Earlier in June  Sega generated excitement among fans by releasing a teaser trailer for Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble. This initial glimpse revealed that beloved characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog series—namely Sonic, Tails, Amy, and Knuckles—would be available as playable characters in the game.

The announcement delighted long-time fans who have enjoyed these iconic figures in their own adventures. However, Sega wasn’t done with the surprises. This morning, they dropped a new trailer that introduced yet another exciting addition to the roster according to comicbook.com. To the astonishment of many, Axel, one of the four original drivers from the classic arcade game Crazy Taxi, was revealed as a new playable character in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble.

This unexpected crossover has further heightened anticipation for the game, as players now look forward to navigating the fun and challenging levels with an even more diverse cast of characters from Sega’s extensive library.

Franchises featuring a wide array of characters have surged in popularity, and Sega’s approach with Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a clear reflection of this trend. This strategy is reminiscent of the hugely successful Super Smash Bros. series, which brings together characters from a variety of video games into a single, highly recognizable title. Super Smash Bros. has become one of the most iconic games over the last decade, beloved for its diverse cast and crossover appeal.

It’s understandable why Sega would want to emulate this model, particularly given their close relationship with Nintendo. By incorporating characters from different franchises, Sega not only taps into the nostalgia and fandom surrounding these characters but also positions themselves to compete directly with Nintendo despite them working together on this game.

This strategic move aims to captivate a broad audience and potentially outperform their older games by offering a similar yet uniquely Sega experience. However, some fans are curious about how Axel from Crazy Taxi will fit into the gameplay of Banana Rumble. The addition of new characters often brings unique play-styles and strategies, adding layers of complexity and excitement to the game.