You are Sami, a cute little reptile critter who can roll around in a ball and has a long tongue.  An evil business monkey has kidnapped your best friend Vera, and now you must save the day.  Super Sami Roll is a 3D action game similar to Super Monkey Ball, but with platforming elements as well.  It’s available on Switch, current PlayStation consoles, and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.

In each stage you must roll around mazes and obstacles, and don’t fall off the edge.  If you do, you must start over at the beginning of the level, or at the last checkpoint you reached.  Luckily you get unlimited tries.  Sami can jump, and can also stick out his tongue.  Doing this near a ledge will make you zip toward it and climb up if you are near it.  You can also attach your tongue to bars to swing from them like a trapeze.  There are enemies to avoid, but luckily they only send you in the air holding your butt in pain.  Not bad, but it does make you lose control for a second.  Collect coins scattered about the levels and spend them at a shop on the world map to buy items to change your character’s appearance, as well as other goodies.

I liked the simple Monkey Ball style gameplay and colorful graphics.  And also how the world map and story scenes look and sound 8-bit!  But I did have some problems with the game, too.  Camera angles can be problematic at times, and play control can be a bit squirrely and that tongue isn’t as useful as what it could be.  Also the game gets too hard, too quick.  But if you enjoy challenging Monkey Ball style games, you may want to check this one out.

Kid Factor:

Super Sami Roll is rated E for Everyone with an ESRB descriptor of Mild Fantasy Violence.  If you hit an enemy or fall off the ledge, your character just jumps in the air and says “Ahhh!”  But that’s about as violent as it gets.  Reading skill is needed for some of the text, and younger gamers may find it too difficult.

Tags: Game Reviews