The premise is simple, you are a monkey in a ball and you must get to the goal. It's too simple, and yet it makes for some of the most heart-pounding and stressful gameplay I have had on the system.

In the main mode of gameplay, you must take your monkey of choice to the goal of each stage no matter the obstacle. That could be moving platforms, uneven edges, or launchers trying to throw you into the atmosphere. And to top it all off, you must do it within a set time limit. It is a lot, and I cannot believe that it works as well as it does.

This is all thanks to its incredible physics engine. Every movement that you make feels deliberate, and any mistake made always feels like it was your fault. This gives it a very addictive quality that makes you want to keep trying at a level one more time.

In addition to that, there are twelve different party-style games that players can partake in. Each of these games could've easily been its standalone title if fleshed out more. Of note, Monkey Target is just as addictive as the main game and is fun to play with friends again and again.

With all that said, this game is very hard. It does not hold back on the difficulty, especially in some of the later levels. If you want to beat it you have no choice but to practice and get good. Other than that, I highly recommend this game to anyone who wants a challenging yet fair title for the Gamecube. This is worth your time.