Princess Peach: Showtime!

One day, Nintendo woke up, looked back on how underwhelming Super Princess Peach was, and decided to do something about it. The result is Princess Peach: Showtime!, with Peach harnessing multiple forms across various plays to stop the sorceress Grape and her Sour Bunch. With a fun story, enjoyable gameplay, and solid level design, there’s much to love, even if the performance would have been better.

The series struggled to find its footing after the success of the first three games. However, Like a Dragon developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has helmed development from Banana Blitz HD onwards, and the future looks more hopeful. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble may not break the mold with the fundamental gameplay loop, but it offers some solid platforming and an overall well-rounded package despite some shortcomings.

"Super Monkey Ball has always been about the titular monkeys in balls (shocking, I know) – rolling around, sometimes at the speed of sound, and collecting as many bananas as possible before reaching the goal."

One such area is the narrative in Adventure Mode, the single-player campaign. AiAi and his friends are back on another adventure, exploring various worlds to locate the Legendary Banana. There are some rivals here and there, indications that more is going on than meets the eye, etc., but the story is pure fluff. Since it’s meant to connect world A to world B and repeat, it’s fitting enough, and the low stakes aren’t necessarily bad.

That streamlined approach applies to the controls as well. Super Monkey Ball has always been about the titular monkeys in balls (shocking, I know) – rolling around, sometimes at the speed of sound, and collecting as many bananas as possible before reaching the goal. Banana Rumble doesn’t deviate from this, instead adding a new spin dash for that extra bit of acceleration.

Using it on ramps to access shortcuts or even to launch off hills is an option – most times, you’ll be deftly navigating a monkey across fixed paths, trying not to fall off, as is tradition. That thin line between “easy to get into” and “difficult to master” is threaded pretty well, even if the physics could feel off occasionally.

The controls also take a bit of getting used to in responsiveness, becoming manageable with more practice. Though I found the Spin Dash more situational than rudimentary, at least in single-player, it’s still a good fit for the overall experience. When you’re barreling down a series of slopes, being able to immediately change directions feels good, even if it’s easier said than done.

"Also, despite the relatively short length of each stage, there’s still impetus to do better. To beat your previous time and collect more bananas for a higher score."

Adventure Mode is sizable, with some 200 stages of tilt-and-tumble action. It starts innocently enough on the Banana Farm as you roll a few meters to the goal, easily beating the time limit. Things quickly kick up a notch when you’re navigating tight walkways, attempting to collect as many bananas as possible without falling off. Some stages have you escaping mazes and sometimes leaping over faster due to the momentum and tilting.

As manifold as the stages can be and even with some passing in the blink of an eye or feeling gimmicky, RGG Studio does a pretty good job of keeping things varied. Navigating moving sections of clocks to reach the goal, which has a minute and hour hand that can deviously mess you up in the end? An entire stage of pits that mimics an egg carton? It’s all here, with a thankfully cooperative camera that offers enough viewing space and doesn’t get stuck in the environment. The difficulty slowly but surely ramps up as you progress, feeling natural without any uncomfortable spikes.

Also, despite the relatively short length of each, there’s still impetus to do better. To beat your previous time and collect more bananas for a higher score. Various challenges and missions are available, tracking your progress throughout, and you can unlock new cosmetics and characters to purchase from the in-game store. The cosmetics don’t affect gameplay, as expected, but the degree of customization is adequate.

Each character has unique stats in speed, braking, weight and spin. I didn’t feel any earth-shattering distinctions between AiAi, who has more speed, and GonGon, who offers more control (like differing abilities or play styles). Nevertheless, the choice is appreciated, especially since some can have different charging and timing on their Spin Dashes.

"Matchmaking is fairly quick for now, and while its longevity is up for debate given the depth, Battle Mode is a decent detour."

Outside of Adventure Mode and Time Attack (which unlocks after completing a world), there’s local and online play in Battle Mode. The latter is distinctly different, offering a series of game modes and types for up to 16 players. These range from dashing down a slope and passing through different numbered goalposts, each contributing to your team’s score.

You also have a race, navigating obstacles and platforms while dropping items like bananas to slow the opposition. Heck, you even have Tag-style mode, where players must pass bombs back and forth, with the possessors going boom when the time runs out. The Spin Dash really comes into its own here, as you dash into other players and momentarily stun them on impact.

