Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (Wii)

[blender]

no i am pretty dure it will be 7.8. I'd bet money on it infact. 7.9 would require 70+ stages

[Hellfire]

Solitanze you're like a small sunshine in my cloudy life. Your score predictions are so useful and tasteful.

[solitanze]

no i am pretty dure it will be 7.8. I'd bet money on it infact. 7.9 would require 70+ stages

 

I was actually being extra lenient on this game considering that despite the disappointment of only having 64 stages about only one third of the amount of stages in Super Monkey Ball 2 , sound only getting the job done 3/10 and the graphics being less than spectacular [although I must admit, I am liking the new style] replay value wise, the game will score 9 at least guaranteed with 50 mini games regardless of their quality which seems quite reasonable and the other multiplayer modes as well, this will massively boost the score and rightfully so as this game will surely be a great multiplayer title. I enjoyed the other two installments in the series on GC, and this latest entry in the series shall follow suit.

[mcj metroid]

i dont know.less single player but more muliplayer?cant be bad can it?I hope they have that similtaneous one player that was only in the first game.that was awsome

[solitanze]

IGN Hands On Single Player Preview:

 

SOURCE: http://wii.ign.com/articles/738/738563p1.html

 

October 11, 2006 - First, there was Super Monkey Ball. The quirky GameCube action-puzzler inexplicably featured monkeys trapped inside balls and challenged gamers to roll them through twisting, turning stages in order to reach a goal. Along the way, it was possible to collect bananas, although this was by no means a necessity. The experience was altogether simple, but hidden beneath the easy facade were a series of level shortcuts that separated the novices from the pros. The hardcore gamer loved Monkey Ball for these satisfying shortcuts -- jumping off a ledge and bouncing down a pathway to the goal three tiers beneath, for example -- and his girlfriend loved the title because it was intuitively controlled. Both, meanwhile, loved it because it revolved around monkeys trapped inside balls. Super Monkey Ball 2 carried forward the basics from the first game, retaining the same fundamental control and increasingly difficult level designs, but it added a series of fun multiplayer-enhanced mini-games, too. Who could resist flying monkeys over the water in Monkey Target? Certainly not us or our imaginary girlfriends. For many, Super Monkey Ball 2 remains the better of the two experiences -- not only because of the added mini-games, but because the single-player puzzle stages were so much more challenging, too.

 

 

But Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz for Wii could become the new franchise king. We had the chance to spend a couple hours with the game recently and we dedicated ourselves to the single-player experience, determined to satisfy our thirst for some challenging, tricky and occasionally awe-inspiring puzzle arenas. By the time we were done playing, our seemingly insatiable thirst was quenched. Banana Blitz is playing and looking so good that we've completely forgotten about that little adventure game with the monkeys in it -- what was it called again? Oh, it doesn't even matter. What matters is that players who loved the original Super Monkey Ball titles are going to do backflips over this Wii-enhanced sequel.

 

We're going to dive into the gameplay mechanics shortly, but first let's go over the numbers. Banana Blitz's single-player mode features approximately 99 levels of varying difficulty -- and really, some of these stages are outrageously hard to make it through, let alone master. Players will travel through an initial eight worlds, each with eight stages -- one of which is a boss battle. Monkey Island looks very reminiscent of a traditional tropical setting from previous games. Jumble Jungle features brush and waterfall backdrops. Smooth Sherbet is surrounded in falling snow particles and icy pathways. Detritus Desert takes gamers through Egyptian-style mazes complete with pyramids, sand dunes, and bridges. Pirates Ocean is filled with spooky ships and swaying waters. Cobalt Caverns unfolds beneath the sea in caves. Volcanic Pools -- well, the name says it all. And Space Case, the eighth world, boasts galactic backgrounds that are just as surreal as they are hypnotic.

 

By the time gamers make it to Space Case, they will be masters, but hardcore pros can go for gold and unlock two additional worlds. Only those who make it through all eight worlds without continuing can unlock the ninth area, which is practically impossible. And the insanely dedicated can attempt to make it through the ninth world without continuing to unlock the tenth and final area, which will prove nearly insurmountable even for those with cybernetically enhanced reflexes. In short, don't let those cute little monkeys fool you: Banana Blitz is poised to be every bit as challenging and controller-throwing-inducing as its predecessors.

