Review | Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble (Switch)

It’s been years since I last rolled a monkey in a ball through a maze of obstacles (that sounds so strange). My last encounter with the Super Monkey Ball was on the Nintendo 3DS, a game that brought countless hours of frustration and joy.

Despite my hiatus from the series, Super Monkey Ball is one of those iconic series that everyone recognises, and for good reason. It has achieved a sort of cult status, with its quirky characters, challenging gameplay, and loving appeal.

Now, with Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble, the series is back with a delightful blend of nostalgia and new adventures.

This time, AiAi and his friends are whisked away to a tropical island, where they meet a spirited adventurer named Palette. Palette’s quest to find her lost father and the Legendary Banana sets the stage for an odd but exciting adventure packed with twists, turns, and a whole lot of bananas.

No Monkeying Around

The narrative kicks off with Palette promising the monkeys all the bananas they can eat in exchange for their help. What follows is a charming story told through a series of cutscenes, adding depth and engagement to the gameplay. That said, the cutscenes are very basic.

Though the story is simple, it picks up towards the end with a dramatic plot twist! I’ll say no more, but it made up for the extremely family friendly first act.

*Each stage offers a variety of themed and colourful courses.*

Adventure Mode offers 200 new stages spread across various worlds, each brimming with unique challenges. These stages can be tackled solo or with friends in local or online co-op.

Banana Rumble screams party game! Add it to your rotation.

In classic Super Monkey Ball fashion, players control a monkey encased in a transparent ball, navigating through floating obstacle courses to reach the goal within a time limit. A new addition to Banana Rumble is the new Spin Dash, enabling you to charge and launch your monkey ball by holding B.

Overall, the game’s physics and handling work well. Though I’d recommend a controller when playing on a TV; the Switch joy-cons don’t quite do it.

Every level is filled with bananas to collect, as well as a special golden banana, adding layers of strategy to the mix – these bananas are usually the hardest to snatch up on a run.

I found some levels to be an absolute breeze where you hardly had to think, but the next one would be a 20-try nightmare. Sega really threw in a mix.

As the game progresses, the difficulty ramps up significantly, demanding precise control and patience… So much patience. The thrill of launching yourself through a goal after countless attempts offers a sense of accomplishment comparable to conquering a tough boss in the likes of Elden Ring (but without the glory).

Barrel of Monkeys

Banana Rumble shines in its multiplayer offerings. Battle Mode supports up to four players locally (with various configurations) and 16 players online. Unfortunately, I couldn’t test the online multiplayer, but the local matches were a laugh. Can’t say my young kiddos were very skilled at this one, it even proved quite challenging to me at times (not that I’m a pro gamer or anything!).

*Four players can join together on the one Nintendo Switch. (Sega)*

Players can compete in five different modes across 15 stages, using items like banana peels, bats, and missiles to outmaneuver opponents – it’s very Mario Kart.

Even if you don’t have friends around, you can still enjoy the battle minigames offline against AI opponents. Competing against 15 AI monkeys to collect the most bananas or racing to the finish line is intense! The AI can be tough and there is seemingly no settings to adjust their skill level.

*Smash as many robots as you can in the Robot Smash mini game. (Nintendo)*

Banana Rumble Mini-Games

Race: Compete to reach the goal first, restarting at the last checkpoint if you fall off.
Banana Hunt: Collect more bananas than the other players (this one is my favourite).
Ba-Boom: Pass the bomb to opponents and roll away to avoid losing points.
Goal Rush: A team-based mode where you roll through goals for points, with bonuses for matching your team color.
Robot Smash: Another team-based mode where you deal damage to giant robots for points, with more points awarded for destroying them completely.

I found the mini-games lacked detailed instructions, so you might need to figure things out as you play. However, this trial-and-error approach can add to the charm.

Customisation and Accessibility

Customisation is a little over the top, with over 300 items to dress up your character and monkey ball (and more on the way in future updates). I was a little confused at first, the characters are inside balls, why would I dress them? But with a photo mode and up to 16 people playing at once – it’s good to have variety.

From the main menu, you can explore a living scene featuring all the characters. In addition to clothing, there’s also some island decor to snap up for the menu scenery.

*The main menu features a livable scene of all the characters.*

There’s no microtransactions; items can be purchased using in-game points earned from completing missions. The game promises more items in future updates, ensuring continued engagement.

For newcomers or those needing a little help, Banana Rumble includes several assist features. The Rewind function allows players to retry tricky sections, while the Ghost Guide and Route Guide options provide visual aids to navigate stages.

You can also switch over from MPH to KMH from the menu, ensuring you can keep across your speed during a run.

Should you buy Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble?

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a delightful blend of nostalgia, excitement and warranted frustration. While the difficulty can be daunting, the sense of achievement after conquering tough stages is immensely satisfying.

*We’re coming for you, Legendary Banana!*

Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer to the series, Banana Rumble offers a vibrant and enjoyable experience that will keep you rolling back for more. So get the fam together, gather your friends, pick your favorite monkey, and get ready to roll through one of the most fun and engaging entries in the Super Monkey Ball series.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is out today on Nintendo Switch and retails for $69.95.

Quest Daily scores Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble:

8/10