Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD Reviews
A bargain price benefits this remastered re-release; while it’s better without motion controls and a majority of uninspired mini-games, there’s not a terrible amount to do in the end.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD is a solid remaster of a sub-par Super Monkey Ball title. The visual style works for the series, and most of the party games that were included represent the best ones from the original release. The online leaderboard integration for the Decathlon and Time Attack modes is a great addition. There are unlockable outfits, and even Sonic the Hedgehog has been added to the game. All of the original music from the Wii release has been replaced due to licensing issues.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD isn't a perfect recreation of the original game due to some things being improved and others being taken away.
This series was long overdue for a console return, and in that way the game succeeds.
GOOD - Normally when a company goes through the trouble of converting a game to HD they choose the best in the series, but Sega has decided to bring Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD to current video game consoles. While not a bad game by any means, I think most would consider the first two GameCube games the best in the series. This one is still just as zany and does deliver in the fun department, but sensitive controls, needless boss battles, and ho-hum multiplayer mini-games hold it back from true greatness.
The premise is ridiculous but cute, and the action is certainly well-done with a nice fast and fluid feeling that Sonic the Hedgehog would approve of. It makes for a quick, entertaining diversion, though I do not know that it really has the depth in the single player to keep me coming back for more once I worked through the stages - but Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD is a blast with some friends if you enjoy some multiplayer shenanigans. It might be a bit more difficult to justify this release if it were a full sixty dollars, so ringing in at only two thirds of that price certainly helps. I do wonder if there were not better choices in the series to choose from that would not require a complete reworking of the controls, such as Monkey Ball Deluxe which had a lot more content available. Still, what we have here is definitely fun, even if it is in shorter bursts.
Super Monkey Ball series is back and while it is not a new game, and it is certainly not the best game to remaster in the series, this is still an upgrade over the original solely based on the choice of better analog controls.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD is the return of the beloved franchise, but is this HD port bananas or does it slip on a peel?
Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD delivers an alright remaster effort with minimal changes and generally just a fresh coat of paint.
A welcome revival of a much-loved franchise, although Banana Blitz was never the best entry and Sega has had to accept too many compromises in porting it from the Wii.
On the one hand, the game has lost its arcade drive and charm, on the other - it's still a good Monkey Ball, albeit not without drawbacks in the form of inappropriate bosses, wacky mini-games, outdated graphics and a little different cartoon style.
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Back in the day, we gave the Wii version a crushing 4/10 score and said 'if the controls were good then you could double the score'. Little did we know that over a decade later, our words would ring (almost) true. With more usable controls you can finally enjoy this batch of 100 levels for what they are, but the wider game is let down by weird leaderboard decisions and those lacklustre mini-games. The best monkey-in-a-ball game since Super Monkey Ball 2, sure, but not quite a return to the series heyday.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD is a respectable entry into its series. The gameplay is as fun as ever, but camera issues and brevity keep it from becoming a true classic.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD could be a wonderfully fun and enjoyable game. Sadly, control difficulties and horrendous camera mechanics greatly diminish the fun to be had.
If you’re an ardent Super Monkey Ball fan then you might want to pick up Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz HD, but you probably won’t be having the best time of your life with it.
Not the entry fans of the series would have preferred to see get ported, but Banana Blitz HD is worth checking out for anyone that never played it on Wii, or those that just couldn't deal with the motion controls back then.
While it's welcome to see one of Sega's most original IPs return to modern consoles, Banana Blitz HD is far from the series at its best and one that purists will find wanting.
Its mini-game collection is meek and its story mode is weighed down by difficulty spikes and pedestrian boss battles, but its arcade gameplay, clever course designs, and Decathalon mode make it an overall decent entry in the Monkey Ball universe.
I’m happy to report that the game is worth checking out. I was surprised with the quality of the game in terms of level design; it’s varied, challenging and feels like classic Monkey Ball. Unfortunately, the party games lack the quality and depth of its predecessors and due to this, I award the game a Thumb Culture Silver Award!
They really don’t make games like this one anymore. The game immediately connects you to another era, and gives you the chance to experience something that just doesn’t exist in today’s market. In doing so though, it serves as a demonstration of why games have moved away from so many of the design principles on display in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD. For some, this will be a fun and convenient way to revisit a beloved old game. For most though, the best case on offer is an auto-retrospective experience, unflinchingly showing you all of its best and most mediocre parts.