History YMMV / SuperMonkeyBall

** ''Banana Mania'' made changes to how the original game controlled, [[CameraScrew particularly with how the camera moves]], that many find don't gel with the stage designs and can make things considerably harder, even though they were likely done to have the opposite effect. More smoothed out stage tilting makes areas that need more precise control a bit easier, but removes the precision needed for speedrunning strategies and makes it take longer to get to full speed. The camera changes have it swinging around much more in response to smaller movements, making the many stages with tightropes much harder since trying to correct yourself will make it violently jerk from side to side, and falling great distances doesn't have the camera point down far enough for you to actually ''see what's directly below you''.

* HilariousInHindsight: The name of the amusement park hub in ''Super Monkey Ball Adventure''? "{{WesternAnimation/Zootopia}}".

%%* MainstreamObscurity

** ''Sega VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' [[labelnote:Explanation]] with ''Banana Mania'' having guest characters with [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic, Tails,]] [[VideoGame/JetSetRadio Beat,]] [[VideoGame/{{Yakuza}} Kazuma Kiryu,]] and [[VideoGame/{{Persona 5}} Morgana,]] fans are joking that ''Banana Mania'' is Sega's attempt at their own ''Super Smash Bros'' style of inter-company crossover.[[/labelnote]]

* {{Squick}}: Dr. Bad-Boon looks how many years older than Meemee? And he keeps flirting with her ''after'' shrinking her and her friends down so he can cook them and eat them.

* SurpriseDifficulty: This game can be '''very difficult'''; despite having a cast of cute monkeys, the game can force you to travel across shifting plates in a slippery ball and cross on an extremely small platform to a spinning square to get to the goal platform. And you gotta do it [[TimedMission within the timeframe]] or you'll lose a life.

** Zigzagged with Deluxe. Both versions suffer from the a lack of control stick notches on the [=XBox=] and [=PlayStation=] 2 Controllers, but contain all the content of the first 2 games and some additional stages too. The [=XBox=] is a near perfect port otherwise. As for the [=PS2=] port…

* {{Sequelitis}} / FirstInstallmentWins: Though every game after ''Deluxe'' were debatable in their own right, it is almost universally agreed that none of them carry the same positive impact as the original [=Gamecube=]-Era games.

* PortingDisaster: Like many Sega games, [=PlayStation=] 2 version of Deluxe suffers noticeably. The game not only runs at a slower 30 FPS, but it also has serious LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading problems, particularly with death and stage transitions in the main game mode.

* PolishedPort: The first Super Monkey Ball game for the [=GameCube=] was a port of the arcade game Monkey Ball for the NAOMI Arcade Cabinets, with the addition of minigames and introduced Gongon as a playable character. Needless to say, it was critically acclaimed and noted as one of the best [=GameCube=] games of all time.

** Speaking of non-Sega franchises, the announcement of [[VideoGame/MonsterRancher Suezo]] not long afterward managed to top even '''''that.''''' ''Monster Rancher'' isn't exactly that well-known compared to [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} other]] [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} mons]] [[Franchise/YokaiWatch series]], so seeing its original mascot get announced (especially over [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter Mochi]], who supplanted it in later installments) turned quite a few heads.

** Speaking of non-Sega franchises, the announcement of [[VideoGame/MonsterRancher Suezo]] not long afterward managed to top even '''''that.''''' ''Monster Rancher'' isn't exactly that well-known compared to [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} other]] [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} mons]] [[Franchise/YokaiWatch series]], so seeing its original mascot get announced (especially over [[BadassAdorable Mochi]], who supplanted it in later installments) turned quite a few heads.

** Speaking of non-Sega franchises, the announcement of [[VideoGame/MonsterRancher Suezo]] not long afterward managed to top even '''''that.''''' ''Monster Rancher'' isn't exactly that well-known compared to [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} other]] [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} mons]] [[Franchise/YokaiWatch series]], so seeing its mascot get announced turned quite a few heads.

** Speaking of non-Sega franchises, [[VideoGame/MonsterRancher Suezo's]] announcement came not very long afterward. ''Monster Rancher'' isn't exactly that well-known compared to [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} other]] [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} mons]] [[Franchise/YokaiWatch series]], so seeing its mascot get announced turned quite a few heads.

** Speaking of non-Sega franchises, the announcement that [[VideoGame/MonsterRancher Suezo]] was announced not very long after. ''Monster Rancher'' isn't exactly that well-known compared to [[Franchise/{{Pokémon}} other]] [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} mons]] [[Franchise/YokaiWatch series]], so seeing its mascot get announced turned quite a few heads.

** Sega one upped themselves with none other than ''[[VideoGame/{{Yakuza}} Kazuma Kiryu]]'' joining Banana Mania, complete with [[https://twitter.com/SEGA/status/1427978589128044551 bananas being replaced by Staminan-X's.]]

** ''Sega VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' [[labelnote:Explanation]] with ''Banana Mania'' having guest characters with [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic, Tails,]] [[VideoGame/JetSetRadio Beat,]] and [[VideoGame/{{Yakuza}} Kazuma Kiryu,]] fans are joking that ''Banana Mania'' is Sega's attempt at their own ''Super Smash Bros'' style of inter-company crossover.[[/labelnote]]

* UnexpectedCharacter: Who expected Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog to be playable in Banana Blitz HD? Who expected him in his Classic design specifically?

** World 7 (Bubbly Washing Machine) in ''2'' (and Deluxe's) Story Mode is surprisingly easy compared to 4 (Which had Launchers and Arthropod), 5 (Which has Toggle, Melting Pot, Mad Shuffle and Tower) and 6 (Which had Switch Inferno). A majority of the stages actually quite fair and fun. Even it's harder stages like 8 Bracelets aren't on the same ThatOneLevel territory on some of the levels before it (unless you're playing ''Deluxe'', in which case you have the infamous levels Exam-C, Tracks, and Invasion from the first game[[note]]not that you actually have to play them, of course[[/note]]). This also applies to Expert Levels 21 - 29.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Creator/{{Sega}} thought that the series would be a big hit in Japan, because [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter mon]][[EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys keys.]] But due to the [=GameCube=]'s poor sales in Japan, it became a CultClassic in the United States.

* EnsembleDarkhorse:
** Baby, surprisingly enough, is a highly popular character in the series. His small size makes it easier for players to make precise movements and balance on thin platforms. He helps make levels such as [[ThatOneLevel Expert 7]] less of a headache.
** From ''Banana Blitz'', we have the boss of the LethalLavaLand, Magimacaque [[FanNickname (or Yoko by some fans)]]. She's popular among fans for her [[RidiculouslyCuteCritter cute design]] and her unique boss fight. In fact, some will say she's the best boss of the game.

* ThoughActToFollow: ''Every'' Monkey Ball game past 2 has largely been stuck in 2's shadow. The level design from 2 was so solid and out there that every game's level design since has felt extremely lackluster.

** When people saw the controversial jumping mechanic from Banana Blitz was in Banana Mania's trailer the developer through the Super Monkey Ball instragram account assured fans by replying that jumping would be turned off by default and is entirely optional.

** When people saw the controversial jumping mechanic was in Banana Mania's trailer the developer through the SuperMonkeyBall instragram assured a fan by replying that jumping would be turned off by default and is entirely optional.