Super Monkey Ball 1 compared with Super Monkey Ball 2?

[NoahsMyBro]

I'll be getting a Gamecube within the next couple of weeks.

I've played the Super Monkey Balls briefly, and loved them. SMB and Donkey Konga are pretty much what drove me to choose the Gamecube over the other two current systems.

Yesterday I was in Funcoland, and saw SMB2, new, for $19.99, and SMB, Used, for $17.99. I picked up SMB2.

But while there I was trying to decide which to get, and didn't really come to any sort of decisive conclusion. I'll probably still lget the first at some point, but I'm curious to know the differences.

How would you compare the two? Is one better than the other? Any features missing in one?

As an aside, I've never before gotten games for a system prior to actually ownign the system, and I've already got 3 GC games, not including the 2 that came with the system I'll be getting for Chanukah. And I really need some cash to roll in soon, because Donkey Konga, possibly a spare set of bongos, 2 Wavebirds, and possibly a spare wired controller are all abslolute, definite, must-get items as soon as I get the Cube.

[Nesmaster]

SMB2 has more stages, more minigames, and imo is more fun. SMB2 feels different than the first which is, hard to describe. the first one feels like the entire level is moving(like trying to navigate a labrinyth maze), while the 2nd feels like only you(the monkey in the ball) are moving

[Sylentwulf]

Personally, monkey ball 1 was the only one that got ANY real playtime on my gamecube, and I liked it a lot.

SMB2 sucked in comparison, the levels seemed like 80% of them were pure luck/push forward with 14.6 seconds remaining then left at 5.8 seconds to finish this level BULLSHIT. I'm not kidding either, that's how you have to finish some of the levels.

Get monkey ball 1.

[davidbrit2]

SMB2 sucked in comparison, the levels seemed like 80% of them were pure luck/push forward with 14.6 seconds remaining then left at 5.8 seconds to finish this level BULLSHIT. I'm not kidding either, that's how you have to finish some of the levels.

Yup. SMB1 was WAY better. The second one had far too many obnoxious levels that tried too hard to be unique, and just ended up being horribly frustrating.

[Lady Jaye]

LOL At first, I thought you were comparing Super Monkey Ball with Super Mario Bros. 2!!!

[Cav]

Personally I prefer SMB 2 due to the Monkey Target mini-game. In SMB 1, players must take turns, while in 2 everyone can fly at once via splitscreen. But I'm also a bit biased since I play monkey target the most out of any of the games. Monkey Target in #2 makes for a much better party game since you can steal bananas and knock into each other while flying. It's also fun to knock a person into the water right after they've made a perfect landing for a high score.

-Cav

[ddockery]

My Toys R Us has a 2 pack to get them both for $20 or $30, I forget which. I just rmemeber thinking it was a hell of a deal.

[ClubNinja]

SMB2 sucked in comparison, the levels seemed like 80% of them were pure luck/push forward with 14.6 seconds remaining then left at 5.8 seconds to finish this level BULLSHIT. I'm not kidding either, that's how you have to finish some of the levels.


Agreed. I haven't touched SMB2 since the day I picked it up. Lame.

[rbudrick]

At first, I thought you were comparing Super Monkey Ball with Super Mario Bros. 2!!!

Lol, Same here, man! It took me a second. I felt kinda dumb. LOL

-ROb

[anagrama]

SMB1: Much better in 1-player, thanks to better level design.
SMB2: Better in multi-player, thanks to the improved mini-games (though I'm not keen on most of the new ones).

[norkusa]

SMB2 is my favorite of the two because of the mini-games. They are twice as many than in SMB1 and they play better. For example, the bowling mini-game in SMB1 doesn't let you put spin on your ball. You can in SMB2 however. Also, I think the characters in SMB1 bowling don't have any special traits (power, control, accuracy) like in SMB2.

Actually, now that I think about it, I probably play the mini-games more than the actual game. They are just that fun. And the bowling mini-game is the best bowling game I've ever played. I probably play it at least once every couple weeks.

[anagrama]

For example, the bowling mini-game in SMB1 doesn't let you put spin on your ball.

I'm pretty sure it does.

[norkusa]

For example, the bowling mini-game in SMB1 doesn't let you put spin on your ball.

I'm pretty sure it does.

