The GadgetHigh App Store Pick of the Week is a weekly series of posts where we talk about an app for iDevices that we just can’t put down. This weeks app is tilt to control game called Super Monkey Ball 2 which is developed by the major game developer Sega, who develops games across many platforms.The original Super Monkey Ball “rolled” into the app store at its launch more than two years ago and was a fairly large success. Its tilt to control system was implemented perfectly on the first set of iDevices’ accelerometer and the cartoony graphics allowed for a laid back style gaming experience.
Fast forward to last week and you can imagine my anticipation to pick it up. At $9.99 it was a little pricy, but I realized how well done and intricate these games are. The biggest issue that I had in the first game was the somewhat difficulty of beating levels because of the unique control system. This was dealt with by Sega by making their level sets much easier and while this will help many users, it caused to the game to be almost too easy as I beat it in two days. In the game there are five worlds that each have two sets of ten levels plus one bonus level which can be unlocked by collecting all of the bananas(see next paragraph) on one set without dying. They also have added both one and two player mini games such as monkey bowling and two others that are labeled as “Coming Soon”. All sections of the game can be played as any of the four characters that the game comes with including AiAi, MeeMee, GonGon, and Baby.
Each level consists of a winding, often treacherous path that leads to an exit. Some levels require precise maneuvering while others concentrate on keeping your perfect balance on heavily tilted or even moving platforms. Between the starting position and the exit are 10 bananas and you have 60 seconds to collect as many as you can and make it to the exit. Although it isn’t necessary to get bananas, 10 bananas equal an extra life which can be useful(for beginners mostly). At the start of each ten level set you have five lives and five continues. A life is lost either by falling of the edge of the level or running out of time. Losing a life takes you back to the beginning of the level that you were on. If you lose all five lives then you get a “semi” game over. Using one of your continues gives you your five lives back, but resets your score back to zero. If by some miracle you lose all 5 of your continues then you’ll get a “true” game over and you have to start the whole level set over again.
I think that these games are fantastic because they have great gameplay, a simple concept, and they are fine for all ages. On the other hand, it may be too easy for some and while $9.99 might won’t break your bank it certainly isn’t pocket change for most of us. Overall it is a safe bet that you’ll end up enjoying this game if you’re willing to pay for it.
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