A long standing franchise for Sega, Super Monkey Ball smashes onto the iPod Touch as a launch game for the App Store. Released on July 2nd, the game mirrors all of its other past versions.

Control
Using the accelerometer and touch screen as it’s control interface, Super Monkey Ball is a little hard to control if you’re not firmly planted somewhere stable. This game was not made for car rides or walking as the sudden shifts of speed or jerks will cause you to “Fall Out” of the course and lose a life. Also, there are a few bugs in the control scheme but it may be just my inability to play it! It seems to me as if I move the iPod just a little bit in a direction and the monkey screams in that direction.

There is no way to calibrate the accelerometer as well, so whatever Sega thought was a comfortable position is what you better find too!

Control: 8/10
It’s innovative in that its the first game for the iPod on the App store to use the accelerometer, but its a little glitchy.

Game Play
It’s a great game in the area of game play. There is an instant play for just messing around on a quick break from work that selects random levels from the areas you have unlocked in story mode.

There is also a story mode. Not much of one though. Unlike Super Monkey Ball for the Wii, there are no bosses but it keeps the same sorts of stages. There are tons of stages also. 10 easy and 10 hard for each of the different levels. It really has the potential of being one of the best games on the App Store for the iPod and iPhone.

Game Play: 10/10
I think it’s fantastic. Seriously, its Monkey Ball!

Sound
I typically listen to my own music when I play games on my iPod, but when I booted up the first time I was greeted with the usual happy techno that Monkey Ball is famous for. But the ability to play your own music over it is great. I would much rather play a game with some of my favorite tunes than random Techno.
Sound: 10/10
If you don’t like your own music, why do you own it?

Graphics
The ever important category of Graphics. These graphics look great. Just check out the screenshots at the bottom of the page! They aren’t the quality of the Wii and Gamecube version of Super Monkey Ball, but they’re great for such a small mobile device!

Graphics: 9/10
I can’t complain about the graphics. I think they’re great!

Sum it up
Control: 8/10
Game Play: 10/10
Sound: 10/10
Graphics: 9/10
Overall: 37/40 or 93%

What can I say, its a great game! I love it, it’s fun to play whenever you’re bored or at the airport, school, restaurant whatever! Just don’t go into the car with it or you will be disappointed.

The Current iTunes store rating: 3 1/2 Stars