Ape Escape 3 is more in line with what I expected from 2. I complained that I didn't like the style of 2 nearly as much as the first and I think this game meets half way between the two. I still wish the style was less fisher price because the fact that you play as a grade schooler is more obvious than ever in this game. I like the theming with TV and movie references. Unfortunately they did the freaky monkey five dirty and the boss battles overall leave a lot to be desired.
The gadgets are all familiar from its predecessors but the real new stuff is the transformations. I've heard some praise for these but they're mostly unimpressive. There were only 3 that I felt were good outside of their mandatory uses. I feel like they could have been reworked to be more useful, and maybe cut a few of the redundant transformations.
This game doesn't top the first in my eyes, but I liked playing it regardless and I'm glad it's better than 2.
The gadgets are all familiar from its predecessors but the real new stuff is the transformations. I've heard some praise for these but they're mostly unimpressive. There were only 3 that I felt were good outside of their mandatory uses. I feel like they could have been reworked to be more useful, and maybe cut a few of the redundant transformations.
This game doesn't top the first in my eyes, but I liked playing it regardless and I'm glad it's better than 2.
If you want to transcend...the spirit of the monkey.....within you.......so that you can go, wherever you are, on Earth or on the planet of the monkeys, to be able to reach the "bananirnana".....then I say to you......play Ape Escape 3.
The ape has escaped for the third time.
The first...was memorable, the second escape... good.
But the third... the third... was glorious. A real monkey show.
I can say that the third escape... left the monkey mark... a solid monkey mark.
Peak Monkey Game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t17KDr5M37A
The ape has escaped for the third time.
The first...was memorable, the second escape... good.
But the third... the third... was glorious. A real monkey show.
I can say that the third escape... left the monkey mark... a solid monkey mark.
Peak Monkey Game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t17KDr5M37A
Me like the monkee
Between this, Genji: Dawn of the Samurai and Wild ARMs 5, JapanStudio's late era PS2 titles showcased an unprecedented budget and mastery of the PlayStation 2 hardware as the PS3 was out on the market. The attractive maps to explore, upbeat soundtrack, and even more aggressive monkeys push Ape Escape 3 beyond what its sequel was able to achieve early into the PS2's life. The movie theming is humorous, though the monkey names didn't make it through the localization process well.
It's a shame that Ape Escape 4 never happened, but I am not sure what JapanStudio could have done as the PlayStation 3 crippled them permanently. I hope that one day, we learn what that Ape Escape tease was for the 20th anniversary alongside their canned project after Gravity Rush 2. Also thanks Konami for making sure this game never gets rereleased...
It's a shame that Ape Escape 4 never happened, but I am not sure what JapanStudio could have done as the PlayStation 3 crippled them permanently. I hope that one day, we learn what that Ape Escape tease was for the 20th anniversary alongside their canned project after Gravity Rush 2. Also thanks Konami for making sure this game never gets rereleased...
A triumphant ode to fun, creativity, and the very medium of video games.
One of my favourites. Only bad thing this game has is that the vehicle controls are weird.
Legitimately the only Ape Escape I fully liked. 1 and 2 were ok, but 3 is good. Not to mention it has the best minigame ever: mesal gear solid.
In my opinion, Ape Escape 3 is the first unapologetically good Ape Escape game. I enjoy 1 and 2 for their weirdness, and have a lot of nostalgia for them both, but the 3rd entry finally delivers the rock solid gameplay that was missing from the first 2 games.
This game is my favourite ps2 game of all time.
Sony never peaked like this in generations.
I wish Sony could drop horizon and the terribly boring "real life gaming"and just make good game like this for once
Sony never peaked like this in generations.
I wish Sony could drop horizon and the terribly boring "real life gaming"and just make good game like this for once
My favorite thing was the Metal Gear Side Game this thing had
just as good, if not better than ape escape 1
Look at these dudes... they think theyre makin movies
Ape Escape 3 is that comfort game I return to whenever I feel down. It's the sugar coated wonderland of games that is here to show you a good time and make you smile. I love this game and it's without a doubt one of my favorites of all time.
