Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble will include Axel, one of the four original drivers from Crazy Taxi, in its roster of playable characters. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble will be the 22nd release in its franchise's history when it debuts this summer, and its roster of guest stars keeps expanding in the lead-up to June 25.

Sega has a long history with the Monkey Ball franchise. The first game was an arcade-only hit that was released in 2001, but less than three months later, Sega quickly followed it up with a Japanese console version, Super Monkey Ball, which was released globally in 2001 and 2002. The upcoming Nintendo Switch-exclusive Monkey Ball game looks to keep the traditional gameplay alive, featuring racers encapsulated in transparent balls, rolling around its winding courses, and collecting bananas and other power-ups.

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Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Hands-On Preview: A Wild Time

The very title of Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble carries a chaotic aura, and the game seems to live up to that as well.

Earlier in June, Sega released a Sonic Team Trailer for Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, teasing that Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Knuckles will all be available as playable characters. On June 13, a new trailer revealed that Axel would be joining the cast as well, although his fellow Crazy Taxi drivers — B.D. Joe, Gina, and Gus — look like they'll be sitting this adventure out. Axel, along with the Sonic characters, will be available through paid DLC or for Sega Pass customers or anyone who purchases the Digital Deluxe Edition.

How Axel Will Fit in with the Super Monkey Ball Roster

As far as stats go, the trailer gives a glimpse into how Axel will play in Banana Rumble. While there are no sliders to compare him to other characters, his key attributes are listed as "Crazy Fast," "Quick Turns," and "Precision Driver," meaning he'll likely have a high top speed while also managing to maintain a lot of control over his taxi — and the ball that encompasses it — around even the sharpest turns. While most of the Monkey Ball cast is made up of original monkey characters, there have been plenty of other guest appearances through the years, including Suezo from the Monster Rancher series and Morgana from Persona 5.

While the Monkey Ball franchise isn't getting new games nearly as often as it used to, it's still been in players' minds, with three titles released over the last ten years. Crazy Taxi fans have had a much longer drought, with the most recent game, the mobile-only Crazy Taxi: City Rush, released in 2014. While Axel will be a welcome sight for fans in Banana Rumble, a presentation at The Game Awards 2023 revealed that Sega is bringing back Crazy Taxi along with a lot of other neglected franchises, and leaks have suggested that Crazy Taxi's revival will be an entirely new game, and not just a remaster.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble

Sega's Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble focuses on multiplayer, allowing 16 players to compete online or up to 4 users in local action.

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

June 25, 2024

Developer(s)

SEGA

Publisher(s)

SEGA

See at Nintendo eShop