 

And speaking of those chimps, they play a much bigger role in Banana Blitz than they have in previous outings. They are no longer there just for show or for style. Now, each monkey has his or her own attributes which can be used for different levels. For instance, Aiai is the most well-balanced of the bunch, offering a healthy degree of both speed and maneuverability. Baby is all about pure speed. Gongon is far away the slowest and heaviest of the bunch, but he's got power; in fact, he can roll and smash through some stoppers and other objects that would repel the other monkeys. Newcomer Doctor features the fastest acceleration and Yanyan can jump the highest -- we discovered that her skill in particular really proves invaluable when attempting to navigate some crazy shortcuts. The good news is that players can change to any monkey they want to use between stages.

 

 

The control setup couldn't be simpler. Unlike some of the mini-games, which require the use of both the Wii-mote and the nunchuk, the single-player game only utilizes the former. Gamers will roll through these stages using only one hand, freeing up the other for Funyuns. A common misconception about the Monkey Ball franchise is that players controls the monkeys, which is not true. Actually, the Wii-mote manipulates the game boards that the monkeys roll through, tilting them to and from. In previous titles, gamers used an analog stick to do this, but with Banana Blitz they merely gesture with the Wii-mote. Push forward and the monkeys gain in speed. Pull backward and they slow down. Twist the controller left or right like a key in door and the chimps veer left or right respectively. And those are the basics. Of course, monkeys also jump into the air when the A button is pressed, but as an alternative gamers can hold down the B-trigger and quickly snap the Wii-mote back for the same effect.

 

We've had some limited time with Banana Blitz since the game was first unveiled, but most of our play tests with the game have not unfolded in ideal conditions. Usually, we find ourselves standing two feet from a sub-par television and with five people waiting in line behind us. However, we recently had two solid hours with the game at SEGA -- not standing, but sitting on a couch and really taking everything in. We're happy to report that Banana Blitz is, indeed, all that gamers are hoping it might be and a bag of chips, too.

 

 

After five minutes of play time, we were honestly wondering if the game was more difficult because of the Wii controller. Some of the maneuvers that would have proven easy with an analog stick felt somehow more challenging when performed via gestures. But two hours later, we found ourselves flying through stages, attempting shortcut after shortcut without even thinking about how to use the Wii-mote, and roaring and cheering or laughing depending on whether or not our attempts were amazing successes or embarrassing failures. The title actually encourages pros to go for the shortcuts, as certain banana clumps can only be reached by daredevils who bounce off ledges and go for the quickest time to the goal. We've posted a wealth of new direct-feed movies and we think viewers will agree that there are some absolutely thrilling stages in the game -- and the control mechanics quickly transform from pretty good to damn near excellent as soon as Ballers learn to rewire the way they play.

 

All-new to Banana Blitz are boss battles, which take place at the end of each world. These unfold in a pretty straightforward manner, but they are actually kind of fun and a good break from the more traditional battles. In one boss battle, a gigantic hippo/ape/abominable snowman creature sits in the middle of an icy arena. The monster shows what appears to be an enormous inflamed pink bellybutton -- at least, we hope that's what it is -- and it's up to gamers to avoid his spinning attacks long enough to bounce into the phallic appendage. It's pretty easy, but the battles become increasingly difficult. For instance, later, another boss shoots missiles at the monkeys and players must jump on these projectiles to ricochet them backward.

 

As downloaders will see in the videos we've provided, Banana Blitz features a made over cell-shaded style that goes very well with the franchise, as far as we're concerned. The pastel look is very cheerful, much like the happy, high-pitched music the game booms out. Snow particles drift in the foreground, backdrops are blurred via depth of field, and the monkey balls themselves cast reflections and become surrounded by star particles when gamers bump into objects. The game has an impressively clean, crisp look to it due in large to the quality of the textures, which hold up even when evaluated closely. Best of all, Banana Blitz runs at 60 frames per second and supports both progressive-scan and 16:9 widescreen modes.

 

Banana Blitz features 50 mini-games, including such favorites as Monkey Target -- a mini that by itself is enough to make us want the title. However, this is a series that has largely been about the spectacular single-player puzzle stages and it is here that, without a doubt, Banana Blitz does not disappoint. At the end of our two hours with the game, we didn't want to stop, and we nearly ran out of tape because we kept recording ourselves going through levels again and again as we tried for the best shortcuts. Monkey Ball fans are going to eat this title up and keep coming back for the mini-games. We see absolutely no reason at this stage why Banana Blitz shouldn't be on everybody's must-buy list when Wii launches this November.

