Super Monkey Ball

[Inky]

Okay, I rented Super Monkey Ball for my GC, and I have to say that it's VERY addicting. My daughters love to play 'the monkey game'. My question is this:

 

Is Super Monkey Ball 2 better, or is it just different? I ask because I'm going to get one of them from the used videogame store here in Kankakee (they have 400 2600 games in stock, BTW), and was wondering which is the better purchase.

[oesii]

I don't have a Gamecube but I've played both of them only a little bit and I think most people like the sequel better. Most of my experience is with Super Monkey Ball Jr. which is a great port to the Gameboy Advance. If you have a GBA you should look at that.

 

I agree with the addictiveness, I can play that little game for awhile

[MacGurl]

I like the first SMB better than # 2. If you have kiddos, I'd stick with the first one, cause the #2 is more difficult.

[CPUWIZ]

Get the first one.

[Inky]

I don't have a Gamecube but I've played both of them only a little bit and I think most people like the sequel better.  Most of my experience is with Super Monkey Ball Jr. which is a great port to the Gameboy Advance.  If you have a GBA you should look at that.

 

I agree with the addictiveness, I can play that little game for awhile  

 

The levels on the expert setting are just insane! Holy cow!

[chrisbid]

the first one is cheaper, id get that one first just for that reason. I do say that both games are worth owning, but the improvements in the second one arent that great.

[CPUWIZ]

I agree, I have both of them myself.

[SS]

Most of my experience is with Super Monkey Ball Jr. which is a great port to the Gameboy Advance.  If you have a GBA you should look at that.

 

Agreed. I have SMB1 for the GameCube and SMBJr for the GBA and generally play the latter more often. I’ll probably pick up SMB2 whenever it gets a significant price drop at WalMart.

[sdstuff64]

I have both but I would have to say I like one better.Two is just crazy difficult and some of the levels just require pure luck.Unless you want to throw your controller out the window(or at your daughter)stick with one.It's cheaper too.

[shep]

I hear the second has a lot better and more multiplayer games, but Im happy with Monkey Ball 1, in fact I think im gonna go play it

[Scooterb23]

SMB2 is my favorite GC game period.

 

Saying that, I'd go with #1 as well, as it isn't as difficult, and none of the levels require blind luck to finish. Once you've gotten through all the levels...then move on to #2.

 

I also recommend Jr. on the GBA...once you get used to the slightly different controls, it's a very good game as well.

 

Make sure you get yourself 4 total controllers, and get a little Monkey Fight action going!! It's an absolute blast!!

 

Anyone have an idea when #3 is showing up???

[chrisbid]

adding to that, check out k-mart, they had el-cheapo third party controllers 2 for 15 dollars. They arent that great, but if you want to have a party, theyre great for extra people

[MegaManFan]

How do the mini games in SMB2 compare to 1, and how long does it take to unlock them?

[Scooterb23]

As far as mini-games go, there are 12 this time: all the old ones are back, with new modes, and there are six new games. I believe they all take the same 2500 play points to unlock (it has been a while since I've played it). For some reason, it didn't feel like I had to play as much to get them all unlocked.

 

Monkey Race - More courses...more of the same...computer players seem to get unfair booss, almost impossible to catch up to. B-

 

Monkey Fight - Again, a few new arenas, I like the mode where the floors break away as the fight goes on. For casual players and kids, this is the most fun game I believe. A-

 

Monkey Bowling - 10 pin, 9 pin, and an odd challenge mode (with alleys that morph!!)...the monkey's now have different attributes i.e. Baby has a slow aiming arrow and goes mostly slow and straight, Gongon - all speed, little control...the other two are in the middle. A

 

Monkey Target - Blech, They messed it up in this one...targets are too tough to hit, and you can only play a max of 6 rounds. There is an interesting "formation" variant where you can have 5 monkeys fly at the targets at the same time...mucho pointage in this one...D+

 

Monkey Golf - This time it's real golf (hooray!) the 2nd 9 holes were made by the Marquis de Sade. B

 

Monkey Billiards - 9 ball, 8 ball, Japanese 9 ball and rotation...very solid. A

 

New games:

 

Monkey Dogfight - Bunch of monkeys flying around trying to shoot each other...pretty fun, pretty tough B+

 

Monkey Shot - Think House Of The Dead with monkeys A-

 

Monkey Boat - Stupid. Boat racing game, lousy controls, no fun. F

 

Monkey Soccer - I didn't enjoy this one very much. D

 

Monkey Tennis - Decent game of tennis here, some people say this is the best new game, I like Dogfight and Baseball a little more. B

 

Monkey Baseball - I really dig this one, although I admit it's not the best for parties. It doesn't play like real baseball, more like those old "Pitch and Bat" arcade machines...except on defense, you do get a couple fielders. More fun solo play I believe. B+

 

Hope that helps...

[chrisbid]

all the mini games from SMB 1 come back with new versions and are already unlocked

 

then there are 6 new games, unlocking them takes some time, but nothing as bad as Sonic Mega Collection

 

to be honest, the new games arent as good as the old ones

 

off the top of my head

 

Monkey Baseball - fun game for an inning or two, its based off the old table top baseball games

 

Monkey Soccer - this one is the best of the new games, its simple to play and quick enough that it doesnt get old

 

Monkey Boat - this is annoying, you have to use the triggers to paddle your boat (alternate between left and right), its very obnoxious, and nowhere near as easy as Monkey Race

 

Monkey Shot - Plays like Virtua Cop w/ a controller, it isnt very fun to me

 

Monkey Dogfight - This one isnt too bad, if you liked Monkey Target then its a bit more fun, but for kids it may be frustrating

 

Monkey Tennis - Not as good as virtua tennis, it doesnt feel right

 

 

The old games....

 

Monkey Golf 2 - This is MUCH improved over the last one, it now plays like a regular golf game, instead of the impossible mini golf of Monkey Golf 1

 

Monkey Fight 2 - Nothing new here that i recall, maybe a new item or board

 

Monkey Bowling 2 - new crazy lanes mode, and now the characters have their own attributes (Gongon is fast, but doesnt spin much, etc)

 

Monkey Billiards 2 - Now you can play 8-Ball, 9-Ball, and Rotation, as well as some weird ass Japan rules 9 ball with some strange point scheme

 

Monkey Target 2 - New maps, and this time you pick up items like magnet ball during your flight. There is also a crazy mode, where you control 5 monkeys at once, for huge scoring potential. It doesnt feel as percise as the first one however

 

Monkey Race 2 - New tracks, nothing much added

[DeV0]

SMB1 is a tonne o fun, I cant believe 2 would be harder then 1? I love 1 but am hopeless at it, Talk about dificulty factor 10!

[Paul Slocum]

I have both and I like 2 better. I like the mini-games better and I really like the ridiculous story mode. I think the levels are pretty cool. Even the ones that are insanely hard and require luck are fun and addictive to me.

 

-Paul