I can look past the performance issues to see that Ape Escape 3 is Japan Studios at top form in terms of their presentation and gameplay variety. Pure, unadulterated fun with the only concession being a frequently dipping frame rate. For a game that looks this good running on such aging hardware for the time I'm rather impressed for what Ape Escape 3 manages to achieve on a content scale while looking as good as it does.
In terms of gameplay mechanical changes/additions, mini-games, and overall content scale, Ape Escape sees its peak here; by far the best entry of the series in totality. I still have a soft spot for the mostly breakcore-esque soundtrack of the original.
After hitting creditd at 54%, I'm immediately diving back in to hit 100%! I'll flesh out further thoughts, then.
In terms of gameplay mechanical changes/additions, mini-games, and overall content scale, Ape Escape sees its peak here; by far the best entry of the series in totality. I still have a soft spot for the mostly breakcore-esque soundtrack of the original.
After hitting creditd at 54%, I'm immediately diving back in to hit 100%! I'll flesh out further thoughts, then.
This is by far the best Ape Escape game, it really does everything I would want an Ape Escape game to do perfectly. This game also made me really dislike the second game because it made me realize how many issues 2 has. The weapons are much better and more focused in this game, with the main focus being the morphs, which I absolutely loved, and the level design is way more interesting in 3. Controls are also much improved.
The levels here are great, every level feels refreshing and unique, not just in this series but in the 3D platforming genre as a whole. The story is goofy as usual, along with the voice acting, but that's part of what makes Ape Escape so fun. All I can say is that if you didn't enjoy the second game like I did, don't let that push you away from Ape Escape 3, this is one of the best 3D platformers out there.
The levels here are great, every level feels refreshing and unique, not just in this series but in the 3D platforming genre as a whole. The story is goofy as usual, along with the voice acting, but that's part of what makes Ape Escape so fun. All I can say is that if you didn't enjoy the second game like I did, don't let that push you away from Ape Escape 3, this is one of the best 3D platformers out there.
The peak of the Ape Escape franchise. Ape Escape 3 improves on everything in 1 and 2 while introducing some new elements and loads of new content.
This time, Spector teams up with a human to build TV satellites to mind control and enslave the people of Earth using his own television station. The previous protagonists, Spike and Jimmy, have fallen under the trance so now it's up to the Kei and Yumi to save the day and stop Specter. It's a fun and lighthearted plot fitting for a series like Ape Escape.
The gameplay follows the same structure as 1 and 2. You run around with cool gadgets and catch apes with your net. Highly addictive and super satisfying. This time around they introduce morph suits, which allow Kei and Yumi to power up and increase their attacks and movement abilities. These suits are sometimes required to progress and solve puzzles, and they add a unique spin to the established ape catching formula. There's a bunch of cool side modes in this game as well, such as simian cinema which allows you to make your own short movies using the apes you captured. However, the side mode most people remember is Mesal Gear Solid. This is practically a whole short game within Ape Escape 3 that's based on another game series, Metal Gear Solid. It's a lot of fun and not something you would expect in a game like this. It's a neat bonus for clearing the main games story mode!
Soichi Terada was brought back to do the soundtrack for this game, and he does a fantastic job as you would expect. Lot's of good DnB beats like with the first game.
A few nitpicks. For one, the protagonists aren't really all that interesting this time around. It's cool that you get to choose between playing as a male or female protagonist this time around, but neither Kei nor Yumi are as engaging as Spike or Jimmy. Though that's just personal preference. Bosses are also super easy this time around. The Freaky Monkey Five from the 2nd game return, but they're all total pushovers compared to how they were previously. They'll all go down in seconds as soon as you deploy any of the morph suits. If you want the fights to be actually challenging, then avoiding using the suits.
Overall, I believe Ape Escape 3 is the best Ape Escape game. It's a shame we never got a fourth game in the series, as there could have been so many ways to expand the gameplay even further. Maybe someday...
This time, Spector teams up with a human to build TV satellites to mind control and enslave the people of Earth using his own television station. The previous protagonists, Spike and Jimmy, have fallen under the trance so now it's up to the Kei and Yumi to save the day and stop Specter. It's a fun and lighthearted plot fitting for a series like Ape Escape.
