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Super Monkey Ball is one of those games that makes perfect sense on the Nintendo Wii, you control a Monkey, in a ball, and have to collect Bananas using motion controls to move, it has been released on many platforms including mobile phones yet after just over 3 years of the Nintendo Wii's lifespan have SEGA finally given the series a new home, and one which will have you using not only your hands but also your legs. For those unfamiliar with the game, the aim is fairly simple, traverse through a variety of levels of varying difficulty where you'll encounter obstacles along the way such as ledges, which will see you fall off the course, while collecting as many bananas as you can and reaching the end as quickly as you can.
It should come as no surprise then that Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll will include Wii Balance Board support from the get go as well as the traditional Wii Remote control method. From what we know and what can be expected of the title, players will use the Wii Remote or Balance Board to manoeuvre around the various mazes in the game, tilting, twisting and turning will be the aim of the game but using the Wii Balance Board instead will certainly make matters more difficult, in a good way. That's not to say it has its own draw-backs because it will, the Balance Board isn't as precise or accurate as the Wii Remote for this type of style, and let's be honest, trying to play a game with your feet is certainly a challenge at the best of times, especially when tight turns, narrow paths and various other obstacles stand in your path from your ultimate goal of collecting the bananas.
Balance Board support isn't the only new feature to the Wii version of Super Monkey Ball however, the game will also feature cooperative multiplayer which will allow up to four players to participate, one with the Balance Board and three with Wii Remotes. The cooperative works fairly simply, one player will guide the monkey ball through the level by using either the Wii Remote or the Balance Board while the second player will use the Wii Remote to blast the various obstacles along the way, it hasn't been confirmed what happens with four players but you can safely bet your money it'll probably be teams. While the main objective is of course to collect as many bananas as you can before you reach the finish line, players are also judged on how quickly they complete the level thus adding a layer of strategy when combined with multiple players since you'll both need to communicate on what the other is about to do, such as which direction player one will be moving the monkey ball in so the other player can prepare for any obstacles you may encounter.
Additionally, the game will include 21 new mini-games for multiplayer which, as we're told, is supposed to get players to battle amongst one another in a fun way, each game offering various challenges which should keep players intrigued and entertained in a variety of ways such as; Seesaw Ball which will feature numerous seesaw platforms for you to traverse as you make your way down, collecting as many bananas as possible. Also Red Light, Green Light will be a straight four-player race to the finish with a twist, a sleeping monkey will send you back to the start line should he catch you on the move, basically a sort of musical chairs type affair.
The cast of characters available hasn't been confirmed for the game yet, don't be surprised to find at least some of the old characters making a return such as AiAi, MeeMee, GonGon and YanYan, a new character named Jam will however make a debut appearance in the multiplayer games.
The trailers and pictures easily summarise this game into a fun and easy to play game, now with multiplayer support and cooperative play. The Balance Board support will certainly add an interesting concept to the control scheme most likely for the better, but you'll have to wait for our full review when Super Monkey Ball: Step and Roll releases in February 2010.
