TGO Daily | September 30, 2021 | Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania
✏️ From the Author
Oh my gosh! Once again, I wrote this whole newsletter and just…forgot to hit send. So frustrating. I should start setting a timer to make sure it gets sent out properly.
Here’s yesterday’s news, and the newest letter should be in your hands in a few hours.
— Adrian
📰 In The News
1. Review Roundup: Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania
Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania remasters and bundles the first three games in the franchise. Originally released in the early 2000s, they are 3D platformers with monkeys rolling around in balls. Together, the games have over 300 levels and a number of different game modes.
Critics were generally positive about the game. They praised the continued approachability of its gameplay, being easy to learn and hard to master. They highlighted the audio/visual elements, especially the new cosmetics. Many also mentioned the different game modes, especially the multiplayer ones, providing plenty of variety and entertainment.
One topic critics were particularly divided on was level design. Some felt that the game feels outdated (because of its age), while others felt the game is as good as its always been.
For a nostalgia-driven glowing review, read GamesBeat.
For a nostalgia-driven criticism, read IGN.
Here’s a good summary from Destructoid:
“Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania was a pleasant surprise, in that it doesn’t mess too much with a formula that works and it makes strides to welcome newcomers into the fold. Not all of its stages are created equal, but this is a great entry point into a series that’s been lacking one on modern platforms for a long while.”
2. Genshin Impact passes $2 billion on mobile
Disclosure: This story references data and marketing from Sensor Tower, the company I am currently employed by. Sensor Tower’s prominence in the gaming industry is difficult to avoid, especially when it comes to anything regarding mobile games and sales data. They are a trusted industry source.
Per Sensor Tower estimates, Genshin Impact has generated more than $2 billion on mobile alone following its release last year. During that time period, it was the #3 revenue generating game across the world, trailing only Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile.
This makes Genshin “one of the most successful mobile game launches ever,” taking less than 6 months to reach its first billion dollars.
💭Adrian’s Thoughts: Despite some recent controversy surrounding the game’s anniversary (which is all a bit silly, let’s be honest), Genshin is in a really great spot. They capitalized on a tremendous cross-platform release, and brought the gacha system to a lot of the Western world for the first time. They’re reaping the rewards, and will likely be around for years to come.
3. PlayStation Plus — October Monthly Games
Next month’s free PlayStation Plus games have been revealed, and they’re pretty decent! These are all available to pick up on October 5, until November 1.
Hell Let Loose (PS5) is a realistic tactical FPS set in World War II. It released earlier this year, and picked up a lot of players. Worth checking out if that’s your genre.
Mortal Kombat X (PS4) is six years old now, but that’s a franchise that is never too old to play through the campaign. It’s one of the biggest fighting game franchises in the world — you already know whether or not you want to play it.
PGA Tour 2K21 (PS4) is the newest golf game from 2K. It received positive reviews, but that’s about all I can tell you.
This month’s games are going to be expiring on October 4th. I highly reccommend the first two if you haven’t played them:
Overcooked! All You Can Eat (PS5)
Hitman 2 (PS4)
Predator: Hunting Grounds (PS4)
💡 Read More
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Thanks for the read <3