Super Monkey Ball

 GameCube
Super Monkey Ball Image
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 79 Ratings

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  • Summary: Call your friends and warn your neighbors, it's time to have a ball! Go bananas with 90+ stages, multi-player madness, and 7 cool ways to play! Equal parts "party" and "game", Super Monkey Ball could be the most "well-rounded" game you've ever played!
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Nintendo Power
    100
    Undeniably fun. It's a twitchy test of coordination and precision that'll make a monkey out of any pro, and it's a hard tgame to master and an even harder game to put down. [Nov 2001, p.141]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. Cinescape
    100
    The best party game in history.
  3. GameSpy
    91
    The best arcade-style action / party game to come around in ages.
  4. Game Informer
    85
    For a game that's been billed as a modest little action game, that's a hell of a lot of replay value. [Nov 2001, p.116]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. Core Magazine
    83
    Here’s a lesson in elegant game design...as pure and enjoyable a game as any in the GameCube launch lineup.
  6. Cincinnati Enquirer
    80
    A dangerously addictive diversion to monkey around with.
  7. Next Generation Magazine
    60
    Not unlike "Crazy Taxi," you’ll have fun every time you play, but the concept gets tiring pretty quickly and you’ll want to step away for a while. [Dec 2001, p.83]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 23
  3. Negative: 2 out of 23
  1. StephenX
    May 18, 2009
    10
    "Gon-gon you're drunk, give me the keys." This game is a tourney level masterpiece and one of the best titles on the Gamecube. The "Gon-gon you're drunk, give me the keys." This game is a tourney level masterpiece and one of the best titles on the Gamecube. The gameplay for the main game remains fundamentally same throughout the duration, but the dynamic music and beautiful level design keep it from getting boring. I suggest a high end Wavebird or official Nintendo controller for this game. You will need a very precise control stick. The Xbox won't cut it.… Expand
  2. TierneyTalib
    May 15, 2013
    10
    Such a refined and polished game. You can tell they thought a lot about every single detail of this really "hardcore" game. The "escalating"Such a refined and polished game. You can tell they thought a lot about every single detail of this really "hardcore" game. The "escalating" of the level difficulty is really great. The main game is very addictive and it can really make you rage. And if you get tired of it, you also have mini games like bowling, pool or golf. This game is from the era when Amusement Vision made awesome games and the AV on a cover of a game was a seal of quality.… Expand
  4. d8uv
    Jan 1, 2002
    9
    I hate this game. I honestly hate this game. Sure, the multi-player functions are maddingly fun, but it's the main game that irritates I hate this game. I honestly hate this game. Sure, the multi-player functions are maddingly fun, but it's the main game that irritates me so much. It's the main game which makes me throw down the controller in a tantrum and want for me to rip out the eyeballs from everybody who worked for this game. It's fun, addicting, but fiendishly difficult at the same time. In short, get this game. It's extremely fun, if a bit challenging. Well, not as much 'challenging' as 'impossible.'… Expand
  5. Werten25
    Oct 21, 2021
    9
    Though it is quite dated nowadays, Super Monkey Ball has so many tough levels and addictive side modes that you could probably play this gameThough it is quite dated nowadays, Super Monkey Ball has so many tough levels and addictive side modes that you could probably play this game for 24 hours straight and still not cover everything. The best part is that all of the modes are so well executed, It is just a shame how the sequels try to, and fail to, live up to this timeless classic.… Expand
  6. GrantB.
    Apr 13, 2005
    8
    Great little game, although a little short on the multiplayer side, which is a shame, as it is in multiplayer mode that this game really Great little game, although a little short on the multiplayer side, which is a shame, as it is in multiplayer mode that this game really shines. Single player is very difficult on all but the easy settings, and I found that sliver thin tracks always defeated me. Still, after borrowing this game from a friend for a week, I did go out and buy myself a copy. I do find that most of my time is spent on the party games, playing against friends.… Expand
  7. Daniel_N
    Jul 27, 2021
    8
    A good game that still meets modern expectations, even if the graphics are iffy.
  8. JadenX(can'ttellrealname)
    May 13, 2006
    2
    Uh...Try again. Some of these levels are so hard, (especially Master) that people give up playing these games. Sega, Next time, don't Uh...Try again. Some of these levels are so hard, (especially Master) that people give up playing these games. Sega, Next time, don't make levels a prick away from impossible.… Expand

See all 23 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

6
#6 Best GameCube Game of 2001
5
#5 Most Discussed GameCube Game of 2001
3
#3 Most Shared GameCube Game of 2001