Escape and buy it (Ape Escape (PS))

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Product:	Ape Escape (PS)
Date:	18/06/01 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: analog

Disadvantages: not good with normal controller

Beware world! A new menace is facing humanity. Hundreds of monkeys are on the loose, and they are working to take over the world. Why should we be scared you ask? Because they are about the best equipped monkeys that you've ever seen. Some wear dark pants and dark sunglasses and are likely to carry weapons and be aggressive. They are sort of like the Reservoir Dog types of the ape world. There are others who carry binoculars for better sight, and some that are super-fast runners. Then, of course, there are the dumb, nearly blind, pacifist monkeys who obliviously chill thinking about bananas until they are snatched up by Spike's monkey net. Spike is the name of the hero in the game, and his job is to capture all the misguided monkeys with his magical net.

The controls of the game are the first thing to really set it apart from all other adventure games to this point for the PlayStation. Both analog sticks are used to control Spike's movements. The left stick controls where Spike runs and walks while the right stick controls the use of the gadget in his hand. If Spike has his monkey net or stun rod (his version of a lightsaber) in hand, then the right stick controls where he swings. Being able to direct a swing in a different direction than front is incredibly useful since Spike can run along side an ape and capture him in his net with a well placed side swing. Other gadgets require different types of controller manipulation to work correctly. Perhaps the most useful tool that Spike picks up in the game is the Sky Flyer, and this functions by continued circular movement of the right stick.

Since the Sky Flyer stick works like a helicopter blade, Spike twirls it around to have it lift him in the air. It is useful in reaching ledges that are too high to jump to, and it must be used occasionally to extend long jumps that could not be made without its assistance. Another gadget that requires circular movement is the Super Hoop which wh
en hula-hooped around Spike enough times becomes magically charged. Once charged, the Super Hoop gives Spike super-human speed and makes him impervious to enemy attacks. The last gadget worth mentioning is the Slingback Shooter. This weapon can be used in standard third-person camera mode or players can switch into a first-person, Spike's-eye-view mode, to be able to aim with much greater accuracy. The Slingback Shooter also has three different types of ammunition that can be utilized to best hand out beatdowns to wandering monsters and monkeys. There are simple stones, exploding bombs, and guided missiles.

There are also a couple vehicles that Spike has intermittent use of. They are a row boat and a tank, and they are both perfectly suited to the dual analog controls of the game. They are a little bit hard to control at first, but eventually, they are fun and accurate representations of the real thing. When controlling the boat, each analog stick controls one paddle, so the player needs to master moving the paddles together in the right pattern and rhythm to make the boat go in even the desired general direction. Moving one paddle too fast relative to the other will cause the little craft to cruise around in a circle, but even rowing around in a circle for a while is preferable to the other options available when Spike's in the rowboat. Spike is given a rowboat when swimming is made dangerous due to electric fish and electric jellyfish.

And if you think that the electric sea life sounds like it could make for formidable enemies, you should see the other beautifully animated foes that Spike has to deal with through his travels. There are T-Rexes, overgrown hammerhead sharks, abominable snowmen, monkeys in laser-shooting UFOs, and giant polar bears just to name a few. All of these creatures look simply amazing and even their movements seem smooth. They are also well integrated into the story of the game. For instance, the hammerhead shark
cruises around with a monkey sitting on his back, and it is Spike's task to swim in the water and shoot his special underwater monkey net at the crazy ape while trying to avoid being bitten in two by the huge shark. It is certainly a difficult task, but it isn't impossible.

That is another great aspect to the game; it isn't so difficult that it makes you want to throw your PlayStation out the window in disgust of what a loser you are simply because you can't seem to get that one monkey on level four. First, most of the monkeys can be captured with a little patience and dedication, but, even if you are bamboozled by one, you only need to capture about 75 percent of the monkeys per level to be able to move on. Of course, the ending of the game is much better if you do successfully capture all the monkeys, but it isn't really necessary.

Another aspect of Ape Escape that isn't necessary, but should be greatly appreciated by all gamers, is the presence of mini-arcade games that become available as rewards. There are three of these games, and each is quite enjoyable. The first is a skiing game in which each controller dictates the position of its corresponding ski, and, when they're used together properly, they make the skier assume a super-tuck position. The second game is monkey boxing, and this is an absolute delight. The analog sticks control the forward and backward movement of their respective arms, but, when moved together to the sides, they cause the monkey's head and body to sway left or right to dodge blows. The final game is a space battle game. Unfortunately, I have not yet acquired the 40 Specter coins necessary to play that one, but I'd guess that it is certainly as much fun as the other two available. And the other two games held my attention for a couple of hours each, which is impressive because I often suffer from gamer attention deficit disorder (GADD).

Quite basically, this game rocks. I
t adds something new to an established genre, and all gamers appreciate that. Plus it lives up to the peak level of story, animation, and performance that is expected from an adventure game these days, so it isn't just sitting back on its new control's gimmick value. Finally, it really is a game for all ages since it has a kiddie twist but some damn fierce animation.

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