Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz

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Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Developer(s)	Sega
Publisher(s)	Sega
Designer(s)	Toshihiro Nagoshi
Release date(s)	November 14, 2006 December 2, 2006 December 7, 2006 December 8, 2006
Genre(s)	Platformer, Puzzle
Mode(s)	Single player, Multiplayer
Platform(s)	Wii
Media	DVD-ROM
Input	Wii Remote, Nunchuk Peripheral

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz is the latest entry in the Super Monkey Ball series following Super Monkey Ball Adventure.^[1] It is a Wii exclusive and was before the system on November 14, 2006 in North America.

Contents 1 Features 2 Characters 2.1 YanYan 2.2 Doctor 2.3 Character Attributes 2.4 SEGA Mascots 3 Levels 4 Bosses 5 Mini-Games 5.1 Returning Games 5.2 New Games 6 Rumors/Trivia 7 Reception 8 Screenshots 9 External links 10 References

[edit] Features

• The Wii controller is held parallel to the ground. The monkey character rolls based on the slope of the game world, directly corresponding with the relative tilt of the Wii controller. The analog stick on the nunchuck attachment can control the camera but does not have to be connected to the Wii remote to play the game.
• For the first time in a Super Monkey Ball game, players are able to jump by quickly flicking controller up or by pressing the A button.
• There are around 100 main game levels.
• There are approximately 50 mini-games that each use the controller in a different way, e.g. the mini-game "Darts", where players 'throw' the Wii Remote like a dart.
• All characters featured in past games are playable according to IGN's interview with the producer of the game.^[2]
• Unlike previous games in the Super Monkey Ball series, this new game will feature boss battles.^[3]
• This is the first game in the Super Monkey Ball series to feature character-specific abilities and stats in the single player mode (although character specific stats have featured previously in minigames, such as Monkey Bowling).
• Characters will be able to save a total of 30 replays on their Wii, according to the official manual. [1]

[edit] Characters

In addition to returning characters, Aiai, Meemee, Gongon, and Baby, two new characters can be found in Banana Blitz: YanYan and Doctor:

[edit] YanYan

A new girl has come to town, sporting the name, "YanYan". She appears to have a huge crush on Aiai, and she shows it well with her flirtatious behavior, leading Meemee to become slightly concerned.

[edit] Doctor

A mysterious, elderly, lemur monkey has drifted into town with a case of amnesia - he can't even remember his name! However, this amnesia-suffering monkey also has made some great inventions, which is why the townsfolk have given him the name, "Doctor".

[edit] Character Attributes

As confirmed on the Official Japanese Site [2], each character has different stats and abilities. Categories are divided by Size of Ball, Jump, Speed, Weight, and, Acceleration:

• Aiai is an average character. He has average stats for each category.
• Meemee has less speed and weight, but she has good jump ability to make up for it.
• Gongon may have the biggest ball, resulting in the worst jump ability, like Doctor, and bad acceleration, but, to make up for it, he is the fastest character in the game and he has the heaviest weight.
• Baby has the smallest ball, giving him good jump ability and acceleration, but he is quite slow and has the lightest weight.
• YanYan may have the best jump ability in the game, but all of the rest of her stats are somewhat below average.
• Doctor has the best acceleration in the game, and all of his remaining stats are average, but both him and Gongon have the worst jump ability.

[edit] SEGA Mascots

IGN has also mentioned the appearance of 2 other Sega Mascots in the game, who were in the demo at Leipzig 2006 - it is unknown, at this point, as to whether or not they will be in the final version. [3]

However, according to a recent video on IGN, entitled "Opening Levels", a couple of seconds into the movie reveals the Character Select screen, showing that there are four other character circles to be filled. Ultimately, half or all of these could be these SEGA Mascots referred to by IGN.

Speculation has, as a result, already gone under way. It is rumored that potential SEGA mascots that would appear could be any of the following: Billy Hatcher, Sonic the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Samba de Amigo, Beat, Knuckles the Echidna, Shadow the Hedgehog, Amy Rose, Alex Kidd, Ristar, or NiGHTS.

