Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania will be rolling onto Nintendo Switch in just over a week and from our time with the game so far, it's shaping up to be a very enjoyable experience indeed.
We'll share our full thoughts on how the game stands up to the original Super Monkey Ball and its sequel (what with Banana Mania being a remake of these two titles) in our review a little closer to release, but in the meantime, the game's director Masao Shirosaki has been busy discussing some of the improvements and tweaks the team has been working on.
In an interview with Nintendo Everything, Shirosaki addressed some of the Monkey Ball fanbase's most pressing concerns including how the camera will work and what we can expect from the minigames:
"The main game camera for this game is based off Banana Blitz HD but includes some additional improvements. Compared to Banana Blitz HD, it’s much easier to turn. Also, you can now control the camera angle. I myself felt very annoyed at not having that level of control over the camera in the past Super Monkey Ball games. I think it makes the new game much easier to play but please try it out yourself."
"The Party Games in Banana Mania are the same 12 that appeared in Super Monkey Ball Deluxe. We did include some new tricks though, so I would be happy if you could try looking for them!"
As for why the team were able to develop a remake of the original games as their next project? Well, that's down to the fans' support:
"We talked about creating the next game because so many fans supported Banana Blitz HD. We had received a lot of opinions on how fans wanted original Super Monkey Ball and Super Monkey Ball 2 remakes, so Banana Mania would never have come to be if it weren’t for the voices of all those fans. We were able to remake those titles thanks to your requests. Thank you very much!"
You can read the full interview here if you're interested; intriguingly, Shirosaki says that he'd like a future Monkey Ball game to let you "adventure around the world with AiAi". We don't know how that would take shape, but we'd definitely play it.
"I actually want to know what everyone is expecting of Super Monkey Ball *laugh*. As with past games, we are very eager to hear what fans think of the new game and what they’d like to see in the future.
I like going on adventures so I want to play a game where I can go on an adventure around the world with AiAi!"
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 29
I am so happy! Thank you Sega xx
Nintendo, take notes...
(F-Z... I don't even need to say it, do I?)
There isn't a game on any platform this year I'm looking forward to playing as much as this
"I actually want to know what everyone is expecting of Super Monkey Ball laugh. As with past games, we are very eager to hear what fans think of the new game and what they’d like to see in the future."
Sorry, what?!
We've been asking for Super Monkey Ball 3 for more than a decade. You have the formula... make the game.
Sorry, but this is just PR nonsense. They haven't listened - and they're still not listening - but this release is finally a good step forward for the series.
Now, can we get that third entry in the series?
I don't feel bad moaning about this... Banana Blitz was so very, very bad!
I am very happy this is coming out by the way, and it's one of my highlights for the year for sure.
I want to believe that Nick "so I booked a trip to Japan" Robinson's efforts played a part in this.
As much as I love Sega they are pretty stupid I mean they are sitting on a goldmine of ips but they need reassurance for everything they do
How many companys are really listening to fans these days? Btw, is there football in this partygame? (So many games coming out in october... brr)
@the_weakest_link the monkey ball team made us F-Zer0 before, they can make it again (If nintendo is willing)
I'm not expecting it to be as good as the originals, but it looks like they have done a great job (on a budget).
I'll be supporting it anyway - it looks fun
Correction, This would have never have happened if it wasn't for nick Robinson.
I just want a camera that can snap behind the monkeys instantly.
Is cutting out content for day-one dlc for the fans, too?
The worst thing they could possibly do with this is change the original physics. Hopefully they've kept Toshihiro's gameplay 100% intact. That's the sauce that's eluded developers again and again which elevates the first two games above any marble/ball type game in existence. And crucially the very thing that would be difficult to translate perfectly to a different engine.
"intriguingly, Shirosaki says that he'd like a future Monkey Ball game to let you 'adventure around the world with AiAi'."
We had that. It was called Super Monkey Ball Adventure, and it wasn't very good.
I Wonder if they will have an option of infinitive countinues.? I couldent beat the orginal games as I always run out of lives.
I did complete Banana blitz HD thanks to the possibility to always countinue.
I want to see a review first, too scared to pre-order
@Tryffel pretty sure they do, NL did a short breakdown on youtube and thought they mentioned infinite lives, although I could be mistaken
@Tuulenpoika I believe Nick Robinson is like 95% responsible for this release.
@nocdaes
Sorry, but this is just PR nonsense. They haven't listened - and they're still not listening
That's not true in the slightest.
Fans nearly unanimously voiced their desire for a remake of the original Monkey Ball. It's all anyone said when Banana Blitz released. "Why not remake the first game".
Can't revise history after the fact. Everyone was asking for this, myself included.
@the_weakest_link
The best F-Zero (GX on the GameCube) was actually developed by the Super Monkey Ball team
@CharlieGirl
To be fair, Adventure was made by an outside studio and not the core Monkey Ball team internal to SEGA. That said, I am not really convinced that a Monkey Ball Adventure game made by anyone could be good.
"We talked about creating the next game because so many fans supported Banana Blitz HD."
Yeah, because SEGA held the games we actually wanted ransom.
I refused to buy Banana Blitz HD because SEGA knew which games everyone wanted, but insisted on doing anything but remaking those games, but then had the audacity to wave them in our faces like a set of keys in front of a toddler.
Needless to say, I didn't take kindly to that mentality of theirs, but once they announced Banana Mania, I did end up finding a new copy of Banana Blitz HD at Target for $20, and it wasn't part of a stupid double pack with Sonic Forces. See, SEGA? Offering the games people actually want can encourage them to buy the inferior product, too. Now bring Sonic Generations to Switch, and I'll buy your buggy Sonic Colors game.
This sure is one of the top highlights in 2021 on any system.
Super Monkeyball were the first game i bought on GameCube launch.
I always had a thing for ball games since Commodore 64 and Arcade days.
This Monkeball release is the one people wanted, so it will sell a lot better than the previous one.
Poor Banana Blitz HD. Left in the dust. No plans to update the camera similar to the this upcoming remake. Forever will be inferior.
What do I want for the next Monkey Ball? It's simple. More tilting levels to get to the goal. Surely with advance in tech the levels can be more ludicrous and perilous?
What I don't want is to turn an arcade challenge game into some story driven platformer. The first 2 games were perfect. If there is a 3, then same again with more adventurous levels and more mini games.
My advice for monkey ball 3 is keep it the same but introduce new mechanics. Just look at Rolled Out.
@CharlieGirl Have a like. They really don't need to reinvent the wheel with this game.
Metroid gets Dread, even Monkey Ball gets some love... F-zero is next, isn't it? (cries alone in a corner)
Good to hear! I can finally retire my Gamecube copies of SMB 1 & 2. I hope this remake is technically sound. I'll be picking it up on PS5.
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