Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania

Banana Mania is the ultimate Super Monkey Ball collection: the best levels, the best minigames and the best fun. But don’t let the cute graphics lull you into a false sense of security, even with the questionable quality of life improvements, it remains as tricky and as addictive as ever.

All in all, it’s fantastic to see Super Monkey Ball back after all these years. This Banana Mania collection brings the classic games back to the fore, with hundreds of stages to play, a dozen mini games, lots of cosmetics to unlock and more. The gameplay is as challenging – and fun – as ever, and will no doubt garner a new audience of fans that still have youth on their side.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania brings the best of the franchise to a new generation. Same fun, only enhanced.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is undoubtedly a great way to celebrate the two decades of existence of the franchise, offering such a complete experience that you can get tired of playing its levels and not finish it. This is perhaps its main flaw, that it's not a game that renews itself or changes its mechanics. If you are definitely not attracted to its premise from the start, this may not be the game for you. Its mini-games are great fun to play in meetings with friends.

It's hard to call this an absolutely definitive collection of these classic gaming curios when aspects aren't perhaps quite as authentic as they could be, but when there's so little in it for the most part (and when the aspects that have changed more notably are still great despite feeling different), Banana Mania stands as a feature-packed reminder that 'simple' and 'easy' are not nearly as interchangeable as a lot of people might think.

This is a fantastic collection that not only fans of the franchise will enjoy, as it feels perfect for newcomers to find what the Banana Mania is all about.

Expertly aping past glories, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a definitive compendium of remastered classics, stuffed to the gills with bonus modes, extra characters, and party games. It is, without question, the most fun you can have rolling a monkey in a ball around a maze - that is an empirical fact. You’d be bananas not to buy it.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a fantastic puzzle game. It's endlessly replayable with plenty of levels and minigames. The multiplayer options are perfect party games, and the unlockable characters and cosmetics add depth to an already engrossing experience. While there are some frustrating moments and a lack of accessibility, I can safely say Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is one you won't want to miss.

A fabulous collection of one of gaming’s most deceptively difficult games, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is pure, unadulterated fun.

The themed levels are fine, but leaning into more SEGA history would have definitely added to the celebratory feel of Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania. A fine return to monkey-in-ball form, by the way of past glory and frustration.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is weird, expansive and tricky. I just know die-hard fans are going to love that combination, but I’m not sure about anyone else. While its party games are pretty good, there are other compilations out there with a better assortment… and online play, and the capacity more than 4 players. Countering all my complaints, Banana Mania is competitively priced, so might warrant a look if you’re familiar with how the franchise plays. How’s that for a backhanded endorsement?

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.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is full of content and a joyful multiplayer to compete with your friends, but its beauty seems to be matched only by its insane difficulty.

After Banana Blitz HD deemed too simple by the majority of players, the Super Monkey Ball saga decides to go back to its beginnings to offer early fans what they expect: a level of difficulty. Unfortunately, even if the challenge is indeed present, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania disappoints. The 4K / 60fps combo available on next-gen is not enough to hide the many flaws of this remaster, starting with the camera which lacks flexibility and the general level-design which plays too much with chance. However, if you hang on to the formula, note that you get what you pay for. The content is more than generous, the replayability is strong and the store is a pleasant surprise that adds extra interest.