Matchmaking is fairly quick for now, and while its longevity is up for debate given the depth, Battle Mode is a decent detour. The only issue is the drop in frame rate, which makes sense since it accommodates 16 players at a time. Thankfully, this doesn’t affect the responsiveness – you’ll still be fumbling around with the rest. The lion’s share of the gameplay is in the single-player, though, especially with tougher stages unlocking as you finish the story. However, given that Battle Mode has a Battle Pass, it may see some updates and new stages in the long term. Time will tell, as always.

In terms of presentation, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is surprisingly good. Adventure Mode stages are detailed and unique, while the animations and performance are on point throughout. It’s a testament to the levels that they offer enough detail and pop without affecting visibility or making you feel lost, especially if one plays in Handheld Mode.

"It doesn’t quite reach the peaks of its legendary predecessors and may fall under the radar for most, but there’s hope that Sega continues to refine and improve on what’s here while appealing to a new generation of players."

Sadly, the same can’t be said of the music. As happy and earnest as it sounds, the tracks are ultimately forgettable, with not a single one standing out. Their one saving grace is that they aren’t annoying and won’t wear on you with multiple retries. Having the game constantly asking if I want to activate Helper features after a few falls in each stage can get annoying.

At its very best, this is a homecoming for fans and perhaps the best that the series has seen in years. From the movement and the level design to the aesthetics and sheer amount of content, it feels like RGG Studio has mostly captured what makes the series work. Battle Mode feels more like a distraction than a multiplayer component you can sink dozens of hours into. Nevertheless, it can be enjoyable in short bursts, even if its battle royale-esque trappings won’t appeal to everyone.

Whether you’re blazing through Adventure Mode and knocking out stages, refining your times and attempting to beat Time Attack, clearing up challenges or just hopping online for competitive chaos, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a fun time. It doesn’t quite reach the peaks of its legendary predecessors and may fall under the radar for most, but there’s hope that Sega continues to refine and improve on what’s here while appealing to a new generation of players.

This game was reviewed on Nintendo Switch.

Destiny 2: The Final Shape

Say what you will about the Destiny franchise, but with all the ups and downs, shifting trends, studio problems and controversies, it’s still the top looter shooter. With The Final Shape, Bungie looks to conclude the near-decade-long Light and Darkness saga with new Light-based subclasses, Prismatic (combining many abilities into one subclass), a linear campaign and a hopefully memorable raid. It’s a tall order, and between all of the changes to Exotics, ability changes, new Exotics (including new class items) overhauling bounties in favor of the Pathfinder system and more, The Final Shape could be a memorable end leading to a promising beginning when it launches on June 4th. It will be available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.

Monster Hunter Stories

Limited to Nintendo 3DS, iOS and Android for years, the first Monster Hunter Stories is finally coming to modern-ish platforms on June 14th. Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC players can dive into a world where humans and monsters coexist, working together as Rider and Monstie to overcome challenges. Combat is turn-based with three attack types, each overcoming the typical triangular fashion. The remaster sports all the title updates, full voice-acting, additional languages, improved character models, textures and lighting in HD, and even a Museum Mode.

Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin

Once PS4 players are done enjoying the original, there’s Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, launching on the same day. Players take ownership of the mysterious Razewing Ratha, an allegedly ruinous Rathalos. Journeying together and teaming up with other Riders, they seek to rid the world of raging monsters. With a more refined presentation, recognizable armor and weapons from the series, and extensive ways to cultivate and customize Monsties, Wings of Ruin promises a fun turn-based experience. It also benefits from all of the updates released to date, including a co-op quest against Fatalis.

