Super Monkey Ball Adventure [GC]

Although we couldn't play the main game, thanks to some careful seating arrangements in the front row of the demo, we were able to try out one of the newest multiplayer games. It appears that SMB Adventure will have six party games, three classic and three new. While Sega did not announce all of the new party games, they confirmed that Monkey Race, Monkey Target, and Monkey Fight will all return. Sorry, Monkey Bowling fans.

Out of the three new games, they let us play the new Top Gun game. The best way to describe it is, as the Product Manager said, "shooting monkeys out of cannons at giant Jenga fortresses." It's a great way to describe the action, as up to four players compete to launch monkeys to knock down Jenga-like towers. Knocking down more blocks in each timed round ensures that the victor will gain those blocks, and therefore more defense and a higher tower to build for the next round. Also, players will be able to put up defensive barriers against other monkeys to ensure a strong fort. Overall, from the five or six minutes that we played, it was very fun, and hopefully the other two games will carry in the fun-filled spirit of the other classic mini-games of the series.


While the GameCube version appears to continue in the tradition of the other games in the series, the PS2 version will have cross-compatibility with the PSP game. While Sega didn't show enough of the PSP game to warrant a preview at this point, the handheld version looks quite similar to the PS2 game, although the frame rate is going to need some major work before the game's July release. On the more positive side, the games will share data via USB connection so that, like SmackDown vs. Raw 2006 or Winning Eleven 9, players can drop their progress from the PS2 game onto their PSP and take it on the road. Whether the progress can be re-uploaded like SmackDown remains to be seen, however. The game, like all of the other versions, will feature up to four-player multiplayer via Ad Hoc.

Super Monkey Ball fans concerned with seeing the series jump the shark thanks to its new platformer transformation shouldn't have much to worry about. This shouldn't be the Monkey Ball equivalent of Shadow the Hedgehog for Sega's other fabled franchise. Although we couldn't play the new main game, it looks promising, and although some mini-game favorites couldn't make the cut, the new Top Gun mini-game is a lot of fun. The PSP version still needs some work, but all around, the console renditions look to retain the spirit of the Super Monkey Ball games nicely. The series might be in good hands with Travellers' Tales in the driver's seat, and fans won't have to wait long to find out how well the final product comes out; Super Monkey Ball Adventure looks poised to drop in July.

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