Summary
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumbleis bringing original entries back to its franchise in a big way, with a veritable smorgasbord of confirmed features. For fans of the cult-hit series,Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumblehas a lot to offer.
Releasing June 25th,Banana Rumblewill beexclusive to the Nintendo Switch—a fact that serves as something of a departure. Though theSuper Monkey Ballgames have frequently been exclusive to Nintendo platforms, with its first two console titles found only on the GameCube, bothBanana Blitz HDandBanana Maniareceived multi-platform releases. Regardless, the upcomingBanana Rumblelooks to be a perfect fit for the Switch; not only does the portable system match its arcade-style timed levels, it has the exact type of cutesy charm found all over the console’s library.
Everything Confirmed For Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble’s Release
Campaign and Multiplayer Modes, New Character
Thelevel count ofSuper Monkey Ball: Banana Rumbleis nothing to scoff at, with 200 new stages. These stages will come packaged with a variety of optional accessibility features, including a ‘rewind’ aide, a stage guide, and extra checkpoints. Players will also need to navigate a new spin dash move to best the game’s levels, all while balancing standard stage-control gameplay.
Banana Rumbleis poised to receive a new narrative and an assortment of cutscenes to accompany these levels, as well as 1-4 player local/online multiplayer integration. Local play is a feature not seen in the franchise since the originalSuper Monkey Ballfrom 2001, not to mention the ground broken by the inclusion of multiplayer.
Banana Rumblewill innovate the serieseven further in this regard, with multiplayer modes that promise lobbies of up to 16 players. This multiplayer is split across 5 different game modes, those being Race, Goal Rush, Ba-Boom!, Banana Hunt, and Robot Smash. Race and Robot Smash are self-explanatory, while others can be detailed further; Goal Rush has gamers roll through goals to score points, Ba-Boom! is an explosive game of keep-away, and Banana Hunt has players collect as much of the fruit as they can before time runs out.
When playing through the campaign and adjacent modes, fans can deck themselves out with cosmetics—of which there are over 300 to unlock. Players can also change the character they use to progress, withBanana Rumbleoffering not only a guest cast, but an entirely new character. Palette is the new face on the block forBanana Rumble, one pursuing the Legendary Banana the game’s plot revolves around. The adventurous ape wants to use the artifact to find her father—though she also has an eye for loot and any other shiny treasures that might cross her path.
Guest Characters
Banana Rumblewill rope numerous guest charactersinto the fold, something that isn’t new to the series; characters fromSonic the Hedgehog,Yakuza,Jet Set Radio,Hello Kitty,Persona 5, andMonster Rancherall appeared inBanana Mania. Now it seems that new characters will arrive through a DLC ‘Sega Pass’, though if the game is a success it’s entirely possible for IPs outside of Sega’s wheelhouse to make a return.
The first characters announced forBanana Rumble’s Sega Pass were ofSonic the Hedgehogfame. Sonic and Tails will return to theSuper Monkey Ballfranchise alongside newcomers Knuckles and Amy. More surprising was the announcement thatAxel fromCrazy Taxiwill be joiningthe cast (though he doesn’t seem to have company).Crazy Taxihasn’t had a major game since 2002, but 2023’s Game Awards did reveal that Sega is working on something new. In the meantime, Axel’s cameo here serves as further reassurance thatCrazy Taxihasn’t been entirely forgotten.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble
WHERE TO PLAY
Let the Rumble Begin! Join AiAi and friends in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, where you and up to 16 players can compete online across multiple game modes as you aim to become Top Banana! You can also work together with your favorite bunch in 4 player cooperative mode, or slip into a wonderfully crafted story in the all-new Adventure Mode experience!Drop into online multiplayer for up to 16 players or local multiplayer for up to 4 players.Rally up to 3 of your friends and slip into a wonderfully crafted story in Adventure mode as AiAi and the gang journey to seek out 7 mysterious artifacts that are said to be the key to locating The Legendary Banana in 200 all-new stages!Show off your style! Customize your character and monkey ball with over 300 stylish items to choose from.Experience thrilling gameplay that is easy to pick up and play, yet challenging and fulfilling to masterUse the new Spin Dash that allows players to sprint past rivals or create new shortcuts to victory!
