of the gameplay are pretty easy to pick up, although difficult to master.

Despite my disappointment with the side games, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the most I have enjoyed playing a new Super Monkey Ball game in twenty years. The failures of Banana Mania have not been repeated, and the high skill ceiling of the spin dash combined with the extensive replayability of the optional objectives means that I am probably going to be playing this game for the next twenty years just the same as the GameCube classics. Even as the modern descendant of Super Monkey Ball’s original developer Amusement Vision, Ryu ga Gotoku Studio has outdone themselves here. This is not simply a return to form; this is proof of the bright future that Super Monkey Ball might have.

Banana Rumble shows the value of adding a new spin on a tried-and-true formula. This series has wallowed in its past for a long time, so I’m glad to see the new Spin Dash mechanic propel it into new and exciting places. As far as Super Monkey Ball sequels go, this one is easily the top banana.

Even though I wish the in-game shop had more meaningful unlockables, and the minigames weren’t an all-pleasing cup of tea, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is an honest-to-goodness attempt at resurging this series once again. I believe it to be the best attempt yet.

There are games that do not necessarily have to innovate or dare to propose new mechanics because they are simply already perfect as they are. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble fits into this category by offering the classic Super Monkey Ball gameplay while introducing nothing more than the spin dash to add further speed to an already frenetic racing. This seems to be the franchise's fate: to occasionally offer hundreds of new levels until gradually interest fades, but so far we have a fun racing game that is easy to complete yet requires a lot of practice to find optimal paths and trajectories. Good.

With its brilliant stage designs, adorable presentation, and welcome new ability, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the most amount of fun I've had monkeying around since the original debuted.

Super Monkey Ball had the sad fate of being born perfect, which means that, ever since that GameCube launch title, the series has been competing with memory. Not even a spin dash will get you past that. [Issue#400, p.120]

Suitable for fans of Super Monkey Ball and those new to the series, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble offers more of the same ball-rolling action but with a new spin dash mechanic. In any case, while its multiplayer offerings aren't the best, the Adventure mode here is better than ever, offering a wealth of excellently designed stages to play through and master.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a brilliant return to form. Monkey Ball has finally found its way home again with a set of 200 fantastic courses that range from delightfully charming to devilishly challenging, backed up by tight mechanics and predictable physics that put me in total control of my monkey’s fate. This isn’t just a cover album of Monkey Ball’s greatest hits, though, as the new spin dash ability is a genius evolution of the franchise’s core ideas, and smartly-implemented online play adds fresh layers of cooperation and strategy. The underwhelming and forgettable battle mode is Banana Rumble’s biggest disappointment, but the sheer amount of optional objectives and replayability found in its adventure mode make it easy to ignore. It doesn’t quite reach the heights of the amazing GameCube originals, but Banana Rumble is easily the best Super Monkey Ball game in over 20 years.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble from Sega is a good game that brings more of the same Monkey Ball fun with its single-player experience, but switches it up in a fun way with its online gameplay modes. It’s a solid party game that needs more baking on the server side but delivers when it counts.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is an excellent game for single player content with varied and challenging stages, great music, and frustrating fun held back by a very annoying technical issue. If you get used to that, it is absolutely worth getting just to play solo. While the multiplayer modes had potential, it is embarrassing how they feel right now online.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is what it is: an arcade game today as it was 23 years ago. We appreciated its richness of levels, some level design ideas, but above all its honesty and consistency in showing itself today as it did then as humble but straightforward, immediate and fun.

A remarkable return for Super Monkey Ball, in a new adventure full of short, fun challenges. It's virtuoso in its accessibility but doesn't give up on increasing difficulty for those who want the best scores. An adventure that can be shared with more players.

If you weren't expecting anything too new, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is as fun as ever.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble aptly demonstrates that the franchise still has something to offer in 2024 beyond nostalgia. With an eclectic mix of platforming levels and party games, Banana Rumble holds little back, offering a robust package that effectively announces the series’ true return.

For a series that has struggled to recapture the lightning-in-a-bottle magic of that first title from a few decades ago, it’s great to see that with Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble the developers have landed on what might be a strong future direction for the series. Banana Rumble in itself is a little undercooked overall, but it’s still pristine Monkey Ball action, backed by manic good fun multiplayer, and hopefully will be backed up with a second game that more completely executes on the potential.

When it comes down to it, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is an exciting and worthwhile entry in the acclaimed series. There's a lot to enjoy for newcomers and fans, from new levels and characters to multiplayer and modes. The Nintendo Switch does the title justice in the gameplay, though it hurts the graphical fidelity some of the stages and sceneries may have had. Still, it's an essential title for those looking for a fun, challenging and vibrant experience, and is definitely worth all the monkey business and your time.

All-in-all, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a great time, albeit held back by the same lackluster camera the series has always had and the framerate causing some issues, but otherwise it’s a very solid title.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is the best entry in the series since the original GameCube games with its spin dash move working amazingly well, 200 inventive stages that get truly challenging later on, a visual look so pleasing on the eye and the option to play any of its modes online.

