Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania

About

"Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania" is a fun-filled game with over 300 stages from the original Super Monkey Ball games. It includes 12 minigames such as racing, soccer, and bowling, and allows players to customize characters and balls. The game also offers a story mode with comic-book-style storytelling and online leaderboards for competitive play. *300+ stages from Super Monkey Ball games *12 minigames & character customization *Story mode & online leaderboards

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania screenshot

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,277 reviews

music47 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The game is a nostalgic return to the classic Super Monkey Ball experience, featuring levels from SMB1, SMB2, and Deluxe.
The graphics and presentation have been updated, making the game visually appealing while retaining the charm of the originals.
The inclusion of various game modes, customization options, and accessibility features adds depth and replayability to the game.

The physics and controls feel different and less precise compared to the original games, which can frustrate long-time fans.
Monkey Target and some other party games have been poorly implemented, leading to a disappointing experience.
The removal of multiplayer for the main game and the original soundtrack being locked behind a paywall are significant drawbacks.

music
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
9%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the replacement of the original soundtrack with new, often deemed generic tracks that lack the charm of the classics. While some appreciate the new compositions, a significant number of users feel that the original music should not have been locked behind a paywall, viewing this as a greedy move by the developers. Overall, players recommend purchasing the classic soundtrack DLC to fully enjoy the nostalgic experience that the original music provided.
- “Highly recommend the original music DLC since the original soundtrack is fantastic!”
- “The new soundtrack is just as good as the old.”
- “Everything about it, from the music to the level design to the characters all just scream style and fun.”
- “The music is the most horrible generic crap you could ever imagine, and they pay-walled the original soundtrack behind a DLC purchase.”
- “Locking the original OST and 'original skins' behind paywalls for an anniversary game reeks of corporate greed.”
- “The new music isn't great; thankfully, you can turn on the original music.”
story
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
84%
7%
The story aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many players criticizing its lack of depth and engaging narrative. The removal of animated cutscenes in favor of static images has been particularly disappointing, leading to a perception of a "cheap" and "boring" storytelling approach. Additionally, the absence of multiplayer in the story mode and a linear progression system have contributed to a frustrating experience for players, overshadowing the gameplay's potential enjoyment.
- “Completing the story mode of SMB2 is definitely up there with my greatest gaming achievements!”
- “The game's bells and whistles are super cool too, adding multiple 'missions' to every story mode level makes for fun challenges once you've finished the rest of the game.”
- “The main story mode is pretty good (with the exception of 4-6, way too much wonky physics in that level).”
- “The story mode is where you’ll be spending the majority of your time in this game.”
- “The story mode cutscenes have been watered down so much that they might as well not even be there, and it's weird to me that none of the guest characters have unique sound effects or voice clips.”
- “The 'story mode' really isn't great, but the party game section is really where this game shines.”
gameplay
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its unique mechanics and satisfying level design, while others criticize the controls, camera issues, and overall execution of core gameplay elements. Many users noted that the game feels less polished compared to its predecessors, with some mechanics feeling unresponsive or poorly implemented, leading to frustration. Despite these drawbacks, the game still offers a fun and challenging experience, especially for newcomers, thanks to its accessibility options and additional content.
- “This makes for a super satisfying gameplay loop because sightreading maps is intuitive and easy.”
- “The gameplay is fun and the level design is unique; it feels so refreshing to go back to levels to find new ways to beat them.”
- “Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a remake of the first two Monkey Ball games with tons of added content and replay value; the gameplay is, for all intents and purposes, the same as it was 20 years ago.”
- “The main gameplay mode suffers from terrible ball physics (especially mid-air), bad camera controls, and no power-ups to ease completing stages (or at least making them more interesting/fun to complete).”
- “Gameplay not faithful to the original, feels awful in comparison.”
- “Sadly the controls and physics don't feel tight and precise - which is kind of the one mechanic that the game has.”
graphics
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
56%
7%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the colorful and updated visuals as a significant improvement over the original, while others criticize them as bland or even worse than the GameCube version. Many players appreciate the aesthetic choices and the nostalgic touch-ups, but there are complaints about the lack of original art style and some graphical issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good, they do not universally satisfy fans of the original titles.
- “The new soundtrack slaps, the new visuals are gorgeous, and overall it feels like RGG actually tried.”
- “The graphics and backgrounds are gorgeous, and I think they did a pretty good job of recreating the levels from SMB 1 and 2; however, there are some things left to be desired.”
- “Every area has a graphical re-haul to fit the new age look, and it's quite pretty and colorful seeing the past we grew up with in a sparkling, colorful new look.”
- “The graphics are bright and colorful, perhaps a little too bright for my liking but you can adjust this in the options.”
- “The old aesthetic of the game is missing.”
- “Graphics are somehow worse here than in the original, missing content like story mode cutscenes, day one DLC, new music and sounds that just aren't it, and the physics are weird.”
humor
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely centered around its quirky premise of a monkey rolling in a ball, which many players find amusing and nostalgic. While some reviews highlight the absence of engaging cutscenes in the remake compared to the original, others appreciate the absurdity and meme-worthy moments that evoke laughter. Overall, the game's comedic elements resonate well with fans, despite some frustrations with its difficulty.
