Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania contains the stages originally found in Super Monkey Ball, Super Monkey Ball 2 and Super Monkey Ball Deluxe, in addition to brand new levels. The game formula has not been changed and still concerns controlling a monkey enclosed in a colorful ball, collecting bananas scattered around all levels.

Plot

Among several game modes in Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania we can find "story mode". We play through different levels in a specific order to stop the evil monkey doctor Bad-Boon, who steals bananas and wants to blow up Jungle Island. While playing, we take on the role of many different characters at will, such as AiAi, YanYan and GonGon. The game's story is told through animated cutscenes without dialogue, but full of expressively gesticulating characters.

Mechanics

Depending on the chosen game mode, the game rules change. In addition to the story mode, Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania also features a challenge mode, a training mode and a special mode. In all of them we play as one of fifteen available characters, enclosed in a colorful ball. The characters move by rolling their balls and our task is to collect as many bananas as possible scattered around the boards. All stages are full of various traps, moving platforms or chasms, after falling into which we have to repeat the route from the beginning.

Challenge mode differs from story mode because there is no option to repeat levels - so we have one attempt to collect as many points as possible. In special mode, on the other hand, we get the opportunity to participate in additional games, such as playing soccer, flying or racing with other players or AI-controlled characters.

Earned points we spend on buying new characters, among which we can find heroes from different universes, such as Sonic or Yakuza. Then, each of them can be changed in appearance, as well as we can customize the ball in which it will roll. Depending on who we play, the objects we collect also differ: as monkeys we get bananas, and as Sonic - golden rings.

Game modes

In Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania it is possible to play solo as well as in online co-op mode and through split screen up to 4 people. The scores we achieve on each board, based on the time it takes to complete them and the bananas we've earned, are posted on the network leaderboards, where they are compared with the results of other players.

Technical aspects

The game offers colorful graphics full of details and various lighting and particle effects.