The gameplay follows the same structure as 1 and 2. You run around with cool gadgets and catch apes with your net. Highly addictive and super satisfying. This time around they introduce morph suits, which allow Kei and Yumi to power up and increase their attacks and movement abilities. These suits are sometimes required to progress and solve puzzles, and they add a unique spin to the established ape catching formula. There's a bunch of cool side modes in this game as well, such as simian cinema which allows you to make your own short movies using the apes you captured. However, the side mode most people remember is Mesal Gear Solid. This is practically a whole short game within Ape Escape 3 that's based on another game series, Metal Gear Solid. It's a lot of fun and not something you would expect in a game like this. It's a neat bonus for clearing the main games story mode!
Soichi Terada was brought back to do the soundtrack for this game, and he does a fantastic job as you would expect. Lot's of good DnB beats like with the first game.
A few nitpicks. For one, the protagonists aren't really all that interesting this time around. It's cool that you get to choose between playing as a male or female protagonist this time around, but neither Kei nor Yumi are as engaging as Spike or Jimmy. Though that's just personal preference. Bosses are also super easy this time around. The Freaky Monkey Five from the 2nd game return, but they're all total pushovers compared to how they were previously. They'll all go down in seconds as soon as you deploy any of the morph suits. If you want the fights to be actually challenging, then avoiding using the suits.
Overall, I believe Ape Escape 3 is the best Ape Escape game. It's a shame we never got a fourth game in the series, as there could have been so many ways to expand the gameplay even further. Maybe someday...
THE FIRST GAME TO MAKE A MONKILLION DOLLARS
Good:
For sure the most fun Ape Escape. Gameplay three games in has definitely solidified. Transformation gimmick offers a lot more player freedom and fun solutions. Graphics and cutscene visuals look better than most games today. Sound is almost a show stealer. Surprisingly good, non intrusive VA's.
Not Good:
Some overly easy bosses. Mildly annoying gameplay segments (the race car ones).
Verdict:
Re-release???????
8.5 / 10
For sure the most fun Ape Escape. Gameplay three games in has definitely solidified. Transformation gimmick offers a lot more player freedom and fun solutions. Graphics and cutscene visuals look better than most games today. Sound is almost a show stealer. Surprisingly good, non intrusive VA's.
Not Good:
Some overly easy bosses. Mildly annoying gameplay segments (the race car ones).
Verdict:
Re-release???????
8.5 / 10
Very great game and some of the best looking cutscenes in a PS2 game imo. But doesn't have a minigame as good as monkey soccer in ape escape 2
Good game
So. Ape Escape 3. Third time around, which means it's fair to pose the question: what should an Ape Escape game be?
The way I see it, you have three pillars. The first Ape Escape game was made to show off the DualShock and explore some of the possibilities only it could bring to the table. So, an Ape Escape game is meant to show off innovative control schemes. Second pillar: collectathon. There's monkeys, you gotta get them. Getting them should be fun, varied, interesting. And finally: frustrating, but in a fun way. If you didn't play Ape Escape on launch, it was a crash course in teaching your hands to do new things in a space you probably weren't used to. It was 3D, there was a new stick, jump was on a bumper. It was your mom looking down at the controller when you tell her to press A. Mix that in with the primate antics and you get an entertaining bit of scramble as you try and get them in your net.
Alright then. Ape Escape 2, first on the PS2. New system, new sequel to a popular game. Makes sense. but: no new control scheme. So what do you do? Sony chose expansion. A few new (mostly bad) gadgets, more monkeys to catch. A collectathon first and foremost and an effort that generally felt more like Ape Escape 1.5 than a true follow-up. Not bad, not mindblowing. And then: 3. Same system, no new controller. Less justification for existing than before, so the bar is a bit higher.
It doesn't quite clear it. Up front: it's a good game. Fun, chill. But it feels like a mediocre Ape Escape entry despite trying something new. The transformations are the new core system, and to be honest, they're a great idea, a wonderful replacement for the gadgets after 2 demonstrated that there just wasn't much room left in that space. Except... the gadgets are still here, and take a back seat in both capturing and environmental puzzles. There's little need for them unless the level specifically demands their use, and even less so in general circumstances. And even when they are needed, the transformations themselves can often replace their function.
