This was the first ever game review I ever did and ever have done. Well, here it is…

Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz - A review by Matt Hobbs

Sega introduces it's latest Super Monkey Ball game- Banana Blitz, the game is a fun and entertaining platform game. Super Monkey Ball became a surprise hit at the GameCube launch but Banana Blitz is noticeably different from its predecessors. My first impression of the game was quite a good one. I found it incredibly easy to move the monkey ball around the various amount of courses. It is an easy game that you can pick up in just a few minutes. As I got into the game I found that the courses make it that little bit harder to manoeuvre the monkey ball around.

With every Super Monkey Ball game, you will find that there are two options that the player can choose. Firstly, there is the single player mode, where the player can twist and turn their way through a series of worlds, which in turn contain several stages and a boss battle. the stages flow well together making the game entertaining as well as fun. As with all of the Super Monkey Ball games, the aim of the game is to navigate your monkey continued in a ball through courses to get to the finish before the timer runs out. Bananas can also be picked up for extra points and also some extra lives. The one thing that makes this game stand up in the crowd is that it has an addition of a jump ability, but with this new addition, it makes the game feel a lot more like a classic platformer. Secondly there is the party games which features multiplayer mode, where 1-4 players can battle it out in 50 fun minigames, which means there is a lot more new and exciting minigames to play including ones from previous Super Monkey Ball games, also many minigames use the Nunchuck to play as well as the controller.

The game uses most of the Wii Controller controls and also features the use of the Nunchuck. The game controls make use of the A button (which is to jump) and the tilt sensors of the remote. The stage will move in the direction the controller is tilted. This allows for smooth control that becomes natural very quickly. When first played, it can be very annoying as the game does not feature a sensitivity option in the configuration of the game. The sensitivity is all down the different monkey players. The weight of the monkey that the player chooses links directly to the sensitivity of the remote. For example, if you were playing as Baby, the slightest movement of the controller send him into a fast running pace. This is different for GonGon, as you will have to tilt the controller more in order for him to move at a fast pace. So choosing the monkey you play the game with is critical to your success.

The graphics of the game have not really improved from the previous editions of Super Monkey Ball. The stages that you play in single player mode feature detailed levels and some rather good background images to fit the stage you are playing. Also, the minigames have good graphics that do actually fit to the game you are playing. But overall the graphics can be compiled into just one main theme. The other thing that Sega have got right is the sound of the game. When you are playing the many levels you can relax and play with the theme based music. The music that the minigames have also fits the game you are playing. For example, if you are going snowboarding with your monkey then you will find that the music will be a little bit fast as you slide and jump your way through the course. I didn't noticed that any of the sound stopped before it was supposed to. So overall the graphics and sound of the game are spot on.

You may be thinking now that this sounds like a difficult game to play, but it really isn't that hard. I have played the previous Super Monkey Ball games, but I wasn't going to be playing the game as if I absolutely loved it. When I first started playing it, it didn't take me long to figure out the controls, you can either take a quick look at the instruction booklet or you can just have a go at learning the controls by playing the game…either way just takes a few minutes. Well, Banana Blitz is no different, in fact, I would say it is easier to pick it up. You can just pick up the controller and tilt your way through the first level with ease.

Also, when you have completed the game, you can play the game again. So it is just not your one play game, then it will spend the rest of its days on the shelf collecting dust. With this game you will be playing it over and over. There is just no end to this game. So you might not want to play the main game again, you can play some of the minigames. As a bonus, you can play on your own or battle it out with your friends by challenging them to get the high score, so this may become the game you play mostly on your own, and maybe the occasional play with your friends.