Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Ape Escape 2

Written by Chris Reiter on June 16, 2003

First Impressions: Now where did I put my Charlton Heston?

Sony has been known to come up with some of the most bizarre but effective game releases ever. Like for example, four years ago when Sony's new Dual Analog PlayStation controller was still a hot commodity on the gaming market, the company had put together a little known title by the name of Ape Escape, which utilized the Dual Shock's multi purposes, and which also exposed many gamers to an original breed of platform game that instantly racked up success in the gaming community letting you be the captor of intelligent monkeys on the loose. Since that time, Sony has had in safe keeping over in Japan a successor to the original PlayStation release on their latest platform, the PlayStation 2. Why Sony had never decided to brig the game over shores for every monkey lover to wrap their mitts around the furry little flea bags again is a good question Ape Escape lovers have been asking themselves for some time now. But finally, Ubi Soft has stepped in, taken control of the franchise, and is spreading joy to the masses with this Sony developed sequel early next month.

Even the brightest people can be a little short sighted sometimes, as in the case with a Professor who's created many devices, including a helmet which enhances primate intelligence greatly when worn, and leaves his goof-off assistant to take charge of things while he's away. This scenario leads to further trouble when the Professor's helper Jimmy accidentally packages the same monkey helmets in with the case of monkey pants that are then shipped out to Monkey Park, home to lots and lots of simians. Especially when Specter, your above average super smart albino monkey, gets his hands on the helmet device -- he amasses a monkey army consisting of 300 strong using the doc's thinking caps. Jimmy, the not so perfect kid, must fulfill his duty now and stop the evil Specter and his plans for world domination before these banana loving tree huggers infest his world.

Bagging animals gone wild is the name of the game here in Ape Escape 2. To do that, you'll need to be tricky, you'll need to be well equipped, and you'll need to be capable of outsmarting these furry critters with every strategy the game will set itself up for. Don't just think that monkey nabbing will come off as any mere task -- these apes will come in different shapes and sizes; some of which can even fight back using armor and a lance, or those outfitted as a martial artist, or even one's that can fire an automatic. The basic trick to getting around capturing as many apes as you can without receiving your share of injuries though will be in using your own noggin...and with a slew of scientific gadgets, naturally.

Ape Escape initially showcased a healthy supply of helper tools to aid you in your capture of the apes. From a slingshot to a speed-exceeding hoop, to even a radar dish that can track unseen apes, combining these devices with three new ones -- a boomerang called a bananarang that will let out a certain scent to attract apes to its location; an electromagnet, which will pull giant metal objects towards you; and a water cannon for gushing water to stamp out roaring fires and the like -- should allow for a well balanced theater of tactical procedures in getting those damn dirty apes to be yours. Once you have the advantage in any situation however, that's when you'll finally be able to put to use your stun club to put them out of commission, and then your trusty net for carting them away into monkey imprisonment.

And where would a platform game be without its jumping around aspects? Ape Escape 2 will have the protagonist Jimmy spare a few of his own abilities in the adventure, like double jumping when needs be, faking to be asleep for ape capture methods, and also sneaking up on the creatures to lasso them with ease. With this being a platform game and all, in the spirit of the Mario legend, Ape Escape 2 will also have you hunting down coins to later spend on the game's habitation hub operation. Here you can earn your luck to purchase all sorts of things, like movies, art, and even a few mini-games. Whether you're interested in a round of soccer, a feat of mountain climbing, or a bit of taking some dance steps, there'll be some fun to have for anyone who likes to get a little crazy from time to time.

If you're looking for a platform title that will be pushing the envelope -- Ape Escape 2 won't really do that. Instead, the game will merely create one to be set for future releases to compare and contrast with. It's not that the game will step outside the bounds of your imagination, but it will give players a colorful, wacky, and fun look at life from the life of ape grabbing. Enormous levels of pyramid, karate dojos, sandy beaches, and even frozen caverns will set the mood of platforming and reveal nicely stylized levels. Character models on the other hand will appear a little on the silly side, even though they're coming along to resonate with some very comical animation functions -- with every ape type that can wobble around in their own immature manner.