Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll
SCORE: 72
For many years we have been extremely supportive of the Super Monkey Ball video games from Sega. Unfortunately even the best franchise can have a flop here and there. Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll is that flop. Sega tried to mix in the Wii Balance Board with Super Monkey Ball. Unfortunately the end product did not come out as we would have liked. Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll is absolutely unplayable with the Wii Balance Board. Thankfully Sega allowed us to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk for the controls instead.
Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll is alive with color. The bright graphics can cheer up any living room. The monkeys are still very cute inside their balls. There is violent content in some of the party games. Speaking of those party games - this has to be the worst batch I have ever played in a Super Monkey Ball video game. The main reason is they are not much fun.
The music in Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll is wonderful. I have missed those sounds for some years now. Happy to be able to hear them in a video game. The special effect sounds can bring a smile to grumpy people. The monkeys celebrate success and cry a little when we fail.
Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll includes seventy levels to roll through, and over twenty party games. Four family members can play Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll at the same time. These are the party games. The learning curve in Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll matches previous games in the series. We roll through all the levels in a world to complete it. Every twenty bananas brings us one more extra life. These can become important in more difficult levels.
I love the idea of using the Wii Balance Board in Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll. The problem is it is extremely touchy and difficult to control. Once the protective railings were removed I kept falling off the edge. I had to give up on the Wii Balance Board controls and move over to the Wii Remote. Things were better but there are still problems with those controls.
The new modes of Co-op, Marathon and Mirror image are neat inclusions. I just wish Sega had spent more times on the controls. My concern is that Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll will kill the franchise off.
Families can
use Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll to bolster competition. There are also
lessons in finding the right path to the goal, and avoiding obstacles.
The most important lesson in Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll is finding
your balance. I would like to see Super Monkey Ball games in the future
- with better controls.
-
Paul
Graphics: 85%
Sound: 86%
Replay/Extras: 81%
Gameplay: 30%
Family Friendly Factor: 79%
System: Wii
Publisher: Sega
Rating: ‘E’ -Everyone
{Mild Cartoon Violence}
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