Since Sega began making games for Nintendo consoles, we've seen fantastic games branded with their logo Sega are making a great impression to Nintendo of the standard of gaming experiences they can provide us with. First impressions are always the ones that can score brownie points so how does Segas first Gamecube game fair with the might of Nintendo? Extremely well is the answer.

            Super Monkey Ball is addictive, fun and challenging. It has all the elements which make a game its best great one-player mode, many multiplayer modes to wow your friends, hi-score boards everywhere to show-off your skills and that strange, addictive feeling to the game which forces you to try again and again and again although youre not actually getting anywhere.

            The aspect is very simple guide a ball (holding a monkey as the name suggests) through a level towards the finish without falling off the edge. And thats virtually the one-player mode sorted. Of course theres a bit more to it than that collecting 100 of the bananas scattered around the levels earned you an extra life; Bumpers knock you around the levels and finally to your doom; Moving platforms slide from underneath you without warning its all really just a case of hanging in there.

            On the graphical side of things, you surely will not stare amazed at the visuals the principle of the game reflects how the graphics appear; Very simple. Sega could have maybe put a little more into the visuals but the gameplay is so great, you probably wont be complained about that for a long time.

            Unfortunately, like so many games that have come before it, Super Monkey Ball has problems with its one-player mode. When making your way through the main game, you cannot save which means that getting to the second to last level before dying can be VERY frustrating. What can also be frustrating is when you just cannot get past a certain part in the game you feel like chucking the Gamecube controller around the room, shouting profanities at everyone in range. You still come back though its an addiction thing.

            If youre choosing a launch game to get with your Gamecube, this would be a good choice. It has all the things you need in a first game the power to show-off to your friends, the lifespan of a game you want to play for weeks and weeks and great gameplay. Good start for Sega? Excellent in a word.

By Mike Rose