Really? Maybe it was something else then. I know it wouldn't let you do something that you could in SMB2. Could have been controlling the direction of the ball after you position yourself on the line then.

[DigitalSpace]

My Toys R Us has a 2 pack to get them both for $20 or $30, I forget which. I just rmemeber thinking it was a hell of a deal.

It's $30.

[SegaAges]

i can agree that the minigames in smb2 are very fun.

some of the 1-player levels are annoying. i remember one of the levels i am stuck on now (i haven't even touched the game in months, either). it is called pistons. a bunch of pistons shoot out of the ground in a sequence and you have to either:

a.) run full speed on super narrow paths
b.) let a piston knock you into the air and try to aim yourself for the goal.

i haven't played 1, but i might just pick it up.

[Habeeb Hamusta]

Still haven't played SMB. I want to play it but I can't find anyone who has it to trade. Guess i'm gonna end up buying it.

[mikeetler]

Toys R US just sent an R Zone Holiday Gift Guide which has a $10 off coupon for any of the 2 for $30 Sega packs, so if you can get your hands on that you can get the SMB/SMB2 set for $20.

-Mike

[Beefy Hits]

Who cares about 1player mode? Everyone knows that this game shines 2-4 player with all the minigames.

[vincewy]

BTW, just got the Delux version for the Xbox, this game is fun (I never opened my original GC version), is this version actually the combo of both 1 and 2 from GC? Those monkeys sound like Teletuppies.

[norkusa]

I just picked up the Deluxe version for Xbox too. I'm a bit disappointed with it though. It almost looks as if the cinemas in the Xbox version are ripped videos from the GCN version (instead of being re-created graphicly) because the sound and colors are very washed-out. There is also this very annoying high-pitched sound in the bowling mini game that comes on during the part where you put spin on the ball. Not a major problem, but it still drives me nuts when I hear it. Haven't played it much yet, so I don't know if there are any other flaws.

I know it sounds like I'm being picky, but these things really stand out after playing the Gamecube SMB games for a long time. Nice to have everything on one disc though. And having all the mini-games unlocked right off the bat is sweet too.

[davidbrit2]

It looks like the game has all the levels from the first 2 Gamecube games, plus about 50 all new ones. I've noticed the sound (in the XBox version at least) is a little off. For example, the rolling sounds are mostly missing. And I don't know what the hell happened to some of the sounds in Monkey Bowling. Ha ha.

I've noticed that control is a bit weird. Because the XBox controller doesn't have the octagonal restrictor plate to make the stick sink easily into the 8 basic directions, Sega compensated by adding a bit of a dead zone for each of those directions. The result is that the range of movement between these dead zones becomes compressed to a smaller arc length of the stick. Rail navigation is a nightmare, let's just say. Remember Expert 7 (I think it's 7) from MB 1? I can clear that 9 out of 10 times easily on the Gamecube. It took me several dozen tries just to clear it on the XBox version. Argh.

[devilman]

I dread to think how the PS2 version controls.

As for SMB1 vs SMB2, I definitely prefer the first one. I felt they tried to do too much with the sequel and the game lost some of its charm. The golf is better in the first one too.

[suppafly]

Theres a new monkey ball game for Xbox. Has anyone played it yet?

Is it more similar to SMB1 or SMB2 on GCN?

[devilman]

See davidbrit2's comment :)

[suppafly]

See davidbrit2's comment :)

Thanks....I missed his comment the first time :embarrassed:

[davidbrit2]

Heh. To answer your second question, the game feels a bit more similar to Monkey Ball 2. The engine is similar, in that you just have to finish without continuing to get the Extra stages, you earn extra lives instead of extra continues, etc. Plus it's got the MB2 story mode.

[NintendoMan]

I like to hear everyone's opinions. I play the shit out of SMB2 for GC, and own #1 but am very limited on my VG time, and haven't been able to play 1 yet.

[Raedon]

SMB1 is more skill then random luck. SMB2 seems to have several levels where timing and stick skill won't help you.

[davidbrit2]

SMB1 is more skill then random luck. SMB2 seems to have several levels where timing and stick skill won't help you.

Yeah, any avid Monkey Ball player will grimace in pain at the mere mention of "Arthropod". I can barely even type the name without wincing.

[scooterb23]

Arthropod - the bane of my existence. After many hours of play though, it's about the only level I can think of that is still pure luck to beat.