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I remember when I was a kid, I came home to my dad having bought me a game that he thought I would enjoy. Apparently, the person who he talked to at the store told him that this would be a good game for me. I have to admit that as a dumb kid, I was more than a little hesitant to play a game being recommended by my dad. I mean, he’s a dad! Who didn’t even grow up playing any video games! What could he (or any other adult) possibly know about what good video game is? I put the game aside, until eventually with all options spent, I just decided to give it a shot.
Ape Escape, a platformer on the PlayStation developed by Japan Studio and released in North America on June 22, 1999.
To this day, I am so grateful to both that store employee and my dad for putting that game in front of me. Ape Escape has ended up becoming one of my all-time favorite games of my entire life. An unexpected gem of a game. Ape Escape established a standard early on in my life for how video games should be.
Ape Escape, beyond being a nostalgically cherished game from my childhood, stands out as a monumental title for its gameplay, engaging audio-visual presentation, and offering an experience that endures to this day; redefining a standard for video games.
The gameplay mechanics are unique in that Ape Escape is one of the earliest titles on the PlayStation to make full use of both joysticks (specifically requiring a DualShock controller be plugged in before allowing you to play). The controls feel very natural and each button on the DualShock controller is given a purpose.
There are awkward moments: particularly in vehicles like boats and tanks, but nothing torturous once you get the hang of it. Objectives are simple: catch the required number of monkeys to move on to the next stage. Rinse repeat. You accomplish this through the use of various “gadgets” that the game provides to you as you progress throughout the game.
You start with two