User Reviews

The original Ape Escape on the PSOne was one of the most unique games to ever come out for the platform. This was the first game that required the newer dual-shock controller that came out in 1998. Despite the game being a Greatest Hit Sony of America wasn't interested in bringing the sequel to the PS2. The game was in publishing limbo as companies such as TH*Q and Activision planned to release Ape Escape 2 in North America and then changed their minds. Finally, Ubi Soft published the game and it arrived in the summer of 2004...and it was well worth the wait.

In the sequel, Specter has once again gotten his hands on the helmet that makes him into a super-intelligent simian. A boy named Jimmy accidentally gave the monkeys in captivity from the first game their pants and helmets back. He is now forced to capture all the monkeys again.

Once again, Jimmy will have access to all sorts of gadgets such as a RC Car, a propeller, a speed ring, and others in the battle to capture them all. Of course, he has his stun club and net.

In the first game, you traveled throughout time. This time, Jimmy will go through some very nice levels in various locales with a number of movie spoofs included. Also new to the game are boss battles against Specter's minions that are pretty tricky and entertaining.

Also, knocking off enemies will earn you coins that you can then use in a gumball machine to unlock concept art, monkey stories, health, free lives, mini-games, and more. Once again, each monkey has a name and a humorous caption.

The controls are very good and responsive; the only flaw is the camera system which is a bit tricky and requires occasional babysitting with the D-Pad. The graphics aren't mindblowing but they are nice and clean. The music is great and the sound effects are very endearing with the yelps of the monkeys. They are once again the real stars of the show. The voice acting is pretty good with professional voice actors doing the work.

The main draw here is the gameplay and it once again shines. If you loved Ape Escape, you'll love Ape Escape 2 and the good news that Sony Of America released Ape Escape 3; although it was because of other Ape Escape games on the PSP and PS2 but I'm not complaining.

****1/2 out of *****

S tier,10/10. I have no nostalgia for ape escape whatsoever. Even though I grew up with a PS2 it was a game series I had heard about but never played. It wasn't till years later when I saw the HD port of this on the PS4. It was everything I wanted it to be.

The gameplay of ape escape is easily some of the best I have ever played. Such a unique controll scheme that mainly revokes around the analogue sticks. Jumping and camera control is a bit difficult to get used to, not bad but definitely not as refined as it could be. Capturing apes is so satisfying with different types of ape and ones unique to each level. The gatcha ball reward system at the hud was brilliant. Even if you can get reppeats, making completing it so annoying. You don't get a reward but having those jigsaw pieces filled was kind of satisfying. Wouldn't recommend doing it though.

The levels themselves are all interesting and so fun to explore. Such a brilliant mix of settings. Almost any kind of area type you can think of is included, I don't want to spoil any but there is a brilliant selection. Some levels can be a bit to big and difficult to navigate but even then you can use gadgets to explore more easily.

The soundtrack is almost perfect, with that one or two levels having a bit of a repetitive song. Theue all great in but just having some play constantly in a difficult to navigate level is really fustrating.

The bossfights are great, each ape is unique and has so much personality. The yellow ape, just perfect. Collecting all the apes for the final boss was a bit fustrating but made me appreciate all the depail put into the levels.

Despite some flaws I think this game is a must play. Such a brilliant game that should be talked about more. There is so much potential in this kind of gameplay, especially with the PS5 controller. I don't know why the other ape escape games haven't been ported to PS4/PS5, the first one is even on the PS3 store. Apparently ape escape 3 is the best, I ll get it at some point, even if it is only available in PS2 as I love this game so much.

Today video games are either inter-active movies or they are game play engines. The problem is that the industry doesn't take its sweet time to integrate the two. Since the success of Grand Theft Auto III, which did combine the two, motion has begun.

This game is purely a game play engine. The whole concept of catching monkeys with various gadgets doesn't make for a very appealing flick. It goes back to the roots of video gaming and is its biggest strength, focusing only on fun game-play.

There are 300 monkeys to catch in the game and the only reason you do this is to be able to say you've caught them all. The reason why this is considered entertainment is because of the names. You see, the monkeys are all named after the characters in familiar franchises, like Star Wars and The Matrix. Which makes this a dork fest.

The game itself is not very extraordinary since it only features true and tried concepts like jump, double-jump, crawl, and so on. No surprises here. This is how-ever quality. None-the-less it is still just routine for video gamers.