Let’s put some important things first. Although Super Monkey Ball Mania is actually a remake of Super Monkey Ball Deluxe-it is itself a compilation of the first two entries in Sega’s simple and often very satisfying series-but it is not the old Monkey Ball. With new assets, new soundtracks, and slightly redesigned physics, this remake in Unity is no longer the Monkey Ball that once let my friends and I chase full marks in Monkey Target. There are something flatter and more boring, and its visual effects are not that magical, not to mention the most important power you manage at the bottom of the slope in the most precious mini-game of Monkey Ball, and is most often mistaken in history. The items processed because, are now replaced by a rude and less subtle push into heaven.
Of course, remakes are always risky, especially for games that are as precious as the original “Super Monkey Ball”-surprisingly, you have a strong emotional attachment to a 20-year-old game, this kind of game It’s about the monkey pushing the hamster ball around the chessboard court. Maybe nostalgia makes me better, but to these tired old eyes, this is a remake that looks obviously inferior to the original; I miss the era of Sega Naomi That unique part, or how not so shiny details like the polished luster of a glittering bonus level floor.
Then there is a problem. Although it is closer than we have ever been before, this is not the monkey target you know and love at all. Since then, I have been thinking hard for all these years.That monkey target did not go anywhere, please note-there is still a GameCube hanging in the corner of my office, I can go there anytime to revisit it (and another GameCube masterpiece from Amusement Vision, F-Zero GX-when will we get it now? A switch port That
In fact, after the initial disappointment, after a few late night confrontations with the trickier levels in the very generous lots offered here, I softened a lot. Some style choices can be a bit annoying (like the bad decision to pay extra for the original soundtrack), but the original Super Monkey Balls is still definitely a great game, and despite some minor mistakes, the banana mania is not really true. Detract from that. Indeed, it is an excitement to return to a place that is still an absolute masterpiece.
Maybe, somehow, you have never played Monkey Ball before-or you may have only encountered one of the many impressive follow-ups after that wonderful early game-so here is a quick start. As a descendant of Marble Madness, Monkey Ball is the simplest and highest state of game design-guide your monkey from one end of the stage to the other, just a simulation stick to complete the task.
Enter the monkey ball from that one to extract the miracle. This is both a puzzle game, a platform game and a racing game-when the timer starts counting, the announcer screams “Hurry up!” and the countdown forces you to take, there is even the sweaty thrill of a horror game to reach the goal And face greater risks.This is genius, The simplicity of the concept matches the exquisite execution, and there is no darkening in this remake-the fidelity of the control is great, the sense of speed and the management of the electromotive force, and the level design is creative. Monkey Ball can extract so many things from such simple things, which is amazing.
This simplicity was downplayed in the later version of the game, and I am a very traditional monkey ball, I still can’t stand the switches and teleports introduced in the sequel-unnecessary cumbersomeness that hinders the pure magic of the game’s original Super Monkey Ball . I have softened my stance a bit, because they appeared in Banana Mania Super Monkey Ball 2 levels, many of which showed the lack of wit in the later game, but still the magic of the original level is the most powerful.
In fact, the genius of the original “Super Monkey Ball” did not fade in this remake-if anything, the 20 years between the original and the banana mania just highlighted that this is a very special game, and it still exists . The level design has a mechanical complexity, and the engineering design seems clear-the simplicity of Monkey Ball can be traced not only to the classic arcade machines of the 80s, but also to the mechanical miracle of the 19th century penny arcade machines. There is also a monkey in the ball!
Banana Mania does have some mod shortcomings. Now with camera controls, this might downplay simplicity, but it’s also popular on some levels, even if the camera itself is a bit slow and clumsy, it can’t prove really useful. There is an assist mode that allows you to move on from any specific level that makes you sad-the classic monkey ball is great at making you sad-or slow motion mode can be activated to remove some of the tingling. There are challenges and unlocks, as well as special new modes and filters, plus some cast of classic Sega characters-Yakuza’s Kazuma Kiryu and Jet Set Radio’s Beat, and it is possible to put Sonic or Tails in one of the hamster balls and Pretend you are playing the best Sonic the Hedgehog ever reward stage. You can even unlock hats and boots to dress up characters like Ai-Ai and Gon-Gon.
But beyond that, perhaps the most important thing is that you can play more than 300 levels, starting with Monkey Ball at its peak, or playing one of 12 mini-games such as Monkey Bowling, Monkey Fight or-of course-Monkey Tennis or with friends. Some details and traits may not be exactly the same as you remember-no, unfortunately, the monkey goal is different-which reminds you that this is a cover version and not a real deal. However, this is a classic cover version that finally determines all the important basic knowledge. It may be completely different from the Monkey Ball in your memory, but it is definitely the best Monkey Ball experience since those magical original works.