Super Monkey Ball
Encyclopedia
Super Monkey Ball is an arcade platform game
developed by Amusement Vision and published by Sega
. The game debuted in Japan
in 2000 as an upright arcade cabinet
called Monkey Ball (which featured a banana-shaped joystick
) and was released the following year as one of the launch titles for the Nintendo GameCube
.
across a suspended series of platforms and through a goal. As the player moves along, a timer will run for either sixty or thirty seconds. The main game is very simplistic; the only control required is the directional analog stick
. By moving the stick, the player tilts the entire set of platforms that make up the level, called a floor, and the ball rolls accordingly. The ball follows the rules of gravity and momentum
. While moving across the floor, the player can collect banana
s by rolling the ball into them. The bananas award extra points, and extra lives. If the ball rolls off the floor and "falls out," the player loses a life. There are three difficulty settings; the levels increase in complexity and become less navigable on higher settings. Beginner difficulty is 10 damageless stages long, Advanced difficulty is 30 non - easy stages long, and Expert difficulty is 50 killable stages long. For each of these levels of difficulty, players can access extra levels as long as a certain criteria is met. To get the Beginner extra levels (3 stages) and the Advanced extra levels (5 stages), a player must go through all of these levels without losing a single life. To get the Expert extra levels (10 stages), a player must go through all the levels without using a continue. After passing the Expert extra stages without using a continue, there is a 10 near impossible leveled Master stage.
players, can play at a time. In the Monkey Target mode, players roll their monkey down a large-sized ramp and open their ball to fly, allowing them to land on any of the three islands in that game, and there are three level layouts. In Monkey Fight, players win points by punching other monkeys until the time runs out. Whoever earns the most points, wins.
except with monkeys; monkey billiards, where you play billiards
against another player/computer; and monkey golf, you play golf in miniature-sized levels where you can easily fall out.
, and Europe has led to several sequel
s and port
s: Super Monkey Ball 2
(2002) for the GameCube; Super Monkey Ball Deluxe
(2005) for PlayStation 2
and Xbox
, which included levels from both GameCube releases plus original levels, as well as updating the party games; Super Monkey Ball Jr.
(2003), a release for Nintendo Game Boy Advance
based on the original title; a release under the original title for the Nokia
N-Gage
gaming system (2003); a release for the Nintendo DS
entitled Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll
(2006), and Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
(2006) for the Wii
console. It is also featured in the Sega SuperStars
Eye Toy game for the PlayStation 2 (2004). The franchise took a new direction in 2006 with Super Monkey Ball Adventure
developed by Traveller's Tales
which came out for PS2, GameCube & PSP. Other iterations of the franchise include Sega Super Monkey Ball (2004), Monkey Ball Mini Golf (2006) and Super Monkey Ball: Tip 'n Tilt (2007) for mobile phones. 2 Super Monkey Ball iPhone
and iPad
applications were released in 2008 as well, in which the platforms are controlled by tilting the device. On February 9, 2010, Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll
was released; this game title allows players to use the Wii Balance Board
to navigate through all the games courses.
. The game sold well and later became a Player's Choice
title.
Platform game
A platform game is a video game characterized by requiring the player to jump to and from suspended platforms or over obstacles . It must be possible to control these jumps and to fall from platforms or miss jumps...
developed by Amusement Vision and published by Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. The game debuted in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 2000 as an upright arcade cabinet
Arcade cabinet
A video game arcade cabinet, also known as a video arcade machine or video coin-op, is the housing within which a video arcade game's hardware resides. Most cabinets designed since the mid-1980s conform to the JAMMA wiring standard...
called Monkey Ball (which featured a banana-shaped joystick
Joystick
A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Joysticks, also known as 'control columns', are the principal control in the cockpit of many civilian and military aircraft, either as a center stick or...
) and was released the following year as one of the launch titles for the Nintendo GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
.
Modes
Super Monkey Ball has three main modes: Main game, Party games, and mini-games. The mini-games must be unlocked by earning 2,500 play points in the main game.Main game
The objective of the main game is to guide 4 playable monkeys, character encased in a transparent ballBall
A ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling...
across a suspended series of platforms and through a goal. As the player moves along, a timer will run for either sixty or thirty seconds. The main game is very simplistic; the only control required is the directional analog stick
Analog stick
An analog stick, sometimes called a control stick or thumbstick, is an input device for a controller that is used for two-dimensional input. An analog stick is a variation of a joystick, consisting of a protrusion from the controller; input is based on the position of this protrusion in relation...
. By moving the stick, the player tilts the entire set of platforms that make up the level, called a floor, and the ball rolls accordingly. The ball follows the rules of gravity and momentum
Momentum
In classical mechanics, linear momentum or translational momentum is the product of the mass and velocity of an object...
. While moving across the floor, the player can collect banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
s by rolling the ball into them. The bananas award extra points, and extra lives. If the ball rolls off the floor and "falls out," the player loses a life. There are three difficulty settings; the levels increase in complexity and become less navigable on higher settings. Beginner difficulty is 10 damageless stages long, Advanced difficulty is 30 non - easy stages long, and Expert difficulty is 50 killable stages long. For each of these levels of difficulty, players can access extra levels as long as a certain criteria is met. To get the Beginner extra levels (3 stages) and the Advanced extra levels (5 stages), a player must go through all of these levels without losing a single life. To get the Expert extra levels (10 stages), a player must go through all the levels without using a continue. After passing the Expert extra stages without using a continue, there is a 10 near impossible leveled Master stage.
