Super Monkey Ball is a long-standing series that continues to grow and evolve, with 2021's Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania being a jam-packed celebration of the franchise's 20-year history. Now, its catalog is set to expand further with the upcoming release of Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble. It's an exciting time for fans and new players alike, as it's not only a brand-new Super Monkey Ball game in over 10 years, but also the first game in the series to include 16-player online multiplayer.
Of course, incorporating so many players in online multiplayer wasn't without its technical challenges, as Game ZXC discussed with Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble director Daisuke Takahata and producer Nobuhiro Suzuki. Takahata and Suzuki also spoke more about the overall multiplayer development approach, gaming inspirations, and more. The following transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.
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The Return Of The Super Monkey Ball Franchise And Gaming Inspirations
Q: What’s it like bringing the franchise back with a brand all-new Super Monkey Ball game in over 10 years?
Suzuki: We are very happy to be able to revive this series that has been in existence for over 20 years as a completely new title. This revival is also the result of the support of our fans and we are grateful to them.
In creating a completely new game, we made sure to inherit the good qualities of the past Super Monkey Ball games, while at the same time giving it a new feel as a completely new game with 16-player online battles, refined design and characters, and new characters and storylines. We hope many people will enjoy the completely new Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble.
Q: What were your modern gaming influences and inspirations in updating the Super Monkey Ball formula and its multiplayer?
Takahata: We have not been particularly influenced by modern games. There are many multiplayer games nowadays, but in terms of the fundamental game systems they are all very different from the Super Monkey Ball series. We aimed for the best update for the “Super Monkey Ball” game and as a result this “Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble” was born.
Designing Battle Mode In Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble
Q: How did you approach designing the Battle Mode games differently compared to previous mini-games in the franchise?
Takahata: Previous mini-games were individual experiences that were completely separate from Adventure Mode. By contrast, the Battle Mode in this game shares the same controls and techniques found in Adventure Mode—it's all related in its design. However, the maximum number of players has been increased to 16 and the environment has changed significantly.
Therefore, the first thing we were conscious of was to make sure that various people have a “chance to win.” As a result of the matchmaking process, sometimes experienced players and average or casual players could compete together. When this happens, we have introduced “help floors” for races, “golden robots” for robot breakers, etc., so that the game does not become a stoic thing, where the better players will win every time.
Also, as the number of players increases, there will be more contact between players. Due to the size of the stages and the amount of gimmicks, we were also careful not to make the player density too high or too low.
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Q: How did you come up with the designs for Battle Mode Items?
Takahata: We decided on these designs from the ideas that were raised among the various team members. For example, we decided on “banana peels” on the floor and “missiles” that fly toward the opponent in the early stages. When we actually play-tested the game, we also noticed that it was sometimes difficult to aim at the opponent due to Super Monkey Ball's natural controls, so we added different features that let you still pull off the various effects by just casually pressing a button.
Multiplayer Approach And Development In Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble
Q: Could you talk us through the game’s general multiplayer development and approach?
Takahata: In the early stages of development, we had established a major principle of up to 16 players online and up to 4-player split-screen because we understood that we needed to meet both those online and split-screen needs. As a result, we were able to focus on adjusting the content of the game because we wanted to maintain this overall principle.
We also focused on “ease of understanding” so that both existing fans and new fans can enjoy the game. For example, we have standardized the physical behavior of the ball rolling in Adventure and Battle Modes so that players can concentrate on the action of “rolling.”
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Q: The Super Monkey Ball games are typically local co-op with a single-player story mode. What led you to include online co-op in Adventure Mode?
Takahata: The main reason for this was due to the many requests we received from our users. In conjunction with online support in Battle Mode, we implemented the online co-op play in Adventure Mode. We believe that not only Battle Mode but also the traditional Adventure Mode needs to evolve to match the current era. We hope you will not only take the time to play online but also enjoy the fun of playing with many other people since the game supports both “cooperative” and “competitive” play.
Technical Challenges And Race Game Mode In Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble
Q: Could you discuss the technical challenges of incorporating up to 16 players in the online multiplayer mode?
Takahata: The biggest challenge was to perform the physics calculations for up to 16 people. The physics calculations for each of these players are complex because they not only bounce around but also move at high speeds. The processing load for 16 players is very heavy. In order to make the game comfortable to play, we made a lot of efforts to reduce the processing load not only in the various physics calculations but also in the stage shapes.
Q: What's the design philosophy behind Race stage obstacles getting easier or harder based on the player's position?
Takahata: One of the most exciting aspects of this game's Battle Mode is that not only your own controller but also your opponent's position and movement will affect your operation and the outcome of the game. Therefore, the obstacles in the race stages have been placed in such a way that players can try to attack the stages from various paths. Of course, everyone has their own “strong points” and “weak points,” so we encourage you to challenge yourself and see which route you can take.
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Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Level Design And Difficulty
Q: The level design in Super Monkey Ball games is often very creative but sometimes a real challenge to complete. What can players expect from Banana Rumble’s level design and difficulty?
Takahata: Indeed, some stages in the previous Super Monkey Ball series were really difficult to clear. In this game, we analyzed the clearing (or completing) situations in our previous title, “Banana Mania,” and adjusted the difficulty level, especially in the early stages of the game. As a result, the difficulty level is now more enjoyable for both beginners and those who are just starting Super Monkey Ball.
On the other hand, the addition of the Spin Dash technique has expanded the range of strategies, such as shortcuts and time reduction. Expect a level design that not only makes it easier but also allows for a balance of fun and enjoyment for the traditional core fans of the game. Of course, in the later worlds, there are also stages that are even more challenging and rewarding than in past games.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble Crossover Plans And Comparisons To Previous Super Monkey Ball Games
Q: What can you tell us about any crossover plans for Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble?
Suzuki: We had a very positive response from our users when we announced the guest characters for Banana Mania. We naturally have plans for Banana Rumble as well, but I hope you will wait for further details. We look forward to talking more about the content after the game's release to keep our fans happy.
Q: How do you think Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble stands out compared to the previous Super Monkey Ball games?
Suzuki: The game has evolved from past games in every aspect. The most obvious evolution is in the online multiplayer aspect, where 16-player online battles are a new type of play that has never been seen before.
4-player simultaneous play in Adventure Mode is also a feature that was incorporated in response to customer requests. Spin Dash adds a new essence to the normal operation of gameplay, the storyline is well presented and enjoyable with full cutscenes, and a wide variety of options are available for many customers to experience. We believe it to be a highly polished game that has been upgraded in many ways!
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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.