Banana Rumble is one of the most complete Super Monkey Ball games in history, with some technical issues that may cause slight dizziness at times, but it’s packed with content and challenges for all kind of players.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is a decent installment of the franchise, the return that perhaps classic fans of the franchise were looking for, given that it doesn't take much risk in terms of mechanics. Certainly, this part is not negative, after all it is fun to play, especially if done in company.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a good step forward in the saga, with few but successful changes: the Spin Dash movement enriches the gameplay, and its very flexible difficulty guarantees devilish challenges while making sure nobody gets frustrated. Add up a mostly successful multiplayer modes and fun is guaranteed all summer long.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is the return to form that fans have been waiting for. Courses develop in their complexity in order to create the best single-player campaign since the sophomore release. While the multiplayer portion includes new minigames, it struggles to maintain the same level of engagement and longevity as the originals. Despite that, the dedication to improving the franchise’s gameplay mechanics ensures it’s a significant addition for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a fantastic new instalment, taking the visual style of Sega’s long-running series to new heights. It takes a while to dial up the challenge, but thanks to smart design, it’s welcoming to newcomers and Monkey Ball veterans alike.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is a welcome return to new ideas for the franchise, and does manage to avoid inferior minigame replication disappointment by… not replicating the old minigames at all! The choice to ape (pun intended, pun always intended, you know us) Fall Guys’ multiplayer formula isn’t the best, but there’s some fun here. And the main mode is enjoyable too.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is the robust revival this classic series deserved.

There hasn't been a new Super Monkey Ball game in over a decade and Sega certainly approached this new entry to the series like it had some catching up to do. There's a lot to enjoy in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, from the lengthy story to the local and online multiplayer. It certainly isn't perfect, especially given that some of the series' most recognizable multiplayer modes aren't here. Seriously, no Monkey Target might cause an uproar among fans. However, even with those missing staples and some over-the-top difficulty spikes, this is no rotten banana. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a strong comeback for the series and will hopefully keep rolling for years to come.

Banana Rumble truly understands what makes the Super Monkey Ball series tick, giving players the same sense of intense, exhilarating thrill and wholesome fun thanks to its no-frills chaos. With polished fundamentals, Spin Dash, and online multiplayer, it's easy to see Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble fostering a strong community of players for years to come.

Super Monkey Ball is back, with the best series entry since the original thanks to hundreds of fun levels, new mechanics, and a surprising amount of challenge even for series veterans.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a great entry in the series, with loads of single player stages and fantastic frantic online multiplayer.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble really lets you flex on ’em, and for that reason – but not only that reason – I had a blast with this game. It feels like a solid step forward in the Monkey Ball series, and one that packs in enough novelty to refresh the franchise’s ever-appealing ball rolling action. AiAi is a timeless hero, and he continues to charm in the modern era.

Despite occasional performance issues in multiplayer, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble on Nintendo Switch offers a vibrant, colorful world with diverse levels and addictive gameplay, featuring innovative mechanics like the spin boost and a wealth of customization options, making it a blast for both newcomers and longtime fans alike.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a pretty fun title that becomes challenging if you aim to complete it 100%, and it's best enjoyed when playing with friends. However, it offers nothing groundbreaking that would make it a must-play title. It's simply a game for straightforward fun without frills or pretensions.

Ultimately, Super Monkey Ball Banan Rumble is the classic hit-and-run game that will give great satisfaction especially to those who love playing multiplayer, whether with friends at home or online. Perhaps dedicating yourself only to the single player mode is not enough to fully enjoy the experience, but the quantity of stages and the vast range of customization could satisfy even those who only want to try their hand at the Adventure. The strong point of the production is certainly the gameplay, which offers a mix of simplicity, immediacy and depth capable of satisfying both casual players and those looking for a higher level of challenge.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is a pleasant experience. The story may be disposable, but the levels feature some ingenuity that makes good use of the current physics system without feeling unfair. The number of levels will please fans who love the challenge. While the minigames aren't anything fresh, the presence of multiplayer just about everywhere marks a good step forward for the series. Hardcore fans won't see this as besting the original games from all those years ago, but they will still have a good time with this entry. We're hopeful that Banana Rumble marks the start of new games in the series.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble‘s offerings are exactly what you’d expect, a fun and bananas time that is easy to pick up and hard to master. The new gimmick of the spin-dash feels quintessential and juices the experience of working through 200 arcade levels just that little bit more. Though there’s room for improvements with online matchmaking and some levels perhaps being a bit too hard for hard’s sake, there are just as many quality additions in gameplay assistance tools and the ability to doll your monkey up in dozens upon dozens of cute fits. There’s no monkeying around here when it comes to quality— Super Monkey Ball as a franchise remains the belle of the ball.