[edit] Levels

Below is a partial list of worlds from the game. Each one contains eight stages, a bonus stage, and a boss stage.

• Monkey Island - The first world in the game, very reminiscent of the traditional, tropical/jungle setting from Super Monkey Ball and Super Monkey Ball 2. [4]
• Jumble Jungle - A jungle world, featuring brush and waterfall backdrops.
• Smooth Sherbet - An ice world, surrounded by falling snow particles and slippery, icy pathways.
• Detritus Desert - An Egyptian-style desert world, complete with pyramids, sand dunes, and bridges. [5]
• Pirates Ocean - An pirate themed world filled with spooky ships and swaying waters. [6]
• Cobalt Caverns - An underwater world that unfolds in dark caves.
• Volcanic Pools - A lava world featuring mazes inside an erupting volcano.
• Space Case - A space world, boasting galactic, and surreal backgrounds. [7]
• Sinking Swamp - Unlockable ninth world [8]
• Unlockable World - Unknown Name [9]

[edit] Bosses

For the first time in the Monkey Ball Series, characters will face off against bosses from each of the eight worlds. It is also revealed that in these boss battles, as is the case with each of the respective stages, you will also be timed, making for more of a challenge to the player. So far, as seen in trailers and screenshots, some of the bosses are:

• Monkey Island: A bird [10][11]
• Jumble Jungle: A monkey that launches large balls at you, which must be avoided [12] [13][14][15]
• Smooth Sherbet: A walrus [16][17]
• Detritus Desert: A giant monkey/genie [18] [19]
• A robot, with large snapping jaws [20]
• A purple mole [21]
• A flying robot, with projectiles being fired at your monkey. You can jump over these, causing them to hit the robot, for massive damage. [22][23] [24]
• A big blue female monkey. It is not known how she battles but rumor has it that this monkey likes AiAi, so when AiAi turns her down, she's not too happy. [25]
• ??? [26]
• An octopus [27]

[edit] Mini-Games

Did You Know? There are more mini-games on Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz than all the other games before it combined.

It has been confirmed that there will be 50 mini-games in the finished game.^[4] There is a "party" mode whereby players can choose tournament-type gameplay, selecting mini-games in an attempt to accumulate the most points. [28] Below is a partial list of mini-Games that have been announced to be in the game:^[5]

[edit] Returning Games

At least five games have been borrowed from previous Super Monkey Ball titles:

• Home Run Derby

When the ball approaches, the controller is swung, emulating a baseball swing. The more precise and powerful the swing the better you score.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Alternating

• Monkey Bowling [29]

Rolling the ball seems to involve flicking the wrist instead of the traditional motion used in Wii Sports.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Alternating

• Monkey Golf[30]

Standard game of golf, where players swing the Wii remote to simulate using the golf club.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Alternating

• Monkey Race [31] [32]

A returning mini-game throughout all games in the Monkey Ball series, players must guide their monkeys along high-speed tracks in an attempt to reach the goal before their opponents. As was the case in Super Monkey Ball 2, it is possible to play with up to 8 computer-controlled racers. It has also been revealed that more than one Monkey Race stage will be available - there are five in total. [33][34][35] According to the movie on IGN, returning items, the Hunter Missile, and the Speed Star, are just some of the items that can be found and used in this mini-game. As revealed in a recent Japanese trailer, players must use their arms to mimic the motion of running, with the Wii Remote in hand in order to progress forward.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Monkey Target [36][37][38]

Confirmed at the Nintendo World Store demo kiosks, Target is another returning mini-game, and has appeared in all non-handheld games in the Monkey Ball series. Players must guide their monkeys in the air and land on targets for points. In this version, each monkey carries a secondary ball which can be dropped for points prior to landing on the target. Other than this addition however, demo kiosks at the Nintendo World Store seem to indicate that this mini-game has been massively simplified. Replacing the traditional speed-building ramp, players are now shot directly into the air from a cannon. It also appears that there is only one level with only one target on that level. Additionally, friction seems to have been reduced on the target causing players to slide further than in previous games.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

