SMB2 took what was so great about the original, and added more of it. More of those sometimes frustrating single player challenge modes, more super fun mini/party games, a new story mode, and better visuals. The game is essentially the same as before, and those who loved the original, will love the sequel. For those not initiated into the Monkey Ball club, the premise is simple. You navigate a monkey in a ball, through a floating labyrinth-style maze, attempting to reach the goal within a set time limit. Bananas are also scattered about the mazes, which give an extra life for every 100 collected, and points. The quicker you reach the goals, the more points acquired, and the more mini-games and new modes are unlocked.

No new gameplay features, such as jumping, have been added to the monkey's control scheme at all, although there are now some obstacles within the environments to facilitate such new moves. There is a much greater variety of stages in SMB2, and many require the use of new techniques. You must now roll over switches to start/stop or fast forward/rewind certain parts of the environment, or roll through portals to reach other areas, or even utilize launchers to send your monkey flying into the stratosphere onto high level platforms. In the first game, most stages just required supreme control of your monkey through the maze, although in the sequel, some of the new stages do seem highly dependent on luck. For example, dropping or launching to insane heights, then getting a lucky bounce into the goal. They are a lot more fun, but can be equally frustrating on occasion.

The story mode is an interesting diversion though it basically just leads you by the hand through most of the challenge levels and gives you unlimited continues. The cinema scenes that push the story along are amusing at first, but really become overly cute and drawn-out after a few stages.

Some may argue that the party games are the real attraction of Super Monkey Ball 2, and in many instances, they are. My personal favorite has to be Monkey Target 2, in which up to 4 players can "hang glide", all while trying to collect bananas and power-ups, and ultimately land on oddly shaped targets which offer differing points. Other more traditional games, such as Monkey Golf 2, and Monkey Billiards 2, and Monkey Bowling 2 also offer tons of new wacky features and options, along with new games like Monkey Canoe and Monkey Baseball. Not all are as fun as Monkey Target 2, but the variety is appreciated. You still must play the single player modes quite a lot, in order to unlock all the games, but it is mostly worth the effort.

Super Monkey Ball 2 is a fun, alternative puzzle game, and an excellent multiplayer party game for both casual and hardcore gamers alike. The game is cute, very nice on the eyes, and just all around enjoyable. Those who didn't understand the fuss over the original Super Monkey Ball, will probably still not care much, though fans will appreciate both the new modes, the prettier visuals and the many new stages.