Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania Reviews
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a compilation of hundreds of platforming levels featured in Super Monkey Ball, Super Monkey Ball 2, and Super Monkey Ball Deluxe. It was released to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the series. Does Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania pay homage to what makes the series fun? Find out in this Rapid Review.
Whether you’re a die-hard veteran or someone looking to give the series a shot for the first time, Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania serves its purpose as a content-rich, if familiar, package filled with its share of high points. There are some diminishing returns as some levels have been recycled for 20 years and the lack of online multiplayer limits the appeal of the great selection of party games, but the core formula of rolling around and collecting trinkets still serves this updated compilation of a compilation quite well.
Those who are proud of their strong nerves have nothing to fear.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania celebrates the franchise and Sega as a whole in a solid collection of variety, challenge, and goofy fun.
An absolute compilation release. Infinite playable possibilities and an overwhelming number of unlockable options so you won't get bored.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you’re after a fun, pick up and play a game to pass the time or to enjoy party games with family & friends, look no further than Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania
There is nothing quite like these unique games, especially when in top form like Banana Mania. Their prowess at granting addicting stages and a constant desire for self-improvement are borderline unmatched. Quite honestly, seeing this revival is legitimately miraculous. I implore fans and even those who are vaguely interested in getting this collection and giving it a shot to let Sega know that classic Monkey Ball still has a thriving, dedicated market.
I wish I had a 20-year celebration this great. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is an amazing homage to the series legacy, as it brings back more than 300 levels from the original games with superb controls, polish and presentation, and at the same time introduces new additions which modernize the package and increase its replay value.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is an entertaining game for both newcomers and veterans. It is loaded with content, fun courses and enjoyable party games but lacks online multiplayer. If you’re new to the series, this is the perfect place to start. So jump into your plastic ball and start rolling.
Nevertheless, we can’t help but be heartened by the progress. The Super Monkey Ball franchise has been rolling down a slope for a while now, so even a step or two back in the right direction is nice to see.
In reviving the best entries and elements and putting them on modern consoles, Sega has given AiAi the best 20th birthday present a monkey could ask for.
Ultimately I think Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a worthwhile play for those who don’t mind a stiff challenge, people who have kids that don’t mind a stiff challenge, or anyone nostalgic for the franchise’s early days. The graphical updates are solid and the game is appealing to look at. The music is as bumpy and of-the-era as it always has been. But I wouldn’t say that this is a game that will appeal to everyone so keep that in mind if you’re on the fence. Considering all this I’d say the game is a solid 7. But I’m giving all the preceding Banana jokes a lowly 4. They’re passable but I swear I’ll do better next time.
You have to admire the amount of thought and effort put into the intricate level design of Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania. Yet no matter how much appreciation I have for this genre, it takes a specific kind of player to enjoy this game and it definitely isn’t for everyone. A lot of emphasis is placed on modernizing the game, adding as many accessibility options and extras which newcomers will certainly appreciate.
It is good to know that Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania did not slip on any of its peels, but it probably could have used a little more time to ripen up. At the end of the day, this is still one of the best Monkey Ball collections we have ever gotten, and SEGA delivered a significantly better experience here than they did with Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD on the Switch. If you have a Monkey Ball-shaped hole in your heart and need it filled, then look no further, because Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is here to fill that hole and put you back in control of AiAi in a great way.
Celebrating the series 20th anniversary, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a hugely challenging trip through the greatest hits of the series, showing off classic courses rendered beautifully for the new systems. The Party Games remains the jewel in the Monkey Ball crown, but there’s more than enough to get your brain working whilst you’re balancing out a monkey in a ball on perilously thin ledges. It’s good to have Monkey Ball back.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a pretty comprehensive game that is bursting with content. Some of this (the minigames) is also really fun for kids, but the vast majority definitely isn't. The game's adorable little smock hides a nightmare, even for seasoned gamers. This game is only for people who are up for a challenge and don't give up after dying ten times.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
n the end Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a great update to the classic series and offers fans a fun and fresh take that has never looked nor played better.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a collection of content I wish more gaming series would take for a blueprint for their revisits. It takes the most beloved aspects of the series and improves it in a rerelease that I bet old Monkey Ball fans will love and pull in new fans like myself along the way.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania is a grand collection of the best that Super Monkey Ball has offered over the last 20 years. Though some stages are less enjoyable than others, most of the stages will have you itching to play more. The amount of content seals the deal, making Banana Mania the definitive Super Monkey Ball experience.