That's where the rub is. A great idea, but sharing the stage and thus not fully fleshed out. Better that transformations had been a new home for old gadget functions, expanded on so that they were more robust, the old tools put out to pasture. Instead, transformations are the dominant mechanic, sometimes fun and always overpowered. Let's talk about that.
That third pillar was frustrating fun. And there's some new tricks here to help that along. Monkeys are generally harder to catch, dodging more, stealing items. Great stuff, needed since there's no new control scheme to trip the player up. But the problem is those transformations, each with incredibly strong, easy capture options and powerful attacks. There's no dodging a successful hit from a transformation capture. In the monkey goes, and out goes the frustration. You could choose to ignore the transformations, but then why even bother with a new game? Especially when the game itself constantly showers you with morph energy, clearly wanting you to use your new toys.
This could be forgiven if the monkeys were, at least, tricky to find and make capturable. But there's nothing new here. You've seen it all before, and in better form. Most monkeys are just sprinkled about. Sometimes you hit a button. Sometimes you use the slingback. But mostly, you walk around levels that seem quite a lot like levels you've seen in previous entries, scooping up monkeys, moving along. That level variety is a particularly sore spot. The premise this time is that Specter has invaded the airwaves, but instead of going into TV programs to fight back, you... go to their sets. So many fun, inventive possibilities, mostly squandered. Instead you'll get lukewarm parodies that, once again, you've seen before, all the way down to the finale sharing the same theme as the one in 2.
So the frustration is gone, which leaves, at best, a competent collectathon with a charming bubblegum pop infusion to its music, soft visuals and great character designs. But with no new control scheme to build new gameplay around and a core mechanic that begs you to ignore it to get back to the fun irritation of stuffing monkeys into nets, it puts itself on the same shelf as Super Castlevania IV by just... missing the point entirely. A game that was made because a sequel was due, and little more. Better to have held it for the PS3 and its Move controller, or even the gyro-enabled PS4.
The way I see it, you have three pillars. The first Ape Escape game was made to show off the DualShock and explore some of the possibilities only it could bring to the table. So, an Ape Escape game is meant to show off innovative control schemes. Second pillar: collectathon. There's monkeys, you gotta get them. Getting them should be fun, varied, interesting. And finally: frustrating, but in a fun way. If you didn't play Ape Escape on launch, it was a crash course in teaching your hands to do new things in a space you probably weren't used to. It was 3D, there was a new stick, jump was on a bumper. It was your mom looking down at the controller when you tell her to press A. Mix that in with the primate antics and you get an entertaining bit of scramble as you try and get them in your net.
Alright then. Ape Escape 2, first on the PS2. New system, new sequel to a popular game. Makes sense. but: no new control scheme. So what do you do? Sony chose expansion. A few new (mostly bad) gadgets, more monkeys to catch. A collectathon first and foremost and an effort that generally felt more like Ape Escape 1.5 than a true follow-up. Not bad, not mindblowing. And then: 3. Same system, no new controller. Less justification for existing than before, so the bar is a bit higher.
It doesn't quite clear it. Up front: it's a good game. Fun, chill. But it feels like a mediocre Ape Escape entry despite trying something new. The transformations are the new core system, and to be honest, they're a great idea, a wonderful replacement for the gadgets after 2 demonstrated that there just wasn't much room left in that space. Except... the gadgets are still here, and take a back seat in both capturing and environmental puzzles. There's little need for them unless the level specifically demands their use, and even less so in general circumstances. And even when they are needed, the transformations themselves can often replace their function.
That's where the rub is. A great idea, but sharing the stage and thus not fully fleshed out. Better that transformations had been a new home for old gadget functions, expanded on so that they were more robust, the old tools put out to pasture. Instead, transformations are the dominant mechanic, sometimes fun and always overpowered. Let's talk about that.
