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Super Monkey Ball ($9.99)

Super Monkey Ball ($9.99)

This is easily the most addictive iPhone application yet. I’ve watched this one with great interest since it was announced during Apple’s iPhone 2.0 event in March, and it hasn’t disappointed me now that it has finally been released.

The game itself is simple: guide a monkey in a ball through 3-D levels while picking up bananas along the way without falling over a ledge. This simple premise hides the true challenge of the game: navigating said monkey using just the iPhone’s accelerometer. You move the phone around to move the monkey.

The game’s layout is easy to navigate, and the action is fun. Sporting over 100 levels, this game uses the accelerometers to great effect. The graphics and motion are surprisingly crisp and well done. There are several game modes included, from the Main Game option, to Instant Play and Practice. Start in Practice mode, as this game relies on a specific landscape angle to start, and there’s no way to calibrate. Getting used to this specific position is key to enjoying the game, and you should know that the iPhone’s accelerometer is very sensitive; wild, Wii-like movements aren’t necessary.

Super Monkey Ball is what great, fun gaming is all about: simple enough to pick up and play; challenging enough to keep you coming back.