Still Wakes the Deep

Dear Esther and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs developer The Chinese Room is back with its latest survival horror, set on a drilling platform in 1975. The premise sees Caz McLeary struggling to survive against some unknown monster while navigating the platform’s various mechanical failures. That means navigating ruined walkways, traversing claustrophobic water-filled rooms, and much more. With The Thing, Suspiria and even the Southern Reach Trilogy as inspirations, Still Wakes the Deep promises a deeply personal and nerve-wracking horror experience when it launches on June 18th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Perhaps the biggest release of the month, Shadow of the Erdtree is the first and only paid expansion for Elden Ring, launching on June 21st for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and PC. It sees players venturing to the Land of Shadow to pursue Miquella, discovering hidden truths (including an untold war) about the place and battling with new threats like Messmer the Impaler. With over ten new boss fights, multiple new weapon types, skills and armor, and a new region that’s larger than Limgrave with a “denser and richer level design”, it’s FromSoftware’s biggest expansion to date. Will it close the story on a high note? We’ll have to wait and find out.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD

Before there was the brilliance of Luigi’s Mansion 3, Dark Moon was the series’ peak. Fortunately, it’s coming to Nintendo Switch on June 27th as Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. Featuring improved visuals in HD, Luigi must collect pieces of the Dark Moon to save Mario once more, utilizing the Poltergust 5000 to solve puzzles in more complex haunted mansions. You can also hop into the ScareScraper with up to three other players to tackle fresh challenges locally or online. Whether you’re reliving the masterpiece or playing for the first time, it should be another worthwhile addition to the Switch’s library.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble

Speaking of returns, Super Monkey Ball gets a new title on June 25th on Nintendo Switch, courtesy of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble features AiAi, MeeMee and the rest of the crew, including newcomer Palette, as they seek the Legendary Banana in Adventure Mode. Multiplayer supports up to 16 players online (or two locally), with modes like Race, Banana Hunt, Goal Rush and more. It even supports bots and offers more than 300 items to customize characters with.

Star Wars: Hunters

First announced in February 2021, Zynga’s Star Wars: Hunters actually soft-launched in late 2021 for mobiles. Multiple delays later, it’s finally getting a release on June 4th, enabling Nintendo Switch players to join the fray. As a free-to-play competitive shooter, players can choose from an array of bounty hunters divided into Tank, Support and Damage roles, with maps on Endor, and four unique modes. Whether it can survive as a hero shooter in this day and age remains to be seen, but it looks decent.

The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road

After bragging about offering the “equivalent of more than ten single-player games” with The Elder Scrolls Online, ZeniMax Online Studios is preparing for its next big expansion. Gold Road sees players venturing to the West Weald from Oblivion with locations like Skingrad, the Dawnwood and the Colovian Highlands to explore. Players can modify skills with the new Scribing system, which should help when embarking into new dungeons and the latest trial. The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road is out on June 3rd for PC, with the console versions launching on June 18th.

A Twisted Path to Renown

You’ve seen modern combat PvEvP extraction shooters, but Game-Labs’ A Twisted Path to Renown puts a Wild West spin on things. Entering early access on June 6th for PC, it sees players exploring the United States in 1899 with revolvers, double-barrel shotguns and even bows. Battle all kinds of threats, including hostile wildlife, while garnering reputation among vendors, earning better gear, and even engaging in some farming and mining. With realistic weapons and trading available at launch, it may very well be the freshest take on the genre yet.

ASKA

Whether you’re already done with Valheim’s new Ashlands update or just in the mood for a fresh survival crafting title, there’s Thunderful’s ASKA. Launching on June 20th for PC via Steam Early Access, the title allows up to four players to strike out as Vikings, building up their tribe, assigning jobs to villagers, customizing the layout and setting up defenses. They can also venture into the procedurally generated world with its dynamic weather system and discover various landmarks and resources. Launching in 2025, with two major updates forthcoming, ASKA may be worth checking out.

Kingdom Hearts Series (Steam)

Just when it seemed condemned to the Epic Games Store for life, the Kingdom Hearts series is finally coming to Steam on June 13th. Three titles will be available, though at least two are collections of individual games. Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX contains the Final Mix versions of Kingdom Hearts 1, 2 and Birth by Sleep, Re:Chain of Memories and all the cutscenes (plus some new ones) from 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded.

These are in high-definition and offer a substantial amount for first-time PC players. Kingdom HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue contains a remaster of Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, a “film” of sorts based on Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover and Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, a side story.

It all leads to Kingdom Hearts 3, the conclusion to the Dark Seeker saga, and Re Mind, with multiple new challenges and additional story content. Memory of Melody isn’t arriving, which is a bummer, but these three releases still offer the definitive Kingdom Hearts experience.