[edit] New Games

45 additional mini-games exclusive to Banana Blitz have also been announced, 12 of which use the Nunchuk Peripheral:

• Alien Attack [39]

The monkey rides in a type of hovercraft and use the nunchuck peripheral and the controller to control different jets on the hovercrafts engine while attacking the various aliens.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous
Requires Nunchuck Peripheral

• Asteroid Crash[40]

Players are in a space ship and use the Wii Remote to aim and destroy asteroids while collecting banana bunches and attaining the highest score as they can.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous

• Banana Catch [41]

Players must move around the arena, colllecting as many bananas as they can as they fall from the sky. Occassionally, bombs will drop from the sky and if you catch them, you'll lose all the banana you've caught thus far! Make your opponents hit the bombs to steal bananas from them.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Banana Thief[42] [43]

Players must protect the banana bunches above them from numerous thieves, while avoiding rolling balls. Moving the Wii Remote left and right moves your character, and flicking it upwards causes the character to jump up and hit the thieves with a boxing glove on a pole.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Bugs Balance [44] [45]

Players must use the Wii Remote to get the highest stack of bugs as possible without letting their stack drop. Anything you pick up that's not a bug will force you to start over.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous

• Dangerous Route[46]

Players must run across a path without any rails or barriers to protect them from falling off. Facing against the clock, players must run as fast as they can whilst being cuatious of falling off the edge, where they'd have to start from the very beginning!
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Disc Golf[47] [48]

Similar to the golf game, but players instead use a frisbee to try to knock the dome off a low structure by swinging the Wii remote.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Alternating

• Fencing [49] [50] [51]

Players use the Wii Remote in a "stabbing motion" whilst moving your character to try to hit your opponent and score points.

• Fish Catcher [52] [53]

Players must lance as many underwater fish as you can by simply stabbing them with the lance as you would in real life.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Free Throw [54]

Free Throw is right! Without any backboards, player must accurately score as many baskets as they can within the time limit.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Frog Ball [55]

Each monkey's monkey ball now sport legs that can be used to hop across the pond towards the goal.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Fruit Basket [56]

Different colored fruit falls from the sky and you have to trapeze bounce it to the appropriately colored baskets.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous

• Hammer Throw [57]

Spin the controller around in circles and release the A button to throw. Good timing is required or it will fall outside of the boundaries and foul.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• High Wire Act [58]

The monkey-ball balances on a wire. Tip the controller forwards to make the ball roll along the rope but when the ball starts to tip to either side you must quickly turn it the other way to try to balance the ball again.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Hovercraft Battle[59] [60]

Variation of the Hovercraft Race, where players instead use their craft to charge into other players and earn points.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Hovercraft Race [61]

Both the nunchuck peripheral and the controller are needed to play this mini-game. Each one controls one engine of the hovercraft and they must be turned in a certain way to turn the hovercraft in the race.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous
Requires Nunchuck Peripheral

• Hurdle Race [62] [63]

Move both the nunchuck peripheral and the controller up and down to simulate running gestures and flick upward to jump over the hurdles.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous
Requires Nunchuck Peripheral

• Jump Rope [64] ^[6][7]

Simply flick up with the controller to make the monkey jump the rope. See how many jumps you can make with the rope gradually increasing speed.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Jigsaw Puzzle [65]

Players must scramble to create their picture with the puzzle pieces they have before them within the time limit and before their opponents.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Keepy Up [66] [67] [68]

Players must keep the monkey in a ball bouncing in the air as long as they can without letting him fall below.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous

• Monkey Boxer[69][70]

Players must eliminate their rival monkey using boxing gloves in a face-to-face battle.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous
Requires Nunchuck Peripheral

• Monkey Darts [71]

Players throw the darts as in real life. If not thrown hard enough the darts will fall slightly, so speed and accuracy are needed to get a high score. There are currently two different confirmed dartboards.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Alternating

• Monkeysmith[72]

