Super Monkey Ball 2

Monkey Tennis - more balls than you can shake a stick at.

Super Monkey Ball caused a little bit of a stir when it was released as part of the GameCube's launch titles. Based on a little known arcade game, Super Monkey Ball has easily outlasted any other title released at the same time. Of course, we're not talking about Super Monkey Ball here, are we? We're talking about the sequel, and we all know what tends to happen to sequels.

The premise of SMB2 is essentially the same as the first game. Guide your little ball-encased monkey around progressively more lethal environments without falling off, being squashed, being eaten, falling down a trapdoor, and so on. Alongside the lengthy single player game, there are a plethora of multiplayer modes, some of which must be unlocked.

Getting up close and personal

One of the most significant changes between 1 & 2 - Monkey Target has been completely revamped.

Super Monkey Ball 2, in single player mode, builds on the original game and adds a completely surreal story to boot. A very nasty simian by the name of Dr Bad Boon has swooped into the monkey village and vaccuumed up all the bananas. There's a name for that type of behaviour where I come from (tax collector? ed.). Anyway, our intrepid heroes decide to head off and reclaim their pilfered munchies and, without further ado, leap into their balls and head off into the sunset.

In order to reclaim their bananas, the player has to navigate his spherically enclosed ape around increasingly treacherous levels. Swinging platforms, moving blocks, plummetting drops and all manner of traps and nasties stand between the player and the goal. As if that wasn't difficult enough, there's a time limit on each level as well.

Taking in the view

Monkey Shoot - or is it Virtua Monkey?

Rather than the empty void surrounding the platforms in SMB, SMB2's action is played out over ten themed levels. Starting with the standard-fare Jungle level, we progress through bizzarre variations on the traditional jungle/ice/lava/water platform cliches. Here we have jungle and lava, yes, but we also have inside a clock, the innards of a whale, and those are the saner themes. Don't get me started on the washing machine.

As well as the increased number of levels, SMB2 features much more interactive puzzles. Nerves of steel are still required to navigate the teetering platforms, but a whole host of traps, pitfalls, and bizarre puzzles also await. The depth this adds to the game can be mildly frustrating, and definately panic-inducing. The single player game is difficult on the beginner level, and utterly insane on the most difficult setting.

More? What do you mean, more?

Just stay on the platform. That's all you have to do.

Get some friends around and SMB2 will provide the same multiplayer madness that SMB did. Times ten. All of the original multiplayer games - monkey race, monkey fight, monkey target, monkey billiards, monkey bowling, and monkey golf - are there in an enhanced reworked form. In addition to this, six new unlockable games have been added.

We have manic boat races, a virtua cop-like rail shooter, a monkey dogfighting game (monkeys? dogs? what? It's an arial combat game), tennis, soccer, and baseball. Yes, you counted right - that's twelve games. The strange thing is, they really don't feel like minigames. Playing competitively against human players adds an incredible amount of depth to these essentially simple games, making sure that this title will still see the inside of your GameCube long after you've finished the single player game.

The little things

Monkey Paddle - prepare for a trigger-finger workout.

Almost every facet of SMB has been improved in the sequel. A few die-hard fans of Monkey target have noted that they preferred the original version but, in my opinion, they are crazy people and not to be trusted. Graphically, while not pushing the 'Cube to its limits, SMB2 delivers a smooth, colourful, and fast experience. The background scenery can occasionally be a little rough, but you really won't have very much time to admire it - the time limits are tight and the levels difficult.

Aurally, the sound is splendid - if you like listening to monkeys. The music is horrifically cheerful and upbeat, but that's SMB for you. The commentator is worth the price of the game on his own, with his disjointed exclamations - that man has a future in cinema trailers.

A bucket of monkeys

It's back! And it's coming for ya!

The controls are responsive and simple - and they need to be both. The overall presentation of the game is miles ahead of the original - slick, quick, and responsive. Super Monkey Ball 2 both follows and supplants the original in every way.

With a fun (and wierd) Storyline and a myriad of challenging levels in single player mode, not to mention twelve fun and frantic mini games, this game represents more value for money than you can rattle a monkey ball it. You need to buy it. Now.