Super Monkey Ball 2 for iPhone has just rolled onto the App Store, bringing 3D graphics and more bonkers mazes to Sega’s apes trapped in spheres franchise. But if you’ve already nabbed the first one, is there any point splashing out again for more of the same? Read on and find out in our full Super Monkey Ball2 for iPhone review.
Visually, Super Monkey Ball 2 for iPhone is a huge change from the first one. Gone is the semi-2D animation, and in its place are full, fantastic 3D graphics. Ai Ai, Gongon, Baby et al really look like they’re trapped in balls, not circles, and along with the new look comes great sound. It’s the same music as the Monkey Ball games from the days of the Nintendo GameCube, and the whole experience feels very similar to the console version.
In fact, Super Monkey Ball 2 for iPhone almost bests the big screen outings thanks to the motion controls. This game was meant for an accelerometer: you tilt and turn like you instinctively do with a controller, only this time, your monkey actually responds. Level designs – dastardly routes and mazes full of traps, drops, bananas and ramps you mustn’t fall off – follow the same themed world nonsense of so many games before (Jungle, pirates etc), but they stay addictive thanks to a total of 115 fiendish layouts.
There’s even Wi-Fi multiplayer for Super Monkey Ball 2 for iPhone which sees you racing to the finish line versus up to three friends. Be warned that this could get seriously competitive, to the point of violence.
Read our Earthworm Jim for iPhone review
Sadly, the fun pretty much ends with the maze board game in Super Monkey Ball 2 for iPhone. There’s only one mini game, Monkey Bowling, and while it’s fun – you flick to launch and tilt to angle yourself on the way to the pins – it tires quickly.
Free updates over time should add at least Monkey Golf and Monkey Target (currently greyed out), but why aren’t they there at launch? And we’re not even interested in the latter unless you can fly your chimp to the landing pad at the same time as other players, as in the second Monkey Ball on console. And er, you can’t, as there’ s no online multiplayer for the mini games: instead, you have to use the same iPhone or iPod touch. That’s a real missed opportunity, and we won’t be checking out mini games again until we get Monkey Fight too at the very least.
Still, there’s enough nonsense in the main Super Monkey Ball 2 for iPhone adventure to keep you twisting and tilting for a good long while. At £5.99, it’s well worth the price of admission.
