|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Platform: PS2,
PSP, Gamecube
|
Super Monkeyball Adventure
It
isn’t easy coming up with a new game concept that is both engaging,
and readily accepted by a large number of gamers, but Super Monkey Ball
managed just this when it first appeared on the Gamecube, and
subsequently trickled onto most other major consoles.
As dandy and delightful as these games have been, they have all
lacked one thing: a proper story.
This isn’t going to be the case for much longer, though, as
Sega is about to release the first game in the franchise to actually
have a full-on narrative, with Super Monkey Ball Adventure for the PS2, PSP, and
Gamecube.
Things kick off on Jungle Island where Aiai meets Princess Deedee of Monkitropolis, and Prince Abeabe of Kongri-la, a pair of young simian royals particularly smitten with one another. However, the two are in a bit of a pickle, as their respective nations haven’t seen eye to eye in ages, and if this continues they can forget about living happily ever after |
|
|
together.
This bad blood between the two kingdoms is largely attributed to
the recent emergence of a group known as the Naysayers, who have been
spreading doom and gloom across the land.
As such, Aiai must travel the world, defeating the Naysayers,
which will hopefully do away with their bad vibes, and allow everyone to
experience joy again.
While this whole concept of including a narrative is new to the franchise, much of the gameplay will be familiar to fans. There will be plenty of rolling around, and solving puzzles, and there'll be 10 new ball abilities available, which will be learned through what is being called the “chant |
Advertisement
|
|
|
system”. With these
abilities players will be able to bounce, stick to surfaces, hover in
mid-air, use a tether, and glide among other things. All the while, the game will take place in five
distinct worlds: Jungle Island, Moonhaven (a city in the sky), Zootopia
(a theme park), Monkitropolis (a dirty, heavily industrialized city),
and Kongri-la (a city under the sea).
Despite
the game embracing a decidedly single-player concept like storytelling,
there will be a number of multiplayer options available.
Some will be mini-games from previous Super Monkey Ball games, but
there will also be three new inclusions: Monkey Tag, where players
collect as many balloons as they can, Monkey Bounce, which centers
around gathering power-ups, and Castle, which promises to be the most
destructive of the lot. For
PSP owners, this version of the game will have a wireless multi-player
mode, as well as a system-exclusive card collecting game.
Up
to this point, it has been the gameplay that has made Super Monkey Ball a
hit with gamers. Stepping
into the more conventional realm of storytelling could prove an
interesting change of pace for the series.
All that remains to be seen is how receptive fans are to the
final product.
Mr. Nash (March 16, 2006) |
||
|
|
||
