Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll brings the series’ signature tilt-and-roll gameplay to the Nintendo DS in a thoroughly inventive way. Instead of relying on the traditional analog stick, you use the stylus and touch screen to manipulate the entire play field, tilting it in any direction you choose. This control scheme offers a fresh layer of precision but also takes some getting used to—newcomers may find themselves over- or under-tilting at first, while series veterans will appreciate the added depth that fine stylus work provides.

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The core objective remains delightfully simple: guide AiAi and his fellow monkeys inside transparent bubbles through a series of obstacle courses, collecting bananas and racing against a countdown timer. Levels range from gently rolling slopes to dizzyingly narrow beams suspended over perilous drops. The touch-based control injects nuance into every twist and turn, allowing for micro-adjustments to avoid pitfalls or recover from near-fatal slips.

Beyond the main Challenge Mode, Touch & Roll offers Practice and Replay modes for honing your skills and chasing high scores. The multiplayer suite shines with local four-player competition, and an eclectic selection of bonus games—Monkey Mini-Golf, Monkey Fight, Monkey Bowling—provides bite-sized fun. Exclusive to the DS are two inventive additions: Monkey Wars, a first-person shooter-style challenge, and Monkey Air Hockey, which cleverly adapts air-hockey dynamics to the Super Monkey Ball universe.

Graphics

Visually, Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll retains the series’ bright, cheerful aesthetic while making the most of the DS’s dual screens. Character models for AiAi, MeeMee and the gang are rendered with smooth, rounded lines that pop against bold, colorful backgrounds. The monkeys’ playful expressions and the glossy transparency of the bubbles capture the series’ charming spirit in miniature form.

While the DS hardware cannot match home-console polish, level designs are crisp and clear, ensuring you always know where you’re rolling and what obstacles lie ahead. Texture detail is modest but effective: checkerboard platforms, tropical foliage and metallic girders each have a distinct look that helps you react quickly under time pressure. Performance remains steady even when multiple objects and effects clutter the screen.

Special effects—such as sparkling banana trails, splashes when landing on watery surfaces, and dynamic lighting in Monkey Wars—add visual flair without compromising frame rate. The dual-screen setup clearly separates course views from status information like time remaining and banana count, keeping gameplay intuitive and distraction-free.

Story

Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll is not a narrative-driven title, but it weaves a lighthearted storyline through its level structure and character selection. You choose from a roster of anthropomorphic monkeys—each with a playful personality and unique idle animations—and embark on a globe-trotting quest to collect bananas and rescue friends in need. The “story” unfolds primarily through charming animations between stages rather than cutscenes or dialogue.

The minimalistic approach lets the gameplay take center stage, which fans of arcade-style fun will appreciate. Although there’s no epic plot twist or deep character arcs, the game’s whimsical tone and colorful staging areas—ranging from sunny beaches to futuristic cityscapes—create an engaging backdrop that encourages you to keep rolling.

If you’re looking for a rich narrative experience, Touch & Roll won’t satisfy that craving. However, for players who prioritize skill-based challenges and replayability, the light story framework serves its purpose: providing just enough context to motivate you through dozens of inventive courses without bogging you down in exposition.

Overall Experience

Super Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll is a delightful addition to the DS library and a worthy evolution of the franchise. The innovative touch-screen controls breathe new life into the classic tilt-maze formula, offering both a welcoming entry point for newcomers and a skill ceiling high enough to challenge seasoned players. The variety of game modes—from solo challenge levels to wacky bonus titles and head-to-head multiplayer—ensures that there’s always something fresh to tackle.

The balance of accessibility and depth is a standout feature. You can dive in for a quick five-minute banana run or commit to mastering tricky courses and comparing replays with friends. The game’s bite-sized sessions are perfect for handheld play, while local wireless support transforms your DS into a competitive arcade among up to four players.

Although the narrative is minimal and the graphics are inherently scaled to portable hardware, Touch & Roll delivers consistent fun and replay value. Its charming presentation, clever use of the DS touch screen, and robust suite of modes make it a strong recommendation for anyone seeking a pick-up-and-play platformer that still rewards dedication and precision. Whether you’re a monkey-ball veteran or a curious newcomer, you’ll find plenty of reasons to keep rolling back for more.

Retro Replay Score

6.7/10