First look: Super Monkey Ball 2

Super Monkey Ball turned out to be a pleasant surprise at the GameCube launch last year. An enhanced port of Sega's Monkey Ball arcade game, Super Monkey Ball featured slick graphics, a variety of game modes, and addictive gameplay, making it one of the GameCube's finest launch titles. Given the title's popularity, it's no surprise that developer Amusement Vision has chosen to follow up with a sequel, Super Monkey Ball 2. The game looks as though it will bulk up everything found in the original game and throw in quite a few new features for good measure.

Fans of the original game will be pleased to find that the original cast from Super Monkey Ball--AiAi, MeeMee, Baby, and GonGon--has returned to navigate treacherous boards in their transparent plastic balls. Like its predecessor, Super Monkey Ball 2 will offer a number of modes in addition to the main game mode. You'll find six new party games--monkey boat race, monkey shot, monkey dogfight, monkey tennis, monkey baseball, and monkey soccer--to play with up to three other players. A new story mode will challenge you to clear maps spread out across 10 themed worlds. Finally, fans of the six party games from the original will find them included in Super Monkey Ball 2, but they have undergone a bit of a revamp. Monkey race will feature extended tracks, more obstacles, more power-ups, and more AI players pushing the possible total to eight racers (four human and four AI). Monkey fight will feature crumbling platforms, more power-ups, and interactive elements on the game boards. Monkey target will feature formation flying, greater variety in targets, and simultaneous play for up to four players. Monkey billiards will offer new games such as eight ball and rotation in addition to nine ball. Monkey bowling will feature a variety of lane types, such as curved and waved, that will offer quite a bit more challenge. Finally, monkey golf will offer a new 18-hole golf course that will include hazards such as sand traps and water hazards

Super Monkey Ball 2 is set for release this fall for the GameCube. Look for more on the game when we get our hands on it next month at E3.