That was the case with the Nintendo GameCube in 2001.  They launched the system with the best-selling Super Monkey Ball.  It was unique, exciting, and very addictive.  It was like a 3D version of Marble Madness, only Super and without the Madness.

Fast forward to 2003.  Mobile gaming is finally getting the 3D treatment thanks to Nokia's N-Gage.  One of the 3D games in the lineup is a port of the GameCube classic, Super Monkey Ball.

There is no multiplay, so the main draw of this port will be its out-of-this-world level design.  The structure is uncanny; dozens of platforms suspended in the air, some spiraled, others flat.  In some levels you'll have to guide your monkey ball down a series of flat platforms.  You can fall off very easily, so the trick is to follow the banana trail and push the ball off the platform's edge with just the right amount of force.  In another level, you'll have to keep your ball level as it flies down a narrow, circular path.  If you don't have enough speed, you won't be able to balance the ball and will likely fall off.  But if you have too much speed you could end up spinning past the goal.

Not all of the stages have been ported over.  You get 10 Beginner, 15 Advanced, and 20 Expert levels, as opposed to 10, 20, and 30.  This reduction is disappointing; it makes the game shorter, but not less fun.

In between levels you'll score bonus worlds that give you the chance to gain extra bananas.  Bananas are Super Monkey Ball's equivalent to coins and rings.  Each banana is equal to 100 standard points, but that's not the important part.  Collect 50 bananas and you'll score an extra life.  Extra lives are very important in the Expert mode because some of the latter levels are extremely difficult to pass.  I have beaten them so they're not impossible, but it will take you more than a few tries to succeed.

The bonus worlds are short challenges that test your ability to maneuver the ball in and out of a tricky situation.  One in particular requires you to snatch six bananas from six pinball bouncers.  The bouncers spin around the banana, creating a barrier of sorts.  If you time it right, you can sneak in and grab the banana before the bouncer hits you.  Bouncers disappear once a banana has been acquired, so you could say that your real goal has more to do with eliminating them.  There are a couple of easy bonus worlds that involve 30 or so bananas, a wide platform and a short time limit, but inexperienced Monkey Ballers will still be challenged.

The transition from analog control to the old-school D-pad is very good.  You can't beat analog, but Sega has really taken advantage of the N-Gage's controls.  Within minutes of play you'll realize that it's possible to just tap the D-pad to get the results you want. 

Three of Super Monkey Ball's six mini-games are included in this version: Monkey Fight, Monkey Race and Monkey Target.  The first two are pretty cool.  Monkey Fight is a quick game of ball-bashing.  Your goal is to guide your monkey towards your opponents and hit them as hard as possible.  Doing so will hopefully knock them off of the platform, adding points to your score.  Power-ups are available to aid in your success, including an oversized punching fist and a stretchy punching fist that allows for spinning attacks.

Monkey Race is like a basic version of Mario Kart.  Speed and sharp turns are the name of this game.  Each track is suspended in air, so if you get too close to one side you could fall off.  There isn't much more to it than that.  This would have to be my least favorite mini-game on the GameCube version.

However, my least favorite mini-game on this version is Monkey Target.  On GameCube it was the mini-game that hooked non-gamers.  On N-Gage it feels far too limited.  The system can't be blamed, since I've played several other games and know what N-Gage is capable of.  The original Monkey Target controlled like a flight simulator.  Your goal didn't involve the usual flight simulation stuff though -- all you had to do was drop the ball on the highest point spot on the target.  In this version you can't even tell that you're flying.  Control is very limited.  It feels like the monkey is frozen, while the platforms gradually move toward him.

When to buy and when not to buy: To be honest, there's never a time "not" to buy Super Monkey Ball.  If you have the GameCube version and you are fully satisfied with that, or if you have it on the Game Boy Advance, then this won't be a top priority on your N-Gage shopping list.  But for anyone who loved Monkey Ball but does not have a mobile version, this is the best one to get.  It's closer to the GameCube version than the GBA version is, no doubt due to the N-Gage's increased polygon and processing power.

Gameplay: 8.5
Who ever dreamed that this game would actually work?  It started out in Japanese arcades with a banana-shaped joystick.  Sega shocked us all when the game finally came to America and was anything but a disappointment.  Now it's here for the N-Gage and is one of the best launch titles you'll find.

The swirly, spiraling levels are ridiculous enough to make you cry tears of – well, it isn't exactly joy, but you're so addicted to the game that you won't stop playing.  (And remember: ridiculous is just ludicrous with two I's.)  You'll be pulling your hair out for weeks with this one!  In a good way.

Graphics: 7.5
Good, but not great.  This version is the best mobile version yet, but it doesn't utilize the N-Gage's true power.  The frame rate is mostly smooth, but there were a few sluggish moments.

Sound: 5
One word can describe Super Monkey Ball's sound: LOUD.  Even the quietest music and sound effect setting is loud enough to be heard in more than one room.  That would be okay if the sound was good, but Monkey Ball's sound effects are always the same, and the music is nothing more than jumpy beats.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard

Concept: 7
As you could have figured out from the back of the box, Super Monkey Ball is a port of one of GameCube's best launch titles.

Overall: 8.1
You should buy Super Monkey Ball if you (A) enjoy playing really good, unique games, (B) don't have the Game Boy Advance version, and (C) like taking long watches on the beach.  Why would you want Super Monkey Ball on the beach?  Every gamer knows that the outside world is a scary place.  We're like vampires – too much sun is not a good thing!  But having Monkey Ball at your side can make any boring outdoor experience a lot more entertaining.