There are a large number of sagas that we can say are classics within the video game industry. Monkey Ball is one of these great sagas that have become part of popular ideology, especially among those people who are lovers of video games. Like Mario or Sonic, Aiai is recognized by a large number of people, although unlike the other two cases, most people know it by its design, and not by name.
In a past Nintendo Direct we were able to learn about the development of Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania. It was a title of would serve as the tribute to the saga for its twentieth birthday. In addition, we are facing a remastering of several classic titles in the saga, specifically the first three installments of Super Monkey Ball.
Next we will find out if we are facing a title that celebrates the anniversary of its saga as it deserves, or if, on the contrary, it is still a compilation product without any grace. I warn you from now on we are before the first option.
Content to overflow
We have known for a long time that this title would be a remastered collection of previous titles in the saga, however, we never came to think that it would have the large amount of content that it offers the user. We are talking about more than 300 completely different levels, which can be completed in different modes, such as the main story or the challenge mode. These levels are grouped into different worlds, each one with its own setting and soundtrack, which gives a touch of freshness to the fact of completing levels one after another.
In addition to this, a qualifying mode has also been added, which can add another large number of hours of play. In this we will play all the levels of each world one after another, but in this case the particularity is that we will have a counter at the bottom of the screen. At the end of the corresponding world, we will be presented with a tab that will ask us if we want to publish our time on the internet. This may seem silly, but gives a reason to complete the different levels that the title brings over and over again, until you can reach the top of the world rankings.
Other interesting additions that this installment brings us are some minigames, which will extend our hours of fun even more if possible. These will be unlocked little by little while we play, and rest assured that it is a great reward for persevering in our adventure. Each of these mini-games is fun and imaginative, in some cases overshadowing the classic levels.
As icing on the cake we can mention some aesthetic additions that SEGA fans will especially love. These additions come in the form of more playable characters in addition to the classic group of monkeys that we see in this series regularly. These they can even change game characteristics, as in the case of Sonic, which when used replaces the bananas with its classic rings.
Frantic and challenging
We have already talked about the excellent amount of content that this compilation brings us, however, we have not talked about the most important thing: the gameplay. Any game can fill us with content, the problem comes when it is necessary to make that content amuse the player.
You can breathe easy, this collection keeps the essence of the saga intact, even polishing it even more. We still have the classic gameplay that can be considered a platform, which results in forcing the player to complete levels plagued by falls into the void and impossible obstacles in just 60 seconds.
This is a challenging game, and the frenzy we’ve talked about earlier is one of the culprits for this. The first world (with its 10 levels) we will have a relatively easy time, but from the second world the game will stop being a walk in the field. The difficulty increases gradually, but does so unstoppably throughout the adventure. Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania has a great difficulty curve, but this is not enough, since the game manages to overwhelm in many moments.
To the relief of people who want to enjoy this game, and who do not tolerate such a high difficulty, the game includes a large number of accessibility options. One of the most important is the inclusion of a help mode, which introduces a button which slows down the time, so that the user has more time to react. Making use of these options has its consequences (not being able to play the level in challenge mode), but it can take you out of situations many times in which you are unable to pass a level. Besides the game allows you to give a level as past, so that you can move on to the next one and continue your adventure without having completed the previous one.
A good face lift
We cannot forget that we are facing a remastered collection of the first three titles of this famous saga that were released on consoles. For this reason it was clear that we were going to receive a renewed graphic section, as well as new songs for the soundtrack and other additions that improve the quality of life of this title.
The graphic section feels totally renewed, feeling totally like a game designed for current consoles. Where this improvement is noticeable is mainly in the design of the characters that we will control, which feel much more pleasant to look at than their counterparts from the original games. In addition to this, both the levels and the artistic design of the original game feel typical of current games, which adds a bonus to the experience.
The soundtrack is one of the most important sections in games of this type, and I must say that Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania fully complies with this section. All the songs are of high quality, from the one that sounds in the main menu, to those corresponding to each world.
Finally, it is necessary to clarify that the performance of the game is excellent. In the dozens of hours that I have been immersed in its levels I have not experienced sharp frame drops, something that is greatly appreciated. The only problem I’ve had in all my hours of gaming was that the title locked after I completed a level in ranked mode, forcing me to restart it in order to continue playing. Beyond this minor setback, this title seems to be polished to the max.
The triumphal return of the monkeys
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania turns out to be one of the best compilations ever made to honor a saga. The large number of levels it has, all of them of exceptional quality, is one of its greatest assets. We also have the classic gameplay of the saga, refined to the maximum, as well as some graphic, sound and technical sections that are very well cared for. The only palpable problem with the game is the excessive difficulty of some of its levels, which can be solved thanks to its accessibility options.
▪ Release date: 10/05/2021