Super Monkey Ball 3DS

[ItsThere]

I don't have time for proper first play impressions as I have to go out but...

To get the ball rolling [lol] I really hope there is a hard mode. Completed worlds 1-4 (ten levels each) without losing a life and no challenge at all.

Lots of barriers and tracks to guide you around.

Not the hardcore game that SMB was when it launched on the GC.

I have the horrible feeling that they did this because of the tilt controls, the slider works great, is precise and has no issues, they should have got rid of tilt and upped the difficulty IMO.

[elaniel]

What I find most annoying about this game is when you start and the camera rolls down so you can't see over the ball to start with, otherwise it is a good game if not very simple.

[Party boy]

Hmmm, on Tilt and Roll they added extra barriers to make ir harder using the Wiimote, guess they should have done that here.

Sounds like 3D mode = easy and tilt mode = hard (relatively at least).

I wouldn't mind picking this up at some point, keep us informed how you ge on!

[ItsThere]

What I find most annoying about this game is when you start and the camera rolls down so you can't see over the ball to start with, otherwise it is a good game if not very simple.

This ^^

You get used to looking through the ball but it would be better to have the viewing angle slightly higher.

Some more thoughts from me. I have played the first 70 levels and it was literally level 70 before I encountered a walkway that didn't have any barriers on it. I think I died twice in all those 70 levels and that was through lack of proper concentration rather than them being hard.

The graphics on one hand are excellent though. Very clear and crisp. The 3D adds something that is hard to describe. One noticeable thing is that objects pass behind you in front of your eyes now (if that makes sense) rather than simply being off the screen once they are out of view.

Got to hand it to the surround sound as well, it really is excellent. Some of the tunes have parts of the track all over the place! I love it! A totally under rated feature so far.

Anyway back to the main game. Still not unlocked a hard mode yet and haven't tried racing or fighting but the main game just doesn't hold ANY challenge for anyone with the slightest SMB experience. It is very enjoyable to sit and play through but it just isn't difficult. I want difficult in a Monkey Ball game.

I'll post if I find any hidden hard mode.

EDIT: forgot to mention - no more Dole sponsorship...

[Greg Moss]

If you find a hard mode, please let me know. I really enjoyed this, but I finished all? 80 levels and looked at the game clock 1 hour 38 minutes. The racing and smash bros clone do nothing for me, so unless there are more levels hidden away, that's ?25 for 2hours play, not good.

[laruso]

i noticed if you finish a level with the circle pad you get a "C" medal for the level, and if you finish with a level with tilt you get a "T" medal (i think it was). I wonder if a new mode opens if you do all levels with circle and tilt controls.

ive done it all with circle, and a few with tilt, but am going to trade it now. Shame its not harder as the controls, graphics and presentation are spot on.

[Ouenben]

Was excited to play the first SMB game to have analogue stick support since the Xbox/PS2 Deluxe release but it still has similar (non challenging and bland) level design to the Wii versions. I miss the Gamecube monkey ball Wish they'd port it over

[Miguel007]

i noticed if you finish a level with the circle pad you get a "C" medal for the level, and if you finish with a level with tilt you get a "T" medal (i think it was). I wonder if a new mode opens if you do all levels with circle and tilt controls.

ive done it all with circle, and a few with tilt, but am going to trade it now. Shame its not harder as the controls, graphics and presentation are spot on.

If you complete a world without dying and collect all the banana's in that world you get a little Gold Banana Medal next to your other medals - I wonder if you have to do all the levels like this for Hard Levels

Good game if a little easy and lacking in extra modes.

[ItsThere]

Had to trade this in. I hated karting and monkey fight too confusing. ?20 trade in value means ?3 for 90 minutes of gaming...

[Papercut]

Its incredibly slick, love the way it looks, but what is up with that difficulty level. Shouldn't circle pad controls be much, much harder? A real shame.

Are the levels taken directly from Step n' Roll? I've not played that one much.

[Party boy]

I think they're all new. Got this todat and already done 5 worlds, it's fun though, but I imagine this'll be a game I trade in for something more substantial.

[stainboy]

Ooo got this today and just got a black screen of death, haven't seen that reported before. Probably a way of telling me I shouldn't be playing if the first time I die is the bonus stage of World 2

Woah though, the 3D is so much more than in Splinter Cell, it's caused some of my deaths by going double vision and making me think there's floor where there isn't. There's a sweet spot holding position but I keep moving it, I want to try tilt control but I can't see how it's possible without turning the 3D down or off.

[dataDave]

Had a go on a demo pod. The 3D is probably more extreme than Pilot Wings.

[davek22]

Was in Grainger Games yesterday buying Lego Star Wars and they were stickering Money Ball up as deal of the week for ?25. They also have a special offer on extra 25% trade in value for everything bar PS2 and DVDs. May pick this up on offer

[Party boy]

I've done all the worlds now, but used continues on a couple, so missed out on the medals, plus missed out on the collectible for one or two...

The race and fight stuff seemed terrible on a quick go though, I didn't even see them through to the end.