Continuing in our series on the Super Monkey Ball franchise, today we’re going to drift a bit beyond the norm and then dive in the Wii versions of the title. Having a chance to write about these games has sparked a bit of nostalgia in me, because it’s kind of crazy that it’s been ten years since this game launched. This sentiment is echoed across our Facebook and Twitter as the updates go out. Yes, it’s been ten years – where did the time go? I still remember watching friends play these games in our QA group here at Sega and honestly that feels like a lifetime ago – so much has changed in my life and it’s fun to drift back and recall these games. Heh, enough of that then, let’s pick up where we left off yesterday… I believe I skipped and omitted a few games to get into the iPhone stuff I adore so much!

Super Monkey Ball Adventure

This is the break from the norm I was talking about, and it’s a break for a two reasons that I can think off (if more, fill me in from the comments below!). For starters the Monkey Ball series took a bit of a change in direction with Adventure, making it … well, and Adventure game! Ok, so I guess that’s not a huge surprise, what is interesting is the shift in development to the Traveller’s Tales team away from the Japanese developers. The result was interesting, to say the least and not as well regarded as the other titles. Why mention it? It is a part of the Monkey Ball series, even if it does deviate a bit from the format. Even being an adventure style game, it did contain some of the original modes, including challenge stages and multiplayer games.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz

The first Nintendo Wii offering for the Super Monkey Ball series and a launch title at that, Banana Blitz stayed true to the series roots but added a few changes to the gameplay and a host of new characters. Gameplay wise, the game was the first to implement the ‘Jump’ action! This gave the Monkeys a new skill to combat the ever changing environment and tackle new bosses – yes bosses! The challenges of the levels also had a smoother learning curve, which definitely aided in bringing in new people to the series. New characters were also introduced that appear through a new story arc, involving evil Pirate Monkeys – an idea, I’m still quite fond of.

Banana Blitz also launched with the largest collection of mini-games in the series thus far, with a total of 50 different games! Old classics returned with Monkey Target and Monkey Bowling as well as new challenges with Asteroid Crash and Banana Thief. Ok, I just wanted to say Banana Thief because it makes me chuckle. Having 50 games definitely upped the ante a bit for offering some fun among friends with the Monkey Ball series and no title to date has been able to offer as many games in a single title release.

Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll

By now, as either a fan of the series or a reader of the blog, you can see the Super Monkey Ball team likes to develop around new technology. With Step & Roll the new challenge was to work with the Wii Balance Board and craft a Monkey Ball experience to match. Also playing off the fitness angle of the Balance Board, players could burn Monkey Calories (not described was the ratio between normal calories and Monkey Calories – the assumption was that they were close enough to not matter)! Additional fun involved a coop mode where players could help their Monkey companions by blasting away obstacles along the way.

See you tomorrow for our last blog on Super Monkey Ball, focusing on the 3DS version! Woo!