View source for Super Monkey Ball

{{Short description|Video game series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = February 2025}}
{{Redirect|Monkey Ball||Monkey ball (disambiguation){{!}}Monkey ball}}
{{Infobox VG series
|title = Super Monkey Ball
|image = Super Monkey Ball logo.png
|developer = [[Amusement Vision]] (2000–2004)<br>[[Sega]] (2005–2012)<br>[[Traveller's Tales]] (2006)<br>[[Marvelous AQL]] (2012–2018)<br>[[Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio]] (2019–present)
|publisher = [[Sega]]
|creator = [[Toshihiro Nagoshi]]
|genre = {{plainlist|
* [[Platformer]]
*  [[Party video game|Party]]}}
|platforms = {{ubl|
|[[Android (OS)|Android]]
|[[arcade game|Arcade]]
|[[GameCube]]
|[[Game Boy Advance]]
|[[iOS]]
|[[Microsoft Windows]]
|[[Nintendo 3DS]]
|[[Nintendo DS]]
|[[Nintendo Switch]]
|[[N-Gage (device)|N-Gage]]
|[[PlayStation 2]]
|[[PlayStation 4]]
|[[PlayStation 5]]
|[[PlayStation Portable]]
|[[PlayStation Vita]]
|[[Wii]]
|[[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]
|[[Xbox One]]
|[[Xbox Series X/S]]}}
|first release version = ''[[Monkey Ball (video game)|Monkey Ball]]''
|first release date = June 23, 2001
|latest release version = ''[[Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble]]''
|latest release date = June 25, 2024
|caption=Logo used from 2006–2019}}

'''''Super Monkey Ball''''' is a series of [[Platformer|platform]] video games initially developed by [[Amusement Vision]] (now [[Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio]]) and published by [[Sega]]. The series debuted in 2001 with the arcade game ''Monkey Ball'', which was ported to [[GameCube]] as ''Super Monkey Ball'' later that year. Several sequels and ports have been released.

The gameplay involves moving  one of several monkey characters in a ball through an obstacle course to a goal, with a time limit. Bananas can be collected for extra points. In addition, several minigames can be played, making the series  [[Party video game|party games]] as well.

==Games==
{{Video game timeline
| title = Release timeline
| range1 = 2001 -
| range1_color = #1A1AFF #1AD1FF
| last = 2024
| 2001a = ''[[Monkey Ball (video game)|Monkey Ball]]''
| 2001b = ''[[Super Monkey Ball (video game)|Super Monkey Ball]]''
| 2002a = ''[[Super Monkey Ball 2]]''
| 2002b = ''[[Super Monkey Ball Jr.]]''
| 2003 = ''Super Monkey Ball (N-Gage)''
| 2005a = ''[[Super Monkey Ball Deluxe]]''
| 2005b = ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll]]''
| 2006a = ''[[Super Monkey Ball Adventure]]''
| 2006b = ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz]]''
| 2007 = ''Super Monkey Ball: Tip 'n Tilt''
| 2008a = ''Super Monkey Ball (iOS)''
| 2008b = ''Super Monkey Ball: Tip 'n Tilt 2''
| 2009 = ''Super Monkey Ball 2 (iOS)''
| 2010a = ''Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition''
| 2010b = ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll]]''
| 2011a = ''Super Monkey Ball: Ticket Blitz''
| 2011b = ''[[Super Monkey Ball 3D]]''
| 2012 = ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz]]''
| 2014 = ''Super Monkey Ball Bounce''
| 2019 = ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz|Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD]]''
| 2021 = ''[[Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania]]''
|2024=''[[Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble]]''}}
* ''[[Monkey Ball (video game)|Monkey Ball]]'' ([[Arcade game|arcade]]) (June 23, 2001)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball (video game)|Super Monkey Ball]]'' ([[GameCube]]) (September 14, 2001)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball 2]]'' ([[GameCube]]) (August 25, 2002)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball Jr.]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance]]) (November 19, 2002)
* ''Super Monkey Ball'' ([[N-Gage (device)|N-Gage]]) (October 7, 2003)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball Deluxe]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]] and [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]]) (March 15, 2005)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll]]'' ([[Nintendo DS]]) (December 1, 2005)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball Adventure]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]], [[GameCube]], [[PlayStation Portable]]) (June 30, 2006)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz]]'' ([[Wii]]) (November 19, 2006)
* ''Super Monkey Ball: Tip 'n Tilt'' ([[Java Platform, Micro Edition|J2ME]]) (2007)
* ''Super Monkey Ball'' ([[iOS]], [[Windows Phone]]) (July 10, 2008 for iOS, March 18, 2011 for Windows Phone)
* ''Super Monkey Ball: Tip 'n Tilt 2'' ([[Java Platform, Micro Edition|J2ME]]) (2008)
* ''Super Monkey Ball 2'' ([[iOS]]) (2009)
* ''Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition'' ([[iOS]], [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[Windows Phone]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bestwp7games.com/super-monkey-ball-2-sakura-edition-for-windows-phone-quick-look.html|title=Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition for Windows Phone [Quick Look]|date=28 June 2012|publisher=BestWP7Games|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704071313/http://www.bestwp7games.com/super-monkey-ball-2-sakura-edition-for-windows-phone-quick-look.html|archive-date=4 July 2012}}</ref> (2010, re-released in 2018 for Android<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sega.monkeyball|title=Super Monkey Ball: Sakura Edition - Apps on Google Play|website=play.google.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-20}}</ref>)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll]]'' ([[Wii]]) (February 9, 2010)
* ''Super Monkey Ball: Ticket Blitz'' ([[Arcade video game|Arcade]]) (2011)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball 3D]]'' ([[Nintendo 3DS]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gametactics.com/2011/01/super-monkey-ball-3d-aiai-new-screenshots-and-trailer/|title=Super Monkey Ball 3D! AiAi New Screenshots and Trailer|date=19 January 2011}}</ref> (March 3, 2011)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz]]'' ([[PlayStation Vita]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/318542/super-monkey-ball-vita-is-official-trailer-screens|title=GamesRadar+}}</ref> (June 14, 2012)
* ''Super Monkey Ball Bounce'' ([[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]]) (2014)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz|Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD]]'' ([[Windows]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]]) (October 29, 2019 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, December 10, 2019 for Windows)
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania]]'' (Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, [[PlayStation 5]], Xbox One, [[Xbox Series X/S]]) (October 5, 2021) (May 12, 2022 for [[Amazon Luna]])
* ''[[Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble]]'' (Nintendo Switch) (June 25, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=February 21, 2024 |title=''Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble'' announced for Switch |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/02/super-monkey-ball-banana-rumble-announced-for-switch |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Gameplay==
As opposed to normal games where the player takes control of the character itself, ''Super Monkey Ball'' has the player move their character around in a [[Gashapon|gachapon ball]] by tilting the direction gravity pulls them down (the exception of this being ''Super Monkey Ball Adventure''). By tilting gravity at various angles, players can control the speed and turning of the character. The goal of each level is to reach the goal gate before the timer runs out, and without falling off the floor. Bonus points and extra lives can be earned by collecting bananas on the stage. Early games use traditional controllers to play while many recent titles utilize modern technology, such as the accelerometers of the Wii and iPhone titles. The gameplay is similar to [[Atari Games]]' 1984 arcade video game ''[[Marble Madness]]''.

