Sequels: Monkeyballs and Pikmins

[gaelan]

Are these two titles' sequels considerable different? I hunting both right now and besides price difference, I'm wondering if the gameplay/content is all that different from parts 1 and 2 respectively. It seems Mball has a story mode in part 2 and pikmin2 has multiplayer. Other than those features can anyone make recommendations if I should skip to the new versions or is it worth it to play them in succession. Thanks.

[mtxbass1]

If you don't have super monkey ball 1, then just pick up the Super Monkey Ball collection. It contains everything from 1 and 2, and then some. Part 2 is pretty much the same game as part 1, just more maps, new mini games, and a "story" mode. If you didn't like part 1 then you won't like part 2 and if you are looking for something radically different then you may need to look elsewhere. There is absolutely no benefit to playing part 1 before part 2 with the exception of knowing how to control your monkey a little bit better.

[judyjudyjudy]

I don't think the Super Monkey Ball games are something you need to play in succession, though I wouldn't necessarily skip the either one. I think the puzzles in SMB1 require more skill, while SMB2 requires more luck. SMB2 has the same minigames as SMB1, plus 6 more, so for multiplayer the second one would probably be better. btw, I'm not sure if the story in SMB2 is really a "feature", but I guess it's got its entertainment value for how bad it is.

I would personally recommend both Pikmin, but I'm biased because Pikmin is the reason I bought a Gamecube in the first place (and I still consider it one of my favorite games). The story in Pikmin 1 (find parts to get off the planet to live) is better than Pikmin 2 (find junk/treasure to pay off debt), but Pikmin 1 was pretty short, had a time limit, and had very little replayability. Pikmin 2 is longer, and it has the try-to-collect-all-the-treasures/creatures things. But Pikmin 2 has these obnoxious randomly generated dungeon levels that aren't very interesting compared to the neat-o above ground environments. Pikmin 2 also have two new types of pikmin, though I don't really feel they add that much to the original idea.

In both cases though, the sequels are basically just more of the same (which wasn't a bad thing, of course). SMB2 is the same price as SMB1, so the first probably isn't necessary there. The price difference in the Pikmin games is pretty significant I think, so you should probably check out the first one to see if it's your sort of game.

[Javery]

If you don't have super monkey ball 1, then just pick up the Super Monkey Ball collection. It contains everything from 1 and 2, and then some. Part 2 is pretty much the same game as part 1, just more maps, new mini games, and a "story" mode. If you didn't like part 1 then you won't like part 2 and if you are looking for something radically different then you may need to look elsewhere. There is absolutely no benefit to playing part 1 before part 2 with the exception of knowing how to control your monkey a little bit better.

I don't know about that. Super Monkey Ball on the PS2 is virtually unplayable because of the analog stick. As a Super Monkey Ball vet I definitely recommend the first game over the second one (but you should play both because they are both amazing). I've scored 8,945 PPs on ONE game before (close to the perfect 9,999 but not quite) so I've played it A LOT. I think there is a steeper learning curve with SMB2 and the levels are not as well designed, IMO.

[NeueZiel]

I really like the main game in Super Monkey Ball 1 compared to the story mode in Super Monkey Ball 2. However, SMB2 has quite a few more mini-games then SMB (However, I don't like the fact that they changed it from miniature golf to actual golf).

I like pikmin 2 a lot more then the original pikmin. No time limit, much larger, two new pikmin, and lots of collecting to do.

If I could only get 1 of each of the two it would probably be Pikmin 2 and the original SMB.

[Masterkyo]

Super Monkey Ball 3 will be GC release or maybe it push back for Nintendo Revolution. Also, Pikmins is the Best seller i am sure Pikmins 3 will be Nintendo Revolution on release date.

[greyzieoriental]

i would get super monkey ball deluxe for the xbox if u have an xbox, although the cubes analog is superior, or get SMB2 for the cube same price as SMB1, more minigames(no miniture golf) and the hardest last level i've ever played still never beat

Pikmin 2 is better than pikmin but not by much, the 2 player mode is great if u have someone 2 play with, but it couldve used 2 player story, the battle isnt really as fun as i thought i'd be but still gald they had it, the 2 new pikming dont add much to the game but it does make it way easier than #1, no time limit is a good idea but the time limit didnt really bother me in pikmin1 anyways, 30days is more than enough time, my gf beat it in 23 days her 1st time through with every piece, i beat it 19 days 1st time through, so the extra days couldve been for playing around if needed

and anyone who has SMB deluxe know if the last level is different than the cube?
spoiler kinda:


I'm guessing it isnt gonna be a gamecube in the xbox/ps2 version, anyone beat it know if they changed the level to a ps2 or an xbox?

[Ruined]

the cubes analog is superior

No it isn't.