 

END OF PREVIEW.

 

This game will be one of the highest scoring out of all the games in the Wii launch line up, a guaranteed purchase for me and may perhaps possibly even score higher than TP if my unfavourable expectations of that game become a reality.

[fukudasolokomalakikenanze]

IGN Hands On Single Player Preview:

 

SOURCE: http://wii.ign.com/articles/738/738563p1.html

 

October 11, 2006 - First, there was Super Monkey Ball. The quirky GameCube action-puzzler inexplicably featured monkeys trapped inside balls and challenged gamers to roll them through twisting, turning stages in order to reach a goal. Along the way, it was possible to collect bananas, although this was by no means a necessity. The experience was altogether simple, but hidden beneath the easy facade were a series of level shortcuts that separated the novices from the pros. The hardcore gamer loved Monkey Ball for these satisfying shortcuts -- jumping off a ledge and bouncing down a pathway to the goal three tiers beneath, for example -- and his girlfriend loved the title because it was intuitively controlled. Both, meanwhile, loved it because it revolved around monkeys trapped inside balls. Super Monkey Ball 2 carried forward the basics from the first game, retaining the same fundamental control and increasingly difficult level designs, but it added a series of fun multiplayer-enhanced mini-games, too. Who could resist flying monkeys over the water in Monkey Target? Certainly not us or our imaginary girlfriends. For many, Super Monkey Ball 2 remains the better of the two experiences -- not only because of the added mini-games, but because the single-player puzzle stages were so much more challenging, too.

 

 

But Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz for Wii could become the new franchise king. We had the chance to spend a couple hours with the game recently and we dedicated ourselves to the single-player experience, determined to satisfy our thirst for some challenging, tricky and occasionally awe-inspiring puzzle arenas. By the time we were done playing, our seemingly insatiable thirst was quenched. Banana Blitz is playing and looking so good that we've completely forgotten about that little adventure game with the monkeys in it -- what was it called again? Oh, it doesn't even matter. What matters is that players who loved the original Super Monkey Ball titles are going to do backflips over this Wii-enhanced sequel.

 

We're going to dive into the gameplay mechanics shortly, but first let's go over the numbers. Banana Blitz's single-player mode features approximately 99 levels of varying difficulty -- and really, some of these stages are outrageously hard to make it through, let alone master. Players will travel through an initial eight worlds, each with eight stages -- one of which is a boss battle. Monkey Island looks very reminiscent of a traditional tropical setting from previous games. Jumble Jungle features brush and waterfall backdrops. Smooth Sherbet is surrounded in falling snow particles and icy pathways. Detritus Desert takes gamers through Egyptian-style mazes complete with pyramids, sand dunes, and bridges. Pirates Ocean is filled with spooky ships and swaying waters. Cobalt Caverns unfolds beneath the sea in caves. Volcanic Pools -- well, the name says it all. And Space Case, the eighth world, boasts galactic backgrounds that are just as surreal as they are hypnotic.

 

By the time gamers make it to Space Case, they will be masters, but hardcore pros can go for gold and unlock two additional worlds. Only those who make it through all eight worlds without continuing can unlock the ninth area, which is practically impossible. And the insanely dedicated can attempt to make it through the ninth world without continuing to unlock the tenth and final area, which will prove nearly insurmountable even for those with cybernetically enhanced reflexes. In short, don't let those cute little monkeys fool you: Banana Blitz is poised to be every bit as challenging and controller-throwing-inducing as its predecessors.

 

And speaking of those chimps, they play a much bigger role in Banana Blitz than they have in previous outings. They are no longer there just for show or for style. Now, each monkey has his or her own attributes which can be used for different levels. For instance, Aiai is the most well-balanced of the bunch, offering a healthy degree of both speed and maneuverability. Baby is all about pure speed. Gongon is far away the slowest and heaviest of the bunch, but he's got power; in fact, he can roll and smash through some stoppers and other objects that would repel the other monkeys. Newcomer Doctor features the fastest acceleration and Yanyan can jump the highest -- we discovered that her skill in particular really proves invaluable when attempting to navigate some crazy shortcuts. The good news is that players can change to any monkey they want to use between stages.