That third pillar was frustrating fun. And there's some new tricks here to help that along. Monkeys are generally harder to catch, dodging more, stealing items. Great stuff, needed since there's no new control scheme to trip the player up. But the problem is those transformations, each with incredibly strong, easy capture options and powerful attacks. There's no dodging a successful hit from a transformation capture. In the monkey goes, and out goes the frustration. You could choose to ignore the transformations, but then why even bother with a new game? Especially when the game itself constantly showers you with morph energy, clearly wanting you to use your new toys.
This could be forgiven if the monkeys were, at least, tricky to find and make capturable. But there's nothing new here. You've seen it all before, and in better form. Most monkeys are just sprinkled about. Sometimes you hit a button. Sometimes you use the slingback. But mostly, you walk around levels that seem quite a lot like levels you've seen in previous entries, scooping up monkeys, moving along. That level variety is a particularly sore spot. The premise this time is that Specter has invaded the airwaves, but instead of going into TV programs to fight back, you... go to their sets. So many fun, inventive possibilities, mostly squandered. Instead you'll get lukewarm parodies that, once again, you've seen before, all the way down to the finale sharing the same theme as the one in 2.
So the frustration is gone, which leaves, at best, a competent collectathon with a charming bubblegum pop infusion to its music, soft visuals and great character designs. But with no new control scheme to build new gameplay around and a core mechanic that begs you to ignore it to get back to the fun irritation of stuffing monkeys into nets, it puts itself on the same shelf as Super Castlevania IV by just... missing the point entirely. A game that was made because a sequel was due, and little more. Better to have held it for the PS3 and its Move controller, or even the gyro-enabled PS4.
my favorite childhood's game! it has such a memorable soundtrack and one of the best minigames ever made (mesal gear solid)
The best Ape Escape and the Mesal Gear Solid minigame is great, in fact, it could be the greatest minigame of all time. One of the best collectathons out there
heard the mall theme on youtube and started tearing up
Slightly fiddly at times, but the gameplay is perfect, satisfying stupid. Run around, exploring, and hit monkeys with a butterfly net. Dream.
There are so many toys to play with and so many fun places to play in. Bubbly DnB soundtrack and pastel positivity. A sequel to this game will be the first step to world peace.
Pros:
A lot more shortcuts than ape escape 2 for choosing weapons
A more fun and specific level concept than 2 for the levels
The metal gear connection
The morphs make it way easier to catch the apes
The bosses go down according to how quickly you can attack them and it feels more like a brawl than waiting for an opening
just smoother in every way than ape escape 2
Cons:
its still just ape escape, there's just not a ton to hook onto in terms of gameplay for me
I still have no idea what the term pipo is and couldn't find any kind of explanation online
severe lack of monkey name pun translation took some fun out of the names
6/10
A lot more shortcuts than ape escape 2 for choosing weapons
A more fun and specific level concept than 2 for the levels
The metal gear connection
The morphs make it way easier to catch the apes
The bosses go down according to how quickly you can attack them and it feels more like a brawl than waiting for an opening
just smoother in every way than ape escape 2
Cons:
its still just ape escape, there's just not a ton to hook onto in terms of gameplay for me
I still have no idea what the term pipo is and couldn't find any kind of explanation online
severe lack of monkey name pun translation took some fun out of the names
6/10
apes together strong
Honestly, feels like a more polished and refined Ape Escape 2, that LEVEL VARIETY LADIES AND GENTS, 2 and 3 just knock it out of orbit with that, it just hits all the spots, 2 got a little something something that i cant put my finger on i aint gotta explain myself, they pretty much equal.
Some of the most creative platformers that got some type of joyfulness I ain't feel from the newer generations. Quite literally, a PS2 game.
Oh yeah final thing, only problem with these games is that the last 2-3 levels got me fidgeting in my seat wondering when we gonna wrap up but other than that, nothing but greatness.
Some of the most creative platformers that got some type of joyfulness I ain't feel from the newer generations. Quite literally, a PS2 game.
Oh yeah final thing, only problem with these games is that the last 2-3 levels got me fidgeting in my seat wondering when we gonna wrap up but other than that, nothing but greatness.