Super Monkey Ball Jr.

"One of the best handheld games of all time"

This game in all its simplicity is one of the greatest games ever for a handheld system. The Original one for the Gamecube was a great game, but could they deliver the same to the GBA? The answer to this was yes. Sega, one of the best in portable games, has made a game that is so simple, yet o so fun. The basic idea is to get a monkey in a ball to roll across a level and get inside of a goal on the other side in a certain amount of time. Sounds easy right? Not if you throw in some Sudden drops, narrow bridges, moving land, obstacles, spikes that move back and forth, and having a level full of dozens of these, all which you cant spend your sweet time on because now the clock is running out and the strip just gets narrower and narrower. Now THAT\'S fun. Besides the fact of just each level being a challenge that may take anywhere from 30 seconds to master, to over a week. This game is a challenge for everyone, and no one can hide. There are 3 level settings, so no matter your skill, there will always be a challenge awaiting you. Besides this there are a few new levels, and a couple of surprises along the way. Each skill level has either 30 levels, 40 levels, or 50 levels, so the fun will never go dry. This by itself would be a great game, but that’s not even the reason most people buy it. The reason is for the mini games. The minigames in this are some of the greatest ever made. There is Monkey golf, which is a game where you are the ball and you play a game of mini golf. There are 18 holes and 2 courses, not to mention the fact that you can play against 3 friends, with the same pack.....on the same game system. Just pass it back and forth. There is monkey bowling, where you can play a 10 round game, or you can play a single player challenge mode, where you have to knock down all the pins of many different combinations. There is also monkey fight, where you are a monkey and there are 3 others to whom you must knock off the board. You get points for that, and then at the end of the time limit the one with the most points wins. Add in 3 different courses and some funny items and you\'ve got the making of a great mini game. There is also monkey duel where you can face another player with a game cartridge and a GBA and fight on any level in the game to see who can make it to the end first. This truly is a classic game that will live on for years to come as one of the best in pocket gaming history.

Graphics: 10/10
The graphics in this game are amazing. The courses are full and rich with color, and monkeys in the balls are great. Even the title screen is great, with the words rolling across the screen. This is exactly how the gamecube one is, and the GBA\'s graphics are far from the gamecube, but it’s the exact same! That there is great, but also the minigames have great graphics where the Bowling for example has a reflection of the castle in the background on the floor. Reflections on a GBA? You bet. The levels are strikingly authentic with all the angles and all the moving components put in as one seamless blend. Graphics are amazing, with no flaws. They could not have been better.

Sound: 9/10
The sound on this game was awesome too, where the background music sounds fresh with no indication of dubbing (that means that it was played over and over again before it made it to the game, so it looses quality, but this one keeps the quality). The monkeys\' sounds that are made when they are falling off the edge and the scream, or when they make it in and cheer are great, along with the announcer’s actual voice, witch is rare in a pocket game. He says \'\'go\'\' or \'\'hole in one\'\' or \'\'birdie\'\' or \'\'strike\'\' in the minigames, along with a track in the main game. The only thing bad about the sound is that at times it is off. For example, when the monkey falls into the hole, the clanking of the monkey comes about a second after, and that can get a little frustrating, but if it is a hard level it shouldn’t matter because you yourself will be cheering that you made it.

Replay Value: 9/10
The main game itself will keep you entertained for months, and the minigames will keep you there. Unlocking the minigames means you need a certain score in the main game, so that right there forces you to come back to the main game again and again, but that’s not bad when it comes time for facing your friends in monkey duel and beating them. The minigames\' fun factor make you stay playing this game for plenty of time, and they never get old because you can always try to beat your best score or time, plus you can play your friends over and over again, and it never get boring. This game has one of the best replay values in any game I\'ve played in a while.

Fun Factor: 10/10
If I haven\'t convinced you of this game\'s fun factor yet than something is wrong. This is one of the most fun games ever made, period. (Yes for any system, this game beats plenty of N64, Gamecube, PS1 or 2, and X-Box games).

Final Word
This as I already said is one of the best games ever made. As for rent or buy? BUY BUY BUY!!! in fact, buy 2 of them, so you can give one to your friend and he/she can play you and you can have even more fun with this game. If you don\'t buy, then you are missing out on a classic. One of the best games ever and will remain that way for years to come.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/06/03