[David85]

Super Monkey Ball 1 is a great classic puzzler.
Super Monkey Ball 2 is a horrible thing I wouldn't call a game. There is no skill in the game, it's all luck and amaziningly lucky timing. I hate it.

Pikmin 1 I thought I would love. Rented it, played it for 3 hours and returned it, so the sequel can't be worst right? Right?

[Javery]

Super Monkey Ball 2 is a horrible thing I wouldn't call a game. There is no skill in the game, it's all luck and amaziningly lucky timing.

This is simply not true at all. I don't know where people get this generalization about SMB2 but it makes no sense. The levels might be a little tougher but there is still no luck involved at all. Each level behaves the exact same way every single time you play it - animations, frames, movements, etc. If you play it long enough you will get better at each level - do you think you are getting luckier as time goes by? No, your skills are getting better. SMB2 is purely skill-based. If you don't know what you are doing then you might perceive your success as "luck" but if you play it long enough you will see that is entirely untrue.

[judyjudyjudy]

This is simply not true at all. I don't know where people get this generalization about SMB2 but it makes no sense. The levels might be a little tougher but there is still no luck involved at all. Each level behaves the exact same way every single time you play it - animations, frames, movements, etc. If you play it long enough you will get better at each level - do you think you are getting luckier as time goes by? No, your skills are getting better. SMB2 is purely skill-based. If you don't know what you are doing then you might perceive your success as "luck" but if you play it long enough you will see that is entirely untrue.
I don't know... I haven't played it in a while, but I remember that level with the launchers drove me nuts. Having to be hit on the right part of the ball and practically falling blinding (aside from the map) to land in the right spot... that drove me nuts. It was high on the frustration factor and low on the fun factor IMHO, and I didn't feel more skilled after I beat that level. I'm sure you can do it pretty consistently after a while, but I much prefer stages where you have total control of your rolling or whatnot. But perhaps I'm not one to say such things... I can't exactly say I was great at SMB :)

[greyzieoriental]

judyjudyjudy the key is to hold back when ur being launched ;) if its the level ur talking about? the one with 4 launchers and a pillar in the middle and the flag moving around it? i thought the anthropod level was the hardest, besides the GCN level

[alongx]

No it isn't.

It's certainly better than the PS2s, IMO. I find it to be more responsive.

[judyjudyjudy]

judyjudyjudy the key is to hold back when ur being launched ;) if its the level ur talking about? the one with 4 launchers and a pillar in the middle and the flag moving around it?
Yes, that freaking level. I eventually got it, but I don't think I could do it again. Me = no skillz (to pay the billz)

[Javery]

judyjudyjudy the key is to hold back when ur being launched ;) if its the level ur talking about? the one with 4 launchers and a pillar in the middle and the flag moving around it? i thought the anthropod level was the hardest, besides the GCN level

The launcher level was frustrating at first but after several hundred times playing it I'm now successful about 95-97% of the time and when I mess up I know exactly why. The anthropod level - now that's a toughie but if you get the timing down you can get pretty good at it too. You can actually go straight and then press up-left at the right time and make it to the goal - kind of like the spiral from SMB1 (level 28). I actually hate expert level 39(?) where the level arcs to the left and right and the bumpers try to knock you off - I always eff that one up but I'm getting better at it. It's like M3 from the first game - that narow ramp was a pain in the ass but the more I played the better I got... There are people out there who have made it through every single level without falling out once - they aren't lucky - they are just good as hell. Look here for some crazy shit - especially packattack's A11 run. Insanity. http://www.vortiginous.com/smb/ (you need divx to view).

[Ruined]

It's certainly better than the PS2s, IMO. I find it to be more responsive.

SMB Deluxe is avail on XBOX too...

[Tromack]

No it isn't.

Wow. You sure won me over. You have a talent for expressing yourself succinctly and elegantly. Oh, wait. I forgot. You need to actually state information for me to not think you are a fucking moron. All you did was cement that idea in my head. Go back to gamefaqs if you want a "Yes it is...No it isn't" argument.

[1modernboy]

David85, while I don't completely agree with your sentiment, SMB1 was highly superior to the sequel. SMB2 felt gimmicky… and considering that the gameplay mechanic of the original was monkeys in big-assed hamster balls, that says a lot! :D

[greyzieoriental]

javeryh i got that same site lol
that site makes me wanna cry man, the things they do seem so impossible that its sickening
super monkey ball 2 was the most frustrating game i've played in a long time

and i believe the cubes analog is better cuz of the notches(especially sine we are talking bout SMB) but comparable to the xbox analog, ps2 analog is horrible IMO, to hard to be precise, Xbox analog is great for the best for racing games/FPS hands down

[magius360]

I don't really think that the sequels are too different from their originals other than they have a slightly better gameplay and more levels.

[sying]

Going completely off topic. I was waiting for SMB3, proported by IGN to to have system link (GCN) capabilities. Alas...