- “A game made in the early 2000's having cut scenes that are more engaging than a remake can pump out in 2021 is just hilarious.”
- “I love it when the monkey rolls on the ball, it's some funny stuff.”
- “Yo Mr. White, this game is the bomb! You tilt the level to make the funny monkey roll around in a ball to collect bananas and get to the goal within the time limit. Isn't that straight up awesome?”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some expressing frustration over the lackluster storytelling and motion sickness, while others find joy and nostalgia in the gameplay and music. Many players appreciate the wholesome elements and engaging alternative modes, which contribute to a genuinely enjoyable experience, despite some criticisms of the narrative depth. Overall, the game evokes a range of emotions, from disappointment to heartfelt enjoyment.
- “This game makes me want to cry every bit as much as the original deluxe did when I was 12.”
- “The most emotional and realistic chapter in the ape sphere saga (so far).”
- “But I can't really put to words the emotions this game made me feel blasting through the SMB1 challenge stages.”
- “”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its extensive mission system, unlockable characters, and various challenges that keep players engaged. While some fans feel that certain elements have diminished the charm of the franchise, the added content and customization options significantly enhance the long-term enjoyment. Players appreciate the fun and variety, making it a recommended purchase for those seeking a game with lasting appeal.
- “This is a game with high long-term replay value. Lots of shouting and joy. For sure, buy it!”
- “The missions that net these points are plentiful, so the replayability is insanely high.”
- “The addition of all of the characters, cosmetics, and missions really adds to the replayability of an already very replayable game.”
- “Super Monkey Ball, however, loses a significant amount of its replay value when you take away any incentive not to die.”
- “I am a big fan of the classic Monkey Ball games, but much of the franchise has lost a lot of its charm and heavy replayability factor.”
- “The game's signature playable credits are gone, and the 3D cutscenes and dialogue of SMB2's story mode have been flattened into incomprehensible, screaming cartoons.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
13%
63%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often tedious and frustrating, with many players feeling that it requires excessive effort to achieve 100% completion. The gameplay can become repetitive, particularly due to annoying voiceovers and slow mechanics, leading some to recommend playing only with friends to mitigate the grind. Overall, while the game has enjoyable elements, the grinding aspect detracts significantly from the experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Attempting to 100% this game is tedious and frustrating even outside of the main game, and I highly doubt this game will update since it hasn't updated between now and the release day.”
- “It's fun but I refunded it since I don't see myself getting through all 300 stages as the gameplay becomes tedious after a bit and the announcer has a very annoying voice and often says the same lines over and over again. Go watch a video of the minigame monkey target and see what I mean; he yells 'hit' every time you shoot an enemy and my god it's annoying.”
- “Even after I learned how the new physics work, it's extremely slow and tedious.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's stability is significantly hampered by persistent issues with controller recognition, requiring extensive troubleshooting that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the gameplay itself is smooth and free of glitches, the frequent need to reconfigure controller settings can lead to frustration and a negative experience for players.
- “It runs great, plays great and has some really challenging levels.”
- “No glitches that I have encountered thus far.”
- “The amount of troubleshooting it takes to get the game to recognize the controller again -- uninstalling, re-mapping/selecting controller binds, installing on different drives, all over and over -- makes this game actually un-fun.”
- “TL;DR: If your controller disconnects once, the game won't pick it up again without 1 hour of troubleshooting. Get Dolphin and play SMB1 and SMB2 that way instead.”
- “Bought this game for my son, and after 8 hours of nonstop troubleshooting, the controllers will straight up not work.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many features and content removed from the original release and advertised gameplay. Players express disappointment over the reliance on purchasable skins and the absence of previously included elements, suggesting a lack of genuine effort in the game's development.
- “Game after game was just another soulless cash grab, another punch to an already dead horse.”
- “Abandoned at launch cash grab with a plethora of features removed from the advertising and original games.”
- “Feels like a cash grab when they should have been in the base game.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game's PC version is highly optimized, delivering impressive performance with over 120fps on high settings, even on older hardware. Users report smooth gameplay without technical issues or crashes, indicating that it runs efficiently across a range of systems.
- “The PC version of this game is optimized very well. I had NVIDIA performance stats on my top left while playing on high settings, getting more than 120 FPS with CPU temperature at 20% and GPU at 40%. All of this with an Intel Core i7-10750H, 16 GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GB, and a 144Hz monitor. If you have the same specs, then you're good.”
- “I have had no technical hiccups or crashes, and the game seems to be fairly well optimized, as I'm running it on a 7-year-old PC.”
- “The stages are great, and everything runs smoothly.”
- “The performance is subpar, with frequent frame drops and stuttering even on mid-range settings.”
- “Optimization is lacking; the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it frustrating to play.”
- “Despite having a high-end setup, the game still experiences significant lag and loading issues.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development has received criticism for its lackluster designs, with many users feeling that the new characters lack the charm and appeal of those from the original game, resulting in an overall off-putting impression.
- “There is no charm in the character designs like there was in the original; the new characters are off-putting.”
- “Character designs are bad still.”