Super Monkey Ball Jr. (USA) Gameboy Advance game

Super Monkey Ball Jr. for the Game Boy Advance, developed by THQ and Realism with supervision from Amusement Vision and published by Sega, is the initial handheld entry in the Super Monkey Ball series. This platform game, released on November 20, 2002, in NA and April 4, 2003, in PAL regions, showcases the Game Boy Advance's 3D graphics capabilities.

The Main Game, akin to its console counterpart, challenges players to maneuver their monkey to the goal while collecting bananas for points and extra lives. The game offers 74 floors across four difficulties: Beginner, Advanced, Expert, and Master, with each set featuring Extra Floors upon completion without continues.

Additionally, the title includes a selection of Mini Games like Monkey Duel, a unique addition to Jr., along with Monkey Bowling, Monkey Fight, and Monkey Golf, all reminiscent of the party games from the original Super Monkey Ball. Multiplayer functionality varies, with Monkey Duel requiring multiple Game Boy Advances and copies of Jr., while Monkey Bowling and Monkey Golf can be enjoyed with just one system.

Easter eggs and cheat codes add depth to the gameplay experience, with secrets like "Super Nice Try" replacing the title screen when the Konami Code is entered and "Super Enable All" unlocking everything in the game. Notably, "Blocky Mode" can be activated for a pixelated aesthetic.

Despite its hardware limitations leading to fewer floors compared to the console version, Super Monkey Ball Jr. garnered positive reviews, praised for its faithful adaptation and engaging gameplay. However, some critics lamented the absence of analog movement. IGN, GameSpot, and Metacritic rated the game highly, indicating its overall favorable reception.