==Characters==
[[File:Super Monkey Monkey Ball characters.jpg|frame|From left to right: MeeMee, Baby, AiAi and GonGon]]
The original ''Monkey Ball'' [[arcade cabinet]] featured three playable characters: the primary protagonist AiAi, his wife MeeMee, and their son Baby, who has [[time travel|traveled back in time]] from the future; a fourth, AiAi's best friend and former rival GonGon, was added in the game's [[GameCube]] port, ''[[Super Monkey Ball (video game)|Super Monkey Ball]]''.<ref name=Characters>{{cite book |author1=Amusement Vision |author-link=Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio |title=Super Monkey Ball 2 |date=2002 |publisher=[[Sega]] |medium=instruction manual|pages=9–10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Super Monkey Ball for Vita|url=http://www.senpaigamer.com/sony-vita/super-monkey-ball-vita-09142011-1403|access-date=28 September 2011|newspaper=Senpai Gamer|date=28 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402102410/http://www.senpaigamer.com/sony-vita/super-monkey-ball-vita-09142011-1403|archive-date=2 April 2012}}</ref> These four have become the primary characters of the series, appearing in every subsequent title to date. Two new characters, the martial artist [[lemur]] YanYan and the amnesiac scientist Doctor, were introduced in ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz]]'', while another two, athletic trainer Jam and AiAi's archrival Jet, first appeared in ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll]]'' and ''[[Super Monkey Ball 3D]]'', respectively. Another character was introduced in ''[[Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble]]'' named Palette, an adventurer. Several games feature unlockable variations of these characters wearing alternate costumes, along with occasional guest playable characters such as [[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]. Some games such as ''[[Super Monkey Ball 2]]'' and ''[[Super Monkey Ball Adventure]]'' have also featured various [[non-player character]]s, such as the villainous Dr. Bad-Boon, a scientist from Baby's time who travels to the past to prevent MeeMee from marrying AiAi and take her as his bride.<ref name=Characters/>

Characters from the ''Super Monkey Ball'' series have been featured in other Sega titles. AiAi has appeared as a playable character in ''[[Sonic Riders]]'' and ''[[Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing]]'', while both AiAi and MeeMee make playable appearances in ''[[Sega Superstars Tennis]]'' and ''[[Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed]]''. AiAi was also featured in [[Archie Comics]]' adaptation of ''Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed'' in issue #45 of ''[[Sonic Universe]]''.

