Review #805: Ape Escape

 Worth going ape for.

 Ape Escape was more than just another platform-collectathon game, it was a proof of concept of what could be done with a second analog stick. Gimmicky as it may have been, its design was strong enough to produce a series. While I played Ape Escape 2 in my younger years it's never too late to revisit the classics.

 In the game you play as Spike, a boy who sets out to capture Specter, a white monkey that has brainwashed his best friend Jake as well as a ton of monkeys who are now doing his bidding. Surprisingly, the game has a time travelling theme, though the levels barely reflect that. Be that as it may, the game is made up of 6 worlds with 3 stages each, as well as a final world with a single stage, each one having a different amount of Monkeys and Specter Coins to capture and collect. The latter are used to unlock minigames, although only 40 of them are needed. The three minigames can be played in multiplayer, and a surprising amount of attention went into them: Ski Boys is a racing skiing minigame that has multiple characters and tracks, Specter Boxing is a boxing match between two monkey, and, finally, Galaxy Monkey, an asteroids clone. Same as with the main game, all minigames involve using both analog sticks. All in all, it's a very meaty game. If there's anything to complain about is that it goes the Mario 64 route of exiting you from levels before you got 100% of the collectibles, so you'll be making two trips at bare minimum if you are willing to complete the game.

 As mentioned before, the game's main selling point is its heavy use of both analog sticks. The left analog stick is used to move around, R1/R2 is used to jump, L1 sets the camera behind you, although you can use the directional pad to move it around, the face buttons are used to select your gadgets while the right analog stick actually uses the selected gadget. There are four face buttons and 8 gadgets, so expect to visit the gadget menu quite often, although it's not too bad, just a press of the select button. Gadgets are earned as you play through the game, and these tools are your keys to capturing every monkey. Monkeys can only be capture with the net, but it's so slow that it's not a bad idea to first knock them out with the baton before going in for the capture. Other gadgets include a Radar, a Hoola Hoop that must be spun in order to boost your speed, a helicopter-rod to reach high places, an RC cart  and even a slingshot.

 The game is quite fun, and the game makes decent use of its gadgets. That said, and it might be unfair, but I think the sequel does everything this game does but better, heck, a lot of the gadgets are reused and, in my opinion, put to better use. For instance, the Hoola Hoop's use in this game is quite scarce, while the second game made it mandatory to go over inclined surfaces. And remember, I'm not saying this game is bad, au contraire, it's just that the sequel would expand and polish everything this one did.

 As fun as the game is, I felt like the camera was a teenie tiny too zoomed in for my liking, and the framerate can get laughably low at times. Thankfully, the latter never got in the way, it's just a minor inconvenience. I found the game's overall look to feel very Nintendo 64ish, even if the rough, sharp graphics are undeniably Playstation's, so I'd say the presentation is pretty darn great. Colorful, fun and very endearing.

 Ape Escape's biggest problem is its own sequel, it does what this game does but so much better, it probably helps that they recycled many stage themes and gadgets in that game. That said, Ape Escape is still a top-notch platform/collectathon game that managed to build a fantastic game out of a gimmick.
 8.0 out of 10