When Super Money Ball debuted on launch with the Nintendo Gamecube children were immediately hooked. The game was simple, using nothing but the control stick. Guide the monkeys across a stage to collect Dole™️ bananas, and reach the goal within the time limit. As boring as it sounded, there was a certain level of charm, excitement, humor, and accomplishment when players finally beat some of the harder levels, or cleared an entire game mode without losing a single life, thus unlocking hidden bonus levels.
It taught several kids some of the basics of physics, having to understand momentum build-up to reach certain platforms, as well as patience when moving slowly was exactly how to clear some levels. One major contribution to this was the fact players never actually moved the monkeys, but instead tilted the stage, and had to let the game’s gravity and physics engine handle the rest of the work. Many games had arguably some of the most underrated, but catchy soundtracks at the time of their release. Every song suited their world design and offered a unique blend of electronica, trance, hip-hop, funk, synth, and a touch of rock. What’s more, it was one of the few multi-player party games that could be played with a single controller shared among friends.
In many ways, the Super Monkey Ball franchise was just as challenging and innovative as it was cute, and easy to understand.
Seven years have passed since the last Super Money Ball title was released as a PSVita exclusive. While there has been a mobile game, most fans skipped right over it or even forget it happened. For while it seemed like the adorable monkeys many people enjoyed as kids had since rolled downhill before flying off the platform and plummeting to a FALLOUT.
Now, Sega has finally decided to select ‘Retry,’ and is giving AiAi and friends an extra life with the release of Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD. Get ready to go bananas!
Banana Blitz was originally released in 2006 on the Nintendo Wii, is the first title for that generation of consoles, and the first to use the most recent art style for the Monkey Ball world, retaining bright colors, chibi character designs, and an extended cast beyond the original main four: AiAi, MeeMee, Baby, and GonGon. At the time of its release, Banana Blitz received harsh criticism from fans for the almost-babyish appeal and use of the Wiimote’s motion controls.
However, it was also the first title to give a jump action as well as boss stages! The inclusion of some type of combat challenged old players’ style of thinking, usually needing to follow a certain play-pattern like in Donkey Kong, or Legend of Zelda games. With 100 levels, and several mini-party games, there was more than enough content to enjoy.
Now that motion controls can be disabled this new HD version will be a more definite version. Players can enjoy classic gameplay similar to the PSVita title, Banana Splitz. Mini games are also confirmed, and with that, fans will hopefully be allowed to sync up with their friends for online multiplayer action, in both party mode and arcade mode.
To help promote the game Sega has written a new piece of theme music titled 「バナナフリッタズー」(lit. Banana Fritters). As catchy as it is, it seems like a missed opportunity as they did not collaborate with Gwen Stefani because all this s*** is bananas!
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD is rolling onto Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox on October 29th this year, worldwide. Japan’s release will be on Halloween. A Steam release is confirmed for later this winter, but no specific date announced.
