Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble review

Reviews Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble review ByRichard Seagrave 11 July 202411 July 2024

For Switch owners in need of some fun pick-up-and-play action, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a bit of a treat. Jump into its Adventure mode, and while you’re not likely to get invested in the title’s story, it doesn’t matter at all. The fun here is found in negotiating the 200 or so stages spread across a wide number of worlds. And there’s a new mechanic in this new entry as well: a spin dash similar to that of a certain blue hedgehog.

As you move from one stage to the next, your primary objective is simple: reach the goal within the time limit. For those who want to make things a little more challenging and reap all the rewards the game has to offer, however, there are a duo of additional objectives, too: collect the gold bananas found in each stage, and collect all the bananas. The latter requires some serious ball control, as you’ll need to move quickly and with precision.

Of course, as you move from one world to the next, the stages within them get more fiendish. They start out rather simple, perhaps challenging you to just move down a series of wide platforms with some undulations along the way, but eventually there are moving platforms, narrow walkways, launch pads and a whole lot more to contend with. While early stages ease you in, then, you’ll soon need to brush up your skills if you’re to complete everything thrown your way.

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With all stages also playable in Time Attack format, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble really excels as a single-player game, packing in a substantial amount of content including a wealth of cosmetic items to don its playable cast of monkeys in. But worry not, multiplayer fans: the game also has a variety of local and online co-op and competitive options, too.

For a start, players can team up to tackle Adventure mode, overcoming its troublesome hazards together. Players that have more of a competitive streak can also jump into a number of battle modes, challenging them to race to collect more bananas than their competitors, avoid being the one left with a bomb when it explodes, and more. It’s just a shame that performance in these multiplayer modes takes a hit, which sometimes gets in the way of the fun.

Ultimately, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble offers more of the same ball-rolling action that we’ve come to love over the years. What makes it stand out, however, is that its stages are some of the most well-designed and inventive in the series yet. And so, while its multiplayer offerings may not be all that impressive, for those who will spend their time mostly mastering its challenging stages, this latest entry in the Monkey Ball series is a must-have.

This review of Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble was facilitated by a code provided by the game’s publisher. It’s available exclusively on Nintendo Switch.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble review — GameSpew's score

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble 8 10 0 1Suitable for fans of Super Monkey Ball and those new to the series, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble offers more of the same ball-rolling action but with a new spin dash mechanic. In any case, while its multiplayer offerings aren’t the best, the Adventure mode here is better than ever, offering a wealth of excellently designed stages to play through and master.Suitable for fans of Super Monkey Ball and those new to the series, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble offers more of the same ball-rolling action but with a new spin dash mechanic. In any case, while its multiplayer offerings aren’t the best, the Adventure mode here is better than ever, offering a wealth of excellently designed stages to play through and master. Total Score