Saturday, March 23, 2024

Ape Escape for PS3 Review

Ape Escape for PS3 is the latest in a long line of mischievous titles and in for a review. Dating all the way back to 1999, the first title was released for the PlayStation. Ape Escape On The Move, as it is called, is presented in the form of an on-rails shooter, with tremendous focus on the PlayStation Move as the player’s primary means of control. Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment’s Japan Studio, the title features a little off-centre humour and antics you probably won’t come across outside the series. But does the game live up to the high standards of its platforming predecessors, or does it take one big step down the evolutionary ladder? We’ll find out.

Ape Escape for PS3

The original Ape Escape was known for its then novel use of the Dual Analog Controller. Ape Escape for PS3 also swings in on a new branch. Most of the title’s gameplay depends on the Move, with the X and O buttons giving players a little lateral leeway. The motion controller is your net to help you capture each of the escaped apes. And there are a few more weapons on offer – a slingshot which can be used to attack things from a distance, and a huge paper fan which allows you to swat at spaceships and clobber anything that gets in your way. Batteries in each level allow you to upgrade to colossal weapons such as a powerful vacuum cleaner with its inward swirling vortex sucking monkeys in, and an electrically charged banana which zaps them to coherence. Each weapon has a certain something to it; a pleasing mechanic on the eye.

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Ape Escape Monkey Stealing Banana

Capturing the little creatures with your magical net is pretty straightforward. You’ll need timing, practice and a good bit of skill, as well as patience. Each monkey has a method of attack when trying to steal your bananas; some will come straight at you, while others will veer and zigzag to avoid capture. Score multipliers are awarded for netting apes before they steal from your stockpile. Avoiding as many attacks as possible to rack up the points in the game’s many terribly challenging levels, is no mean feat. Finish a level with maximum bananas to gain an additional score bonus.

Ape Escape Points

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Gameplay throughout the story mode is very simplistic. The same basic elements are mixed up to provide a rather challenging experience with the Move. You traverse a fixed route shooting at floating pickups or enemies. But when you get to a band of monkeys, your movement ceases until you round them all up. And even if completing the game’s levels in a relatively short amount of time doesn’t quite do it for you, there’ll be an itch deep within, screaming out for you to revisit the story levels just to improve on your score. When times get tricky, it’s best to use a supercharged weapon to thwart any kind of thievery and end up with all the monkeys in the bag. And although gameplay can get a bit stale at times, it never seems dull.

Ape Escape Netting Monkeys

Besides the ‘serious’ gameplay, Ape Escape for PS3 also has a neat Mini Games section where more than one player can enjoy the festivities, through a monkey’s eyes. These comprise of a few interesting games with a fresh take on co-op. Monkeypedia, a feature built in just for laughs, catalogues the monkeys you’ve caught. It is here you get to know your primates and their passions. A careful once over of Monkeypedia and you’ll find monkeys like Jerry who tells horrendous jokes and Shwarzenhaper who is confident with his physique. You’ll find several other references if you go looking for them. It’s all part of the fun coefficient that Ape Escape has to offer.

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Ape Escape Monkeys

The Final Word: With its casual style, energetic feel and chaotic adventures, younger gamers will probably take to Ape Escape with greater appetite. But it is a pity that the option for two-player co-op is not featured in the game’s story mode. The environments, which are creative and exciting, act as a vast playground for unhinged mayhem which makes up a bulk of the title. And while Ape Escape for the PS3 can get a bit monotonous, mastering the game’s splendid levels is something of a herculean task that will keep you coming back.

Graphics: 6.5/10.
Gameplay: 7.0/10.
Style Factor: 7.0/10.
Fun Coefficient: 8.0/10.
Replay Value: 7.5/10.
Overall (not an average): 6.5/10.

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