Swing your hammer in harmony with the Blacksmith Master to create a masterpiece. But, if you fail to follow him closely, you'll be kicked out!
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Monkey Snowboard [73][74][[75]]

Players guide their characters around walls, obstacles, snowmen, and opponents, across a ski hill in an attempt to beat their opponent's to the finish line. Bananas help you by slightly increasing speed. It has been confirmed that there are a total of three different stages.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Monkey Squash[76]

Standard game of squash, where players swing the Wii Remote to hit the ball and use the nunchuck to move about.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous
Requires Nunchuck Peripheral

• Monkey Wars [77][78]

Players find themselves in a stage where they must fight other monkeys in order to survive. The game appears to bear a resemblance to Monkey Wars from Super Monkey Ball: Touch and Roll. There are 3 stages you can play on - grass, desert, and, space. [79][80]
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous
Requires Nunchuck Peripheral

• Number Ball [81]

A number will appear at the top of the screen. The player must point to the ball with the same number on it with the Wii Remote.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Paper Sumo Fighter[82][83][84]

Players manipulate a paper figure of their character by using the Wii Remote and the A button, moving around a hand in the circular arena and making it slap down on the ground, creating a burst of air that moves your figure in the desired direction. Your goal is to make your paper figure push other player's paper figure out of the arena.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous

• Paraglider [85][86]

Players must use their parachutes to land on the target by gliding in a graceful manner through the air. Wind changes may make it harder to land on target; by going near the mountain, you can gain altitude, not dissimilar to the usgae of geysers in Super Monkey Ball Adventure whilst flying.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous
Requires Nunchuck Peripheral

• Racing Birds [87][88][89]

Soar through the skies in an attempt to guide your bird through as many rings as you can in the air. Crashing into walls during narrow passages will result in the loss of valuable time.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous
Requires Nunchuck Peripheral

• Red Light/Green Light [90][91][92]

The monkeys move in a way similar to the Hurdle Race minigame to reach the end without getting caught by the Red Lights. The game closely resembles the Stop and Go mini-game from Sonic Shuffle.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous
Requires Nunchuck Peripheral

• Ring Toss^[6][93] [94]

Players throw rings into certain targets to score points.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Alternating

• Rock-Paper-Scissors Attack [95][96][97]

The classic game of Rock, Paper, Scissors with a twist. If you win, you get a chance to bash your opponent on the head with your hammer before he can protect himself with the helmet, but, if you lose, you must grab your helmet before your opponent bashes you on the head with their hammer.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous
Requires Nunchuck Peripheral

• Scoop the Goldfish [98][99]

Each player must try to capture a goldfish using their nets and then, carefully carry them over to their bucket. The monkey that has the most fish in their bucket wins.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Seesaw Ball [100]

Somewhat resembling a pinball machine taken apart, monkeys must guide their monkeys from the very top of the seesaws, slowly scaling down the below seesaws to reach the target below. Going too fast will prove determental for players so caution is needed here.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Simon Says ^[8] [101] [102] (Previously referred to as "Flag Panic")

Players must use their Wii Remotes and hold it up in the same direction as the guiding monkey to score points. One mishap will result in a Game Over so try to stay in as long as you can!
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Shepherd [103][104]

From platforms in the area, players must guide their dogs to guide as many sheep, out of a total of 100, into their pen as they can in 3 minutes.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous

• Sling Shot [105][106]

Players must use their catapults to knock down as many cans and balloons down as possible. UFO's may make an appearance during the game and if they do, hit 'em right away for bonus points!
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Space Monkey Attack [107][108]http://www.1up.com/do/slideshow?pager.offset=8&mt=0&cId=3149873&mId=3076270]

Players in spaceships must destroy incoming ships and objects.
Gameplay: 1-2 Players Simultaneous

• Spaceship Landing [109] [110][111][112]

Players use the controller to move a spaceship and use their rocket boosters. The goal is to land on the target as quick as possible using the least amount of fuel and taking the least amount of damage.
Gameplay: 1-4 players Simultaneous

