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Ape Escape 2 Review
Chris Leyton
14/03/2003
Those damn monkeys are back in one of the most compelling games you'll see this year...
Ape Escape 2 is surprisingly the sequel to the hit PSOne platformer, released alongside the Dual-Shock controller way back in 1999.
As with all the best games, Ape Escape tasked players with one simple objective â“ to capture hundreds of cheeky monkeys on the loose! Whilst the inclusion of simians in videogames is always a highlight, it was in fact the games innovative and radical use of the new controller that won the game universal acclaim. Using both analogue sticks, players moved Spike around with the traditional right stick, whilst the left was used to activate the numerous items and weapons up your sleeve to catch those damn monkeys. The implementation was simply superb; using a net to catch the monkeys, players could swipe forwards with a simply tap forward, or swing the net around 360° with a circular motion. The game included numerous gadgets which all made fantastic use of the Dual-Shock; combined with the crazy humour, cheerful visuals and great level designs, Ape Escape rightly won the place as one of thePSOne finest platforming moments.
Fast-forward to 2003 and the âtrueâ sequel has finally been released in Europe. Ape Escape 2 finds players controlling a new character; however fans will be pleased to know that dozens of references to the first game are made, including flashbacks using footage from the classic PSOne title!
Tasked with transporting some newly designed âpantsâ to Monkey Park whilst the professor is on holiday; new protagonists Hikaru mistakenly loads the transporter with Monkey Helmets and soon havoc is running amok in Monkey Park. To make matters worse, Spector returns from the original to cause even more problems for Hikaru, as he sets out to recapture all of the mischievous monkeys.
Great game design is definitely Ape Escape 2 biggest strength; beginning with a baton and a net, players simply have to find a certain amount of monkeys per level to progress to the next. Thankfully the fantastic control set-up returns from the PSOne original; using a combination of the analogue sticks and shoulder buttons to move, jump and use your items.
Along with the monkeys, the gadgets are the true stars of the game; beginning with a net and a baton to aid you in your quest, each new mission brings with it a new item to use ranging from radars to R/C cars!!! Using each and every one of these gadgets really gives you a sense of satisfaction due to the perfect implementation; every single one serves a valuable purpose, none of them frustrate and more importantly, theyâre damn fun to use.
Along with the fantastic control system, Ape Escape 2 features the best game stucture weâve seen in awhile; setting itself up for both extended sessions or a quick five minute fix. Because of the nature of the level designs, you can quite easily nip through the first few levels capturing the minimum amount of monkeys to progress to the next; however each level has been designed with replay to mind, thus most levels will need to be revisited once youâve acquired the correct gadgets to perform the job.
Carrying on with the excellent design ideas, players are immediately rewarded upon completing a level. Having completed a level players are returned to the make-shift offices; here players can open up a wealth of gaming goodness by playing on the Gotcha Box, every ten coins opens up a new prize including a range of mini-games, bizarre manga comic strips, movies, sound samples, pictures and information on the game. This system works brilliantly; rewarding those who take their time and collect as many coins as possible, whilst also helping to increase the addictive rating beyond the scale â“ just try and put that controller downâ¦
In a world of movie-quality cut-scenes and extended FMV sequences, a lot of games could learn from the simple, yet compelling design of Ape Escape 2 â“ sheer genius.
All of these good ideas might have gone to waste, had SCEJ forgotten about the fundamentals; fortunately Ape Escape 2 features a satisfactory camera system, which is unlikely to frustrate and every single one of the 20 different levels have been created with a level of passion and dedication rarely witnessed outside of Japan.
But on to the stars of the show - the monkeys! Itâs unbelievable how compelling and enjoyable chasing after monkeys is; on numerous occasions weâve seen ourselves sit down for a quick blast on the game and witnessed hours pass by like minutes - this game is just a delight to play. Monkeys are colour co-ordinated to show their skills and difficulty whilst a number of âspecialâ monkeys are dressed in disguise, from monkeys sporting black suits and Uziâs ala Resevoir Dogs to Afro wearing dance divas. Itâs quite amazing quite how each and every monkey has so much personality; by finding a monkeysâ location with the radar, you can select a Monkey-Cam, which shows their location along with their name and statistics â“ some, such as the blue monkeys can run fast, however if theyâve got low ratings, watch as they hilariously fall all over the place!
Although itâs not on a technical level with the likes of Primal and Silent Hill 3; Ape Escape 2 features a clean, bright and vivid style that canât help but make you smile. The artists have used a pastel effect on the games textures to create a look similar to the mighty âYoshiâs Islandâ, whilst the huge range of hilarious monkey animations is always a joy to behold.
Weâre not too sure whether it was intentional, but the English voice-overs are absolutely hilarious; picture the typical Enid Blyton dialogue along with such classics as âTop Bananaâ and âGood Jobâ. The actual music is a great mixture of different styles, all brought together by their crazy and perfectly apt nature.
