Take a moment to reflect on the GameCube era and one series that might stand out is Sega's Super Monkey Ball, originally developed by Amusement Vision – the team also known for F-Zero GX. Outside of the arcade release, the first two console versions were arguably the best entries in the Monkey Ball series and since then newer entries have often failed to recreate the magic. Sega hasn't helped the situation either, with the last Monkey Ball game launching on mobile devices in 2014 and sharing no similarities to the mainline platform party games.
Now, an Indiegogo crowdfunding project is taking matters into its own hands by releasing a title heavily inspired by the Super Monkey Ball series. You could perhaps think of Rolled Out! as more of the same, with the game's lead designer Brandon Johnson even admitting it has the "same basic mechanics" and the project page describing it as a "love letter" to the Super Monkey Ball series.
Brandon's knowledge of the Monkey Ball series dates back to when he was much younger. Over the past year, he's even made two major Super Monkey Ball 2 ROM hacks featuring over 200 levels, and has studied physics and level design in order to recapture the spirit of Sega's series. Rolled Out! promises to include 310 stages, five main difficulties, online multiplayer, customisable settings and plenty of cute animals in balls. At this point in time, the title has only been funded for a PC release, but the developer has also teased a possible Nintendo Switch release in the future.
Have you been waiting for a Super Monkey Ball revival? Would you like to see Rolled Out! on the Switch? Tell us below.
[source indiegogo.com]
Comments 31
Will it rip off the mini games too though... I loved the target one.
Support this project if you can! The dev is super cool I can't wait to see this game's release!
I really gotta wonder why SEGA hasn't put an actual Monkey Ball on Switch yet...
@RyanSilberman Me too. It would legit print money for them. It's basically win-win.
I wonder if Sega knows about this project?
I would settle for an HD remaster of the first two SMB games. I'm sure it would sell well on Switch. It's hard to understand why companies leave money on the table with easy projects like this. I wouldn't even care if it was digital only.
This is gonna be real good.
Ya, I’ve been craving Super Monkey Ball. I’m in.
Please have Disc Golf mode!
The developer seems so passionate that I can't help but smile. Definitely keeping an eye on this one!
No monkies no buy.
Call me when a new Super Monkey Ball comes out! I think this looks a tad generic. After watching the video though, I am hopeful.
@ReaderRagfish It's a shame that kind of stuff tends to happen with most spiritual successors nowadays, but every once in a while you get one game that somehow manages to do it right. This video was what sold me on this game and how I found out about it in the first place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqs1ItidA0Q
Really want this.
A tad obvious and doesn't really think for itself...but I would be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to it. Totally let it off the hook lol.
What a blatant ripoff
My first thought is I hope there's Monkey Target in the game. It would be pretty awesome to be able to design levels for monkey target and then be able to play them in 4 player split screen at 60 fps and whatever resolution allows for smooth 60 fps gameplay. I like all the mini games from Super Monkey Ball 1 and 2, but target, golf, billiards, and race were the best.
Now we need someone to make an imitation of Chuchu Rocket.
Monkey Ball on the Gamecube was awesome, Monkey Ball on the Wii was garbage. I'd much rather just have the first 2 as part of the Sega Ages lineup at some point
My brothers broke the target mini game so hopefully they can make a version that is still fun but changes it enough so that their strategy no longer works. I mean they still have fun but it’s more like watching professional bowling vs a group of friends whip the ball down the lane. Or Pro Smash players. They’re playing the same game but on a whole other level and they can’t go back to how we played before.
Then I gave my kid’s friend an Xbox with SMB Deluxe on it they ended up playing with my brothers and now they try the same thing. Of course if it was “fixed” they’d probably say they ruined it and probably have no interest in playing it.
All that being said I’d buy an hd remaster of the first two in a heart beat. I never did play the other mini games much so I’d like to try those out more and it would make a great tabletop game when out and about. And it should look pretty nice in HD without much extra effort due to the clean design of the originals.
Very interested in this as I loved Super Monkey Ball on the Gamecube
Please come to Switch but only if monkey target is included
Monkeyball Pool and Football were brilliant. Me and the siblings used to do the Monkeyball Olympics and do medals table, the lot!
Monkey boxing, football and target. Plus the main game is great too and I love the challenge. Great memories. Still have the first two ready to go with my Carby HD adapter. Will never let them go.
@ALinkttPresent Well call it what you want but the idea is that Sega hasn't given us a new Monkey Ball game in years. Hell if this kicks off, Sega might even be interested in actually making a genuine new entry to the series. Best case scenario they might pull a Sonic Mania and hire these guys to help with it.
I don't kickstart anymore but if I did this would be one I'd back! (long way to say I wish this well)
I don’t PC Game much, but I may support this with the hope of a Switch version. Wish there was a definitive Switch stretch goal.
Day one purchase for me, I loved the Monkey Ball series.
@ReaderRagfish. There's already a review. watch?v=kqs1ItidA0Q on YouTube
Someone already linked this video but it doesn't hurt to do so again. Really shows that these developers know their monkey balls better than Sega has for 15 years or so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqs1ItidA0Q
One of my favorite franchies from the Gamecube era.
If it's as fun and accurate as Super Monkey Ball then I'm all in for it.
oh man, the Switch needs a new Super Monkey Ball, or this rat game, but totally not touching an indiegogo yet... I'd also love an HD version of Monkey Ball 2
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...