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Super Monkey Ball DX- IGN review

L

lo escondido

Apartheid is, in fact, not institutional racism
Here

8.0 Presentation
The best levels from Monkey Ball 1 and 2 plus the expansive party mode. The interface is very accessible but load times get in the way.
7.0 Graphics
The visuals are not as crisp as the GameCube or Xbox version of the game. There are some slight frame rate issues.
7.5 Sound
The sounds fade into the background when playing with friends but some of the effects are downright annoying.
9.0 Gameplay
The game is easy to grasp and can be incredibly challenging and addictive.
9.0 Lasting Appeal
A huge supply of boards, party mode, and the new challenge mode give this game a massive amount of content.
7.9 OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

Super Monkey Ball Deluxe is a testament to simple game design. Anyone can pick up a controller and enjoy the early boards and mini-games. The game really shines when a group of friends get together for some multiplayer monkey action. If you enjoy gaming with friends the party mode alone may be worth the purchase.
Unfortunately, the constant loading times in between levels and in the menu screen put a damper on the fun. Other slight visual issues like drops in the frame rate mean that this isn't the cleanest Monkey Ball to be released but the gameplay remains accessible and fun.
Click to expand...
 
Kabuki Waq said:
Framerate problems in a monkeyball game??? WTf?
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One would call this by the term "porting issues."

Also, it damn well serves the other systems right for stealing what was never meant to be theirs.
 
According to IGN the Xbox version shipped sans the PS2's problems. YAY!!!

8.4 based on the reviewer's take on the game. No glitches or slowdowns.
 
yeah I remember PAL monkey ball 1 had slowdown on this one level in particular. I think they screwed the programming or something, because the rest of the game was butter on cube. I would pass on a frame-rate problem version.
 
No mention of control problems. This is inconceivable. How in the heck do you play this game with the PS2's stick?
 
640x480.jpg

He must be sad.
 
Xbox version, for reference:

8.8 Presentation
The best levels from Monkey Ball 1 and 2 plus the expansive party mode. The interface in simple and accessible.
8.0 Graphics
Crisp textures and colorful characters look good. The game is not visually stunning, but then again it doesn?t need to be.
7.0 Sound
The sounds fade into the background when playing with friends but some of the effects are downright annoying.
9.0 Gameplay
The game is easy to grasp and can be incredibly challenging. It is the type of game that can suck up countless hours.
9.0 Lasting Appeal
A huge supply of boards, party mode, and the new challenge mode give this game a massive amount of content.
8.4 OVERALL
(out of 10 / not an average)

I don't have an Xbox yet, but I won't buy the PS2 version. It'll probably be one of my first Xbox games when I (hopefully) get it in a few months.
 
That review makes no mention of the difference in control witht he DS2. That's like the most important part of the game and I have no idea how it feels. They spent a paragraph or two on the story... the story for a game involving monkeys in FREAKIN BALLS! You can't spare a bit to discuss the feel of the game with a different stick being used?
 
I'm lazy.

Does the review talk about new single player levels, or not? (other than saying 'hey, there are some new single player levels')
 
Shard said:
One would call this by the term "porting issues."

Also, it damn well serves the other systems right for stealing what was never meant to be theirs.
Click to expand...

:lol

Man thats nintendo pride.
 
I really feel like I wouldn't be able to do very well with this game with the PS2 sticks. They just don't seem to have as much resistance as the GCN's do and I feel like that would impact my performance. I'd get the Xbox version myself since I prefer its sticks (and the problems are apparently fixed).
 
Sho Nuff said:
Yes, especially when you consider the exact same team will be handling the RE4 port. :(
Click to expand...

What company did the porting job of Super Monkey Ball DX? I hadb't head of any company annouced for the porting of Resident Evil 4. I assumed it would be capcom or clover studios.
 
Now Chad is gonna disembowel himself in the final 'true adventures. Last frames, his bloodied hand sliding down the plastic wall. squuuuueeeak.
 
Shard said:
Also, it damn well serves the other systems right for stealing what was never meant to be theirs.
Click to expand...

The PS2 may have had problems, but not the x-box version.

so, thier is atleast one system that got it right when they stole the exclusive form the other system ;).
 
GDJustin said:
I'm lazy.

Does the review talk about new single player levels, or not? (other than saying 'hey, there are some new single player levels')
Click to expand...

No, it doesn't say much about the new levels other than the fact they're there. I would like to know how good they are myself. I hope gamespot does their review right.
 
Sho Nuff said:
Yes, especially when you consider the exact same team will be handling the RE4 port. :(
Click to expand...
Uh, isn't a different teamdoing the RE4 port?
 
sonic4ever said:
The PS2 may have had problems, but not the x-box version.

so, thier is atleast one system that got it right when they stole the exclusive form the other system ;).
Click to expand...


Riiiiiiight, I must of missed the part where Super Monkey Ball DX actually went online. :D
 
jarrod said:
Just like Sonic Heroes...

Sega + Renderware + PS2 = framerate problems
Click to expand...

Super Monkey Ball Deluxe DOESNT use renderware! SMBDX uses a custom engine built around GC's capabilities, then ported over to GC and Xbox. Actually if you really wanna be technical about it, the very base of Super Monkey Ball is based on Naomi, but AV rewrote the engine for GC.
 
MAZYORA said:
Super Monkey Ball Deluxe DOESNT use renderware! SMBDX uses a custom engine built around GC's capabilities, then ported over to GC and Xbox. Actually if you really wanna be technical about it, the very base of Super Monkey Ball is based on Naomi, but AV rewrote the engine for GC.
Click to expand...
I remember reading DX was developed using Renderware to save time (Fishie might've been the one who confirmed it, I can't remember).

I'm fully aware of Monkey Ball's origins though, didn't 3 AV staff port the Naomi original to GameCube in a matter of weeks or something?
 
jarrod said:
I remember reading DX was developed using Renderware to save time (Fishie might've been the one who confirmed it, I can't remember).

I'm fully aware of Monkey Ball's origins though, didn't 3 AV staff port the Naomi original to GameCube in a matter of weeks or something?
Click to expand...

Well, sorda. The arcade original--Monkey Ball--was developed by a team of 5 in 3 months. And was ported over and rewritten around GC in 3 weeks. Though the final project took about 6 months to port with the entire AV team, but tahts because of all the mini games and extra content. The graphics are completly different in the Naomi and GC versions of Monkey Ball,
 
Shard said:
Riiiiiiight, I must of missed the part where Super Monkey Ball DX actually went online. :D
Click to expand...

I was refering to the graphics. I was not refering to super Monkey Ball DX being online. We have known that this game was not going to be online for awhile. I mena the Nintendo version isn't online either ;).
 
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