Ape Escape for the PlayStation 1 offers a unique and entertaining gameplay experience that combines platforming, puzzle-solving, and stealth elements in a colorful and vibrant world. The game’s premise of capturing escaped monkeys using a variety of gadgets and weapons is both creative and engaging, and the use of the DualShock controller adds an extra layer of immersion to the gameplay.

One of the standout features of Ape Escape is its diverse range of gadgets, which allow players to stun, capture, and manipulate the monkeys in a variety of ways. From the simple net to more advanced gadgets like the RC Car and the Monkey Radar, each tool serves a specific purpose and adds a layer of depth to the gameplay.

The platforming sections of the game are also well-designed, with challenging jumps and obstacles that require precise timing and skill to overcome. The game’s levels are varied and creative, with each offering unique challenges and puzzles to solve.

However, the camera system in Ape Escape can be frustrating at times, especially in tight spaces or during fast-paced action sequences. This can make it difficult to keep track of both the player character and the monkeys, leading to some frustrating moments.

Overall, Ape Escape’s gameplay is creative, engaging, and offers a unique experience that stands out among other platformers of the time. While the camera system can be a bit of a hindrance, the game’s diverse range of gadgets, challenging platforming, and vibrant world make it a must-play title for any PlayStation fan.

Rating: 8/10

Ape Escape Story

Ape Escape’s story follows the misadventures of a young boy named Spike, who must capture a group of mischievous monkeys that have escaped from a laboratory and are causing havoc in various locations. While the premise is simple, the game’s story is well-crafted, with a lighthearted and humorous tone that complements the game’s colorful and vibrant visuals.

Throughout the game, players encounter a diverse cast of characters, including a scientist who created the monkeys, a robot assistant, and various other allies and enemies. The dialogue is well-written and adds a layer of charm to the game, with each character offering their unique perspective on the situation at hand.

While the story is not particularly complex, it serves as a fun and entertaining backdrop for the gameplay, providing context and motivation for the player’s actions. The game’s various cutscenes and dialogue sequences are well-animated and help to move the story forward.

Overall, while the story in Ape Escape is not groundbreaking or particularly deep, it is a fun and engaging addition to the game’s overall experience. The game’s lighthearted tone and well-crafted dialogue complement the colorful and vibrant visuals, creating a cohesive and enjoyable world that players will want to explore.

Rating: 7/10

Ape Escape Difficulty

Ape Escape’s difficulty can be both a strength and a weakness of the game, depending on the player’s perspective. On one hand, the game offers a satisfying level of challenge that requires skill and patience to overcome. The platforming sections are well-designed and can be quite challenging, especially in later levels. The various gadgets also add a layer of strategy to the game, with players needing to choose the right tool for the job in order to capture the monkeys.

However, some players may find the game’s difficulty to be too high, with certain levels and bosses being overly frustrating and requiring many attempts to complete. The camera system, which has been criticized in other reviews, can also contribute to the game’s difficulty by making it harder to keep track of both the player character and the monkeys.

Overall, while Ape Escape’s difficulty can be a strength in terms of providing a satisfying challenge, it can also be a weakness for players who are not willing to put in the time and effort required to overcome the game’s more challenging sections.

Rating: 7/10

Ape Escape Graphics

Ape Escape’s graphics were impressive for the time of its release in 1999, and still hold up relatively well today. The game features a colorful and vibrant world, with each level offering its unique visual style and design. The character models are well-animated, with the monkeys in particular displaying a range of expressive animations and movements that add personality to each one.

The game’s use of the PlayStation’s hardware is also noteworthy, with impressive visual effects such as water reflections and lighting that add to the game’s overall atmosphere. The game’s frame rate is also relatively smooth, which is impressive given the limitations of the PlayStation hardware.

However, some textures and character models can appear blocky or low-resolution by today’s standards. Additionally, the camera system can at times obstruct the player’s view, making it harder to appreciate the game’s visuals.

Overall, Ape Escape’s graphics are impressive and hold up well for a game that is over 20 years old. While there are some limitations due to the hardware of the time, the game’s vibrant world and well-animated characters make it a visual treat that is still enjoyable to look at today.

Rating: 8/10

Ape Escape Controls