== Legacy ==
As of December 8, 2006, the franchise has sold 4 million copies.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=|first=|date=|title=かわいいおサルの大快挙!! 『スーパーモンキーボール』シリーズが世界累計出荷本数400万本を達成！|url=https://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/12/07/103,1165500872,64152,0,0.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061210072353/https://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/12/07/103,1165500872,64152,0,0.html|archive-date= December 10, 2006|access-date= December 20, 2022|magazine= Famitsu}}</ref>

The iOS version in 2008 was one of the first games on the App Store and was the best selling app on launch day.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Cohen|first1=Peter|last2=Macworld {{!}}|date=2008-07-11|title=Review: Super Monkey Ball for iPhone|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1134452/supermonkeyball.html|access-date=2020-06-07|website=Macworld|language=en}}</ref>

In 2009, ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' ranked the first ''Super Monkey Ball'' #39 on its list of "The 100 Best Games To Play Today".<ref name="Edge Best2">{{cite web|date=March 9, 2009|title=The 100 Best Games To Play Today|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/100-best-games-play-today/7/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029181129/http://www.edge-online.com/features/100-best-games-play-today/7/|archive-date=October 29, 2014|access-date=January 27, 2015|work=Edge}}</ref> Writing in ''[[1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die]]'', Christian Donlan described ''Super Monkey Ball'' as "one of Sega's grade-A triumphs".<ref>{{cite book|last=Mott|first=Tony|title=1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die|publisher=Universe Publishing|year=2013|isbn=978-0-7893-2090-2|location=New York, New York|page=442}}</ref> An enhanced engine of the GameCube games was used in ''[[F-Zero GX]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bramwell|first=Tom|date=2003-08-08|title=F-Zero GX|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/fi_f-zerogxjap_gc|access-date=2020-06-07|website=Eurogamer|language=en}}</ref> which was critically acclaimed<ref>{{Cite web|title=F-Zero GX|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/f-zero-gx/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube|access-date=2020-06-07|website=Metacritic|language=en}}</ref> and [[Nintendo]] considered a step forward for the franchise.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-01-15|title=IGN: The F-Zero Press Conference|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/427/427647p2.html|access-date=2020-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115191254/http://cube.ign.com/articles/427/427647p2.html|archive-date=2008-01-15}}</ref> The developers of ''Super Monkey Ball'' went on to make the ''[[Yakuza (series)|Like a Dragon]]'' series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/23/segas-project-j-revealed|title=Sega's Project J Revealed|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=August 23, 2005|access-date=March 20, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109201344/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/08/23/segas-project-j-revealed|archive-date=November 9, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=RGG Studio|url=https://twitter.com/rggstudio/status/1156232986683158528|access-date=2020-06-07|website=Twitter}}</ref>

When commenting on the differences of the franchise between the GameCube games and the Wii entries with ''Banana Blitz'' and ''Step & Roll'' in a ''[[Tokyo Game Show]]'' 2009 interview, Toshihiro Nagoshi stated that they were made easier for kids and families. However, he stated that if they got the chance, they definitely would like to go back and make a game in the style of the old games that particularly the fans overseas want.<ref>{{Citation|title=TGS09: Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll interview|date=6 November 2009 |url=https://www.gamereactor.eu/video/6005/TGS09+Super+Monkey+Ball+Step+Roll+interview/|language=en|access-date=2020-06-07}}</ref> Due to the older demographic of the PlayStation Vita, the difficulty for ''[[Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz]]'' was made more on par with the GameCube entries.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-12|title=Post-TGS Interview: Super Monkey Ball's Jun Tokuhara {{!}} TSSZ News|url=http://www.tssznews.com/2011/09/28/post-tgs-interview-super-monkey-balls-jun-tokuhara/|access-date=2020-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512173759/http://www.tssznews.com/2011/09/28/post-tgs-interview-super-monkey-balls-jun-tokuhara/|archive-date=2016-05-12}}</ref>

In 2015, the mobile games were removed from App Store and Google Play and thus are now considered [[lost media]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/5/18/8622645/sega-pulls-games-from-itunes-app-store-google-play |title=Sega pulls more than a dozen games from iTunes App Store, Google Play - Polygon|website=polygon.com |date=18 May 2015 |access-date=2023-11-02|language=en}}</ref>

The 2020 [[battle royale game]] ''[[Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout]]'' has been described as "''Super Monkey Ball'' for the ''[[Fortnite]]'' generation" by Tom Wiggins of ''[[Stuff (magazine)|Stuff]]'' magazine.<ref name="Stuff: Review">{{cite web |last1=Wiggins |first1=Tom |title=Drop everything and download: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout |url=https://www.stuff.tv/in/features/drop-everything-and-download-fall-guys-ultimate-knockout |website=[[Stuff (magazine)|Stuff]] |date=12 August 2020}}</ref>

In 2023 the emulator [[touchHLE]] was released, supporting the 2008 original iOS version of the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://github.com/hikari-no-yume/touchHLE/releases/tag/v0.1.0|title=Release v0.1.0: First release! · hikari-no-yume/touchHLE|website=[[GitHub]] |access-date=30 October 2023|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://appdb.touchhle.org/apps/1|title=Super Monkey Ball - Apps - touchHLE app compatibility database|website=www.touchhle.org |access-date=2023-11-01|language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Super Monkey Ball}}
{{Franchises owned by Sega Sammy Holdings}}
{{Marza Animation Planet}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Super Monkey Ball (Series)}}
[[Category:Super Monkey Ball| ]]
[[Category:Sega video game franchises]]
[[Category:Video game franchises introduced in 2001]]