Party games
Party games consists of three games - Monkey Race, Monkey Target and Monkey Fight. In monkey race, players race on several different laid-out racing levels, competing for the best rank. Only four players, including AIAi
AI, A.I., Ai, or ai may refer to:- Computers :* Artificial intelligence, a branch of computer science* Ad impression, in online advertising* .ai, the ISO Internet 2-letter country code for Anguilla...
players, can play at a time. In the Monkey Target mode, players roll their monkey down a large-sized ramp and open their ball to fly, allowing them to land on any of the three islands in that game, and there are three level layouts. In Monkey Fight, players win points by punching other monkeys until the time runs out. Whoever earns the most points, wins.
Mini games
There are three mini-games which must be unlocked by enough main-game points. The games are monkey bowling, which is like bowlingBowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
except with monkeys; monkey billiards, where you play billiards
Billiards
Cue sports , also known as billiard sports, are a wide variety of games of skill generally played with a cue stick which is used to strike billiard balls, moving them around a cloth-covered billiards table bounded by rubber .Historically, the umbrella term was billiards...
against another player/computer; and monkey golf, you play golf in miniature-sized levels where you can easily fall out.
Sequels and re-releases
The popularity of the game in Japan, North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and Europe has led to several sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
s and port
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
s: Super Monkey Ball 2
Super Monkey Ball 2
Super Monkey Ball 2 is the second installment in the Super Monkey Ball series developed by Amusement Vision. It is the first installment to have a storyline and to be released solely on a home console.-Levels:...
(2002) for the GameCube; Super Monkey Ball Deluxe
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe is a party video game made for the PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox developed by Japanese game developer Sega, the creators of Sonic the Hedgehog, and is the fourth entry in the Super Monkey Ball series of games. It is the first game in the main Super Monkey Ball series...
(2005) for PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, which included levels from both GameCube releases plus original levels, as well as updating the party games; Super Monkey Ball Jr.
Super Monkey Ball Jr.
Super Monkey Ball Jr. is a puzzle game for the Game Boy Advance that is modeled after Amusement Vision's console game Super Monkey Ball. It is one of the few games on the GBA to make use of its 3D capabilities. The series is copyrighted by Amusement Vision Ltd. and Sega Corporation. The game was...
(2003), a release for Nintendo Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
based on the original title; a release under the original title for the Nokia
Nokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
N-Gage
N-Gage
The N-Gage is a mobile telephone and handheld game system by Nokia, based on the Nokia Series 60 platform, released in October 2003. It began sales on October 7, 2003. The N-Gage QD replaced the original N-Gage in 2004....
gaming system (2003); a release for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
entitled Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll
Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll
Super Monkey Ball Touch & Roll is the third Super Monkey Ball game featured on a handheld and the first for the Nintendo DS...
(2006), and Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz is an entry in the Super Monkey Ball series, following Super Monkey Ball Adventure. It is a Wii exclusive and was released as a launch title for the system on November 14, 2006 in North America.-Story:...
(2006) for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
console. It is also featured in the Sega SuperStars
Sega SuperStars
Sega Superstars is a game developed by Sonic Team in 2004 for the PlayStation 2 EyeToy. It features a series of games based on previous Sega titles. It also contains Chao, the virtual pets from the Sonic series....
Eye Toy game for the PlayStation 2 (2004). The franchise took a new direction in 2006 with Super Monkey Ball Adventure
Super Monkey Ball Adventure
Super Monkey Ball Adventure is a video game developed by Traveller's Tales in parcery with the division Traveller's Tales Oxford and distributed by Sega in the Super Monkey Ball series, released on June 30, 2006...
developed by Traveller's Tales
Traveller's Tales
Traveller's Tales is an English software house founded in 1989 and fully established in 1990 and based in Knutsford, Cheshire.It is part of the TT Games group—after the merger of publisher Giant Interactive and the developer Traveller's Tales—along with TT Games Publishing...
which came out for PS2, GameCube & PSP. Other iterations of the franchise include Sega Super Monkey Ball (2004), Monkey Ball Mini Golf (2006) and Super Monkey Ball: Tip 'n Tilt (2007) for mobile phones. 2 Super Monkey Ball iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
applications were released in 2008 as well, in which the platforms are controlled by tilting the device. On February 9, 2010, Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll
Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll
Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll is a platforming video game developed and published by Sega for the Wii. It was released in North America on February 9, 2010; in Australia on February 11; in Europe on February 12; and in Japan on February 25.-Gameplay:...
was released; this game title allows players to use the Wii Balance Board
Wii Balance Board
The Wii Balance Board is a balance board accessory for the Nintendo Wii video game console. Along with Wii Fit, it was introduced on July 11, 2007 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo...
to navigate through all the games courses.
Developement
The game is developement by SEGA's CEO, Colan LeBlanc, Nintendo's Ex-Vice President, Michael Rossand and Amusement Vision's CEO, Riley Dunphy.Reception
The game received an 8.3/10 rating from IGNIGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
. The game sold well and later became a Player's Choice
Player's Choice
Nintendo Selects is a marketing label used by Nintendo to promote video games on Nintendo game consoles which have sold well; Nintendo Selects titles are sold at a lower price point than other games...
title.