Though it does little to stray from the formula, Banana Rumble is a worthy original entry in a series that has somehow survived decades on a fairly simple concept. With a worthy Adventure Mode full of fun stages and addictive challenges, some great inclusions for approachability, a healthy suite of unlockables and some amusing, if not particularly compelling, multiplayer Battle modes, this is a decent overall package for Monkey Ball vets and newcomers alike.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a new installment in the arcade series that builds on what it has previously offered. The new features, such as the Spin Dash which gives clean gameplay options alongside engaging mini-games, will excite diehard fans. The Switch is already beginning to show its age, but it still has nice, stable graphics.

With an excellent Adventure Mode, a highly replayable Battle Mode, and a plethora of online and local multiplayer options, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is easily the best Super Monkey Ball title available on Nintendo Switch, but unfortunately not without a few major caveats. As long as you can deal with the omission of 3-4 split-screen multiplayer in Battle Mode, the notable absence of the fan-favourite Monkey Target mode, some occasional framerate hiccups, and less than adequate pricing of the DLC, there is still much fun to be had in this brand new Switch-exclusive entry in the Super Monkey Ball series.

If you fancy a rumble that's not in a jungle, then this latest Super Monkey Ball offering will make you go bananas. There plenty on offer here that'll please returning fans and newcomers alike, with outstanding accessibility options, a lovely smorgasbord of levels spread across diverse and vibrant worlds.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble delivers classic rolling fun with its charming levels and familiar gameplay, but doesn’t stray far from the tried-and-true formula. While the game provides plenty of nostalgic enjoyment, its lack of innovation might leave some players wanting more. It’s a solid pick for fans of the series, but don’t expect any groundbreaking changes.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble sticks to its roots a little too closely, with its multiplayer mode coming off as more of a bonus than the main attraction. Those that don’t mind the same old song and monkey dance will have fun, but don’t expect anything revolutionary.

The glory days of Super Monkey Ball may be far behind, but Banana Rumble is a new beginning. Tight stage design, responsive controls and an appealing aesthetic make it one of the series' best in years.

The first "new" Monkey Ball in over a decade does the job, respects its elders and injects new, coherent, no-frills mechanics. The few extras provide a welcome bonus, but the whole thing is brought down by a technical assessment that is largely flunked by the Gamecube. What a shame!

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a perfect option for fans of the Sega saga or for those who wants to test their skills, always taking into account that it has taken a step back when talking about multiplayer.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is certainly perfect for passing the time and fans of the series will be happy to have 200 new levels, but 12 years after an unreleased chapter one would have expected a more lively revival in every aspect.

It's old-school gaming, straight to the point, simple and fun.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble starts a bit slow, but the later worlds and levels offer new and unique features I’ve never seen in Monkey Ball before. The risk with the spin dash is fun, but I feel like it often won’t be used over the required precision. However, I’m sure people will find ways to hack this game. They still haven’t got the mini-games combinations just right. However, it’s the fresh ideas the series has needed for a while and the best Monkey Ball game in some time.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a short and sweet addition to the Monkey Ball canon. There’s plenty of Monkey shenanigans to indulge in, and fans will no doubt love the new online modes, with the only true caveat being that this is still, unequivocally, more of the same Monkey Ball.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is still the most fun I've had with the series in over 20 years, and I'm actually at the time of writing looking forward to taking my Switch with me on vacation to break my own records. I just wish Sega would scale back production, as less is more here. Trying to add a story in this case is as relevant as trying to improve Tetris with a tale of missing blocks, rival gangs and Tetrominos speaking in fake children's voices in a made-up language. It wasn't for their delightful personalities that I once learned to love AiAi, MeeMee, Bano and GonGon - but because they were in an incredibly good game.

If all you're looking for in a new Super Monkey Ball game is a selection of new single-player levels to tackle, then you're in luck, because Banana Rumble boasts some of the best stages we've seen in recent memory. The additional 'Spin Dash' ability makes traversal a lot more fun, and the physics feel as close to 'classic' Monkey Ball as the franchise has got in quite some time. Unfortunately, if you're looking forward to the multiplayer modes, then temper your expectations. They're simply not very good for the most part and are significantly hampered by the drop in frame rate. We almost scored this a point lower, but the quality of the single-player just about pulls it up. As it stands, Banana Rumble is a mixed bag, but one worth delving into if you're itching for more single-player shenanigans.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble offers a great single-player experience, and if that’s what you’re looking for, I would absolutely recommend it. However, Monkey Ball has always been at its best during multiplayer mayhem, and that side of this release, despite offering some fleeting fun, feels like a missed opportunity. It’s great to see Super Monkey Ball back with a new game, but hopefully, any future entry will fully capture what made this series so beloved in the first place.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a fun game to play on your lonesome or with friends, even for an hour or so here and there. Just don't expect it to be a game-changer for the series because in truth, if that moment was ever going to happen, it would have happened many years before now.

But for what it actually is, Banana Rumble is an utterly adorable sequel full of charm, with some decent level design to be had. When it was at its best, it was incredibly satisfying to pull off skips and blast through stages in mere seconds. Now that it’s over, I just can’t see myself picking it up again.