• Treasure Submarine [113] [114][115][116][117]

Players must guide their monkeys inside submarines deep under the sea in search of a treasure chest underwater, using a radar and a drill.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• UFO Catcher[118]

Players ride in UFOs, moving around with the Wii Remote and trying to abduct all the aliens in the arena before the time limit runs out.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Trombone [119]

Players must make music using their instruments by playing the high notes in synchronization.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• UFO Catcher[120]

Players ride in UFOs, moving around with the Wii Remote and trying to abduct all the aliens in the arena before the time limit runs out.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

• Whack-a-Mole^[6]

Works just like the actual game, players move the controller forwards, backwards, left and right throughout virtual space and use it like a hammer to slam down on the mole.
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Siumltaneous

• Yacht Sailing [121]

Players must guide their monkeys in yachts across the open sea filled with hazardous obstacles including jagged rocks, and, not to mention hungry sharks!
Gameplay: 1-4 Players Simultaneous

[edit] Rumors/Trivia

• In this game, "Baby" gets a new costume and matching sunglasses, specifically for the game.^[9] [122]
• The music featured in the trailer on the official US Site is a remix of the Monkey Baseball theme from Super Monkey Ball 2.
• The music found in the video on IGN for the "Squash" mini-game is a remix of the Clock Tower Hill and Cannon Ball Circuit music from Monkey Race 2, in Super Monkey Ball 2.
• The music found in the video on IGN for the "Paper Sumo" mini-game is a remix of the Woody Arch River music from Monkey Boat, in Super Monkey Ball 2. It also appeared in a trailer for the same game.
• Unlike previous games, it is possible to "fail" at mini-games, as was the case in the party game, Sonic Shuffle. [123]
• A rumor has it that if you lose to the big blue female monkey boss there will be a cut scene of her kissing Aiai over and over and over and over again.

[edit] Reception

Banana Blitz has thus far received generally positive reviews [124]. Notable comments were the following:

EGM awarded the game a 6.2, stating that the new Wii Remote-based control scheme made the game excessively difficult but enjoyed the large amount of games even if a few were not fun, whereas IGN said the controls simply had a relatively steep learning curve, and once the player is used to them, are superior to control using an analog stick. Gamespot also praised the controls but criticized the single player game for its brevity. All three found the new cel-shaded visual a little simplistic, although noting that it was well-suited to the tone of the game. Noteworthy, too, is the comment made by Gamespot that Banana Blitz was one of the "best in the series".

Ratings:

• 8.4 by IGN
• 6.2 average by EGM
• 8.3 by Gamespot
• B by Underground Online [125]

[edit] Screenshots

Screenshot 1	Screenshot 2	Screenshot 3	Screenshot 4
Magazine Scan 1	Magazine Scan 2	Magazine Scan 3

[edit] External links

• Super Monkey Ball World - Official Website
• Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz - Official Website (JPN)
• Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz Official Website (US)
• Interview with Toshihiro Nagoshi at 1UP.com
• Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz Reviews at Metacritic.com
• Wii Preview at IGN
• http://nintendo.com

[edit] References

1. ^ SEGA ANNOUNCES SUPER MONKEY BALL: BANANA BLITZ FOR NINTENDO'S REVOLUTION CONSOLE. Sega of America. Retrieved on 2006-08-28.
2. ^ Matt Casmassina. IGN: Wii Interview: Super Monkey Ball. IGN. Retrieved on 2006-09-24.
3. ^ Screens: Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz (Gaming-Age). n-sider.com. Retrieved on 2006-08-28.
4. ^ Jeff Haynes. GC 2006: Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz Hands-On. IGN. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
5. ^ Matt Casmassina. E3 2006: Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz. IGN. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
6. ^ ^{a b c} E3 2006: Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz. IGN. Retrieved on 2006-08-28.
7. ^ Jump Rope screenshot. IGN. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
8. ^ Flag Panic screenshot. IGN. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.
9. ^ Super Money Ball screenshot (JPG). n-sider. Retrieved on 2006-09-17.