 

 

The control setup couldn't be simpler. Unlike some of the mini-games, which require the use of both the Wii-mote and the nunchuk, the single-player game only utilizes the former. Gamers will roll through these stages using only one hand, freeing up the other for Funyuns. A common misconception about the Monkey Ball franchise is that players controls the monkeys, which is not true. Actually, the Wii-mote manipulates the game boards that the monkeys roll through, tilting them to and from. In previous titles, gamers used an analog stick to do this, but with Banana Blitz they merely gesture with the Wii-mote. Push forward and the monkeys gain in speed. Pull backward and they slow down. Twist the controller left or right like a key in door and the chimps veer left or right respectively. And those are the basics. Of course, monkeys also jump into the air when the A button is pressed, but as an alternative gamers can hold down the B-trigger and quickly snap the Wii-mote back for the same effect.

 

We've had some limited time with Banana Blitz since the game was first unveiled, but most of our play tests with the game have not unfolded in ideal conditions. Usually, we find ourselves standing two feet from a sub-par television and with five people waiting in line behind us. However, we recently had two solid hours with the game at SEGA -- not standing, but sitting on a couch and really taking everything in. We're happy to report that Banana Blitz is, indeed, all that gamers are hoping it might be and a bag of chips, too.

 

 

After five minutes of play time, we were honestly wondering if the game was more difficult because of the Wii controller. Some of the maneuvers that would have proven easy with an analog stick felt somehow more challenging when performed via gestures. But two hours later, we found ourselves flying through stages, attempting shortcut after shortcut without even thinking about how to use the Wii-mote, and roaring and cheering or laughing depending on whether or not our attempts were amazing successes or embarrassing failures. The title actually encourages pros to go for the shortcuts, as certain banana clumps can only be reached by daredevils who bounce off ledges and go for the quickest time to the goal. We've posted a wealth of new direct-feed movies and we think viewers will agree that there are some absolutely thrilling stages in the game -- and the control mechanics quickly transform from pretty good to damn near excellent as soon as Ballers learn to rewire the way they play.

 

All-new to Banana Blitz are boss battles, which take place at the end of each world. These unfold in a pretty straightforward manner, but they are actually kind of fun and a good break from the more traditional battles. In one boss battle, a gigantic hippo/ape/abominable snowman creature sits in the middle of an icy arena. The monster shows what appears to be an enormous inflamed pink bellybutton -- at least, we hope that's what it is -- and it's up to gamers to avoid his spinning attacks long enough to bounce into the phallic appendage. It's pretty easy, but the battles become increasingly difficult. For instance, later, another boss shoots missiles at the monkeys and players must jump on these projectiles to ricochet them backward.

 

As downloaders will see in the videos we've provided, Banana Blitz features a made over cell-shaded style that goes very well with the franchise, as far as we're concerned. The pastel look is very cheerful, much like the happy, high-pitched music the game booms out. Snow particles drift in the foreground, backdrops are blurred via depth of field, and the monkey balls themselves cast reflections and become surrounded by star particles when gamers bump into objects. The game has an impressively clean, crisp look to it due in large to the quality of the textures, which hold up even when evaluated closely. Best of all, Banana Blitz runs at 60 frames per second and supports both progressive-scan and 16:9 widescreen modes.

 

Banana Blitz features 50 mini-games, including such favorites as Monkey Target -- a mini that by itself is enough to make us want the title. However, this is a series that has largely been about the spectacular single-player puzzle stages and it is here that, without a doubt, Banana Blitz does not disappoint. At the end of our two hours with the game, we didn't want to stop, and we nearly ran out of tape because we kept recording ourselves going through levels again and again as we tried for the best shortcuts. Monkey Ball fans are going to eat this title up and keep coming back for the mini-games. We see absolutely no reason at this stage why Banana Blitz shouldn't be on everybody's must-buy list when Wii launches this November.

 

END OF PREVIEW.

 

This game will be one of the highest scoring out of all the games in the Wii launch line up, a guaranteed purchase for me and may perhaps possibly even score higher than TP if my unfavourable expectations of that game become a reality.

 

Really positive impressions there. The games sounding better than ever. A Must Buy for me.

[Patch]

A must-buy for me also.

But what have they done with Meemee???

[blender]

I hope the sequal is Super Monkey Ball Bros.

 

All star nintendo characters are placed in balls and have different abilities. Eg. sonic, samus, mario, link.

