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PSX Review: Ape Escape; A BonBon Review
Topic Started: Jan 15 2008, 02:45 PM (201 Views)
BonBon
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Morphing Blob

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Back in the day, Sony had many great, zany new franchises that were soon to become the biggest mascots for the system. Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and Croc are a few prime examples. However, over time, Sony forgot about these series, and they were forgotten by the gamers of today, and are growing away from the sucess they used to have. Ape Escape is one of these masterpieces.

Ape Escape had a very interesting concept and storyline. Specter the amusement park monkey came across the Professors latest invention, the Peak Point Helmet. It gives the user super advanced intelligence, beyond even mans, though it has never been tested, and could be dangerous to use. Specter, now using the power of the helmet, escapes the Amusement park with an army of apes, wanting to escape from the horros of the park. with his new army of apes, he steals the Professors new time machine, traveling back in time so that Apes can change history and become the dominant species. Spike, a boy who is friends with the professor, now has to travel throgh time, to stop Specter, and catch his army of apes, using his time net and the various inventions given to him. Its not an AAA story, but it fits the game, and has many cutscenes (all complete with voice acting) and plot twists to keep you interested. You will soon be sucked in by the gameplay, wacky worlds, and the humorous characters the game has to hold.

The sound in this game is superb. The music is fittting and different for each world, and all the tunes are upbeat and catchy. The sound effects are nice and dont get in the way of the actual music. The game is also one of the few games form the PS1 era that has ALL voiced dialouge. The one flaw in this is that some of the voice actors, mainly Spikes and jakes, and terrible, but other then that, the voices are passable and fit the characters.

Graphic wise, the game falls. Even for the time it was released it didnt have good graphics. The worlds themselves look great, each one being different from the last, with great scenery and plenty of detail. Its the characters that are the problem. The characters have little detail, and overall look very plain. Not only that, but they also look very blocky, which takes away from the overall look of the game. The game wasnt a graphical powerhouse, but it should at leats be on par with other titles like the Crash series, considering the time it was released.

The gameplay in Ape Escape is excellent, and the fluid controls wont keep you from enjoying it. There are plenty of worlds to traverse through, a lot of exploring to do, and plenty of monkeys to find. The main gameplay is simple, you select a time perios and level from the time station, and you will enter into the level. While entering, it will tell you how many monkeys you need to catch to beat the level, how many monkeys you have already found, and how many Specter coins you have collected in each level. Once in the level, you explore around the level, defeating the various enemies and overcoming obstacles using your gadgets, like the stun club, sky flyer and the slingshot. You can find monkeys by exploring the level and using the monkey radar, and when you find a monkey, you catch it with the time net. Some monkeys are simple enough to capture alone, however, other monkeys may use UFOs that require shooting down, may hide behind doors that will require a puzzle to unlock, and will run away, making you chase after them in an obstacle course. Each monkey is different from another, in speed, vision, power, strategy, location, and equipment, so you never feel like your repeating the same process over and over again. Aside form the main quest are minigames that you will unlock through Specter coins and races with your best friend/rival, Jake.

I guess I should quickly explain the gadgets. The gadgets are items you get throughout the game which will help you beat the levels, each having a unique function. You can have 4 with you at a time, though you can switch gadgets in and out through the pause menu. You select them using the 4 shape buttons and use them with the right analog stick (the only exception to this rule is the waternet, which will activate as soon as you touch water). The gadgets you will start off with are the stun club, a basic hitting weapon, and the time net, uysed to catch monkeys. Later youn will get other gadgets, like the monkey radar, the remote controlled car, the sky flyer, and the super hoop, each giving you a completely new ability. There are also other powerups aside from gadgets, like the boat and the tank, that you will find in the levels. however, while these are fun, the controls on them are absolutely terrible, and arent really worth using unless completely necessary.

Ape Escape has a LOT of replay value. You will fly through the main quest without any problems, as collecting the monkeys the first time around is no problem. However, after the main quest, you can collect ALL the monkeys for the true ending to the game, which is only possible after playing through the game once. To get this true ending, you have to dicsover every monkey in every level, some monkeys being very challenging to discover, and in doing so will unlock a new fional boss level. There is also the Specter coins in the levels that are necessary to collect for 100% completion, and once you get the real ending, time attacks will open, letting you race against the clock to capture all the monkeys in the level. To get 100%, you need ALL the monkeys, the true ending to the game, all the specter coins, and a gold medal for all the time attacks. You will be playing for a while if you are a 100% maniac.

Ape Escape is a great classic that doesnt get the attention it deserves. The gamplay is great and very unique, different form most games out there. Despite the graphics, the scenery and levels are all diverse, and big enough to explore for hours and still find new secrets. the music is excellent and fitting, and the plot, while slow in the first half of the game, keeps you sucked in with its plot twists, character interactions and humour. You will be playing this game for hours on end. Its definitely a classic worth buying, so if you have any of the playstations and happen to pass this game, pick it up!

9/10
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Radio Bomb
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I remember Ape Escape.
Great game. Not the best game for the PSX, but definitely worth a play. Up there with Spyro 3 and Crash Bandicoot Warped. Its a shame is PSP remake was terrible.

Unfortunately, the sequels dont live up to the original, most of them are spinoffs, like Pumped and Primed or Monkey Academy. Ape Escape 2 wasnt the best either. Never played the 3rd one, but Ive seen that was good, though the story is ridiculous.

Anyway, great review. I feel like you were a little too nice on the story and voices, but meh.
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Kamek101
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Local Scientist/Wizard

I've never played this before and only knew about the apes via the mini game in MGS3. But your excellent reviewing style and fair judgement has made me consider watching out for a copy in the game store pre-owned section. Well done!
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BonBon
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Morphing Blob

Why thank you. Glad I convinced someone to try the game. =D
And Radio Bomb, never played the PSP remake, though I heard it was crap. What was wrong with it? The controls, load times, extra and updated features that took away from the gameplay, or did people just expect too much from it? I must know.
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