 

Not sure how the melee would work or even it that would be the point. Just want to see more characters in balls.

[solitanze]

A must-buy for me also.

But what have they done with Meemee???

 

I reckon Mee Mee would have the best balance on the really narrow paths and would be the easiest to control, best maneuvrability. But lacking in areas like jump, speed, power etc.

 

I hope the sequal is Super Monkey Ball Bros.

 

All star nintendo characters are placed in balls and have different abilities. Eg. sonic, samus, mario, link.

 

Not sure how the melee would work or even it that would be the point. Just want to see more characters in balls.

 

Mario and Peach together in a ball. Bumpin' and Humpin as the ball frantically rolls down the stage and a great opportunity for a quickie in between cut scenes showing off the layout of the next level while the focus is off their ball.

[MrRon]

http://uk.media.wii.ign.com/media/824/824977/vids_1.html

 

These vids fill my boots with magic jelly!

[Hellfire]

Is that some Hideki Naguma?

[MrRon]

Hideki Naganuma?

 

I don't knoooooow

[demonmike04]

Im still mainly looking forward to the amazing mini games, worth the money for the game alone.

[Gaijin von Snikbah]

I had a feeling this game was going to be fun. This could become one of the strongest selling points for the Wii.

[Mercyful Fate]

This game is looking damn good. I was planning to get Rayman but now it stands between Rayman and this.

[Hellfire]

Hideki Naganuma?

 

I don't knoooooow

 

the music from the latest video in IGN really sounds like it.

[Patch]

I reckon Mee Mee would have the best balance on the really narrow paths and would be the easiest to control, best maneuvrability. But lacking in areas like jump, speed, power etc.

 

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. I meant that at a glance, it looks like Meemee isn't in the game. The article mentions Aiai, Baby, Gongon, Doctor and YanYan. Maybe the latter is her new name?

[mcj metroid]

no i am pretty dure it will be 7.8. I'd bet money on it infact. 7.9 would require 70+ stages

 

oh come on.im sure it will get a 8.9.new graphics,new jump.Everyone sayd the controls work fine and so much multiplayer modes.

[Kurtle Squad]

No....Meemee's on the site, and it says she's AiAi's HUSBAND. I never knew that!!! And Baby's there kid I think.

 

GonGon is AiAi's best mate and YanYan is the girl next door

[Hellfire]

STOP TALKING ABOUT SCORES!

[mcj metroid]

STOP TALKING ABOUT SCORES!

 

or maybe 8.8 i could be mistaken

[solitanze]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. I meant that at a glance, it looks like Meemee isn't in the game. The article mentions Aiai, Baby, Gongon, Doctor and YanYan. Maybe the latter is her new name?

 

They said "for instance" in the article and mentioned every other character. It probably was with their two hour play test, they didn't actually play with Mee Mee, so the thought didn't occur to them to mention her in the article. Yan Yan is a new playable character, not a complete substitute for Mee Mee, although she is a substitute in the sesnse that you can pick her over Mee Mee if you wish.

 

Anyone know why Baby is wearing VR like equipment this time round? To make the character more interesting? Do you think Sonic would be a playable character in this game or has EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER been revealed?

[Calibur]

dunno if this has been posted but this came from matt's blog a couple days ago.

 

Monkey Ball Izza Niiiice!

Seriously, Borat would be impressed.

 

Bozie and I drove up to SF today and we're doing a bit of a Wii tour. First stop: Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz.

 

After two dedicated hours, I can tell you that the game is pretty awesome and I want every person who even remotely liked the previous titles -- excluding the terrible Super Monkey Ball Adventure, that is -- to go now and pre-order it. You will simply not be disappointed.

 

Look for my impressions -- and amazing new movies -- very soon. But in the meantime, dream of the monkey goodness, for it is vast and beautiful.

 

By the way, people who still say that the old games look better -- and I'm talking about visuals here -- you are blind. Banana Blitz is in a graphic league well beyond its predecessors.

 

linky http://blogs.ign.com/matt-IGN/

[Charlie]

Those new videos are just so good, they make the game look so much fun. There are so many games that I want at launch!

[James McGeachie]

the music from the latest video in IGN really sounds like it.

 

I noticed that as well, it really sounds like him at some parts (one of the ice tracks I heard is almost identical to Sonic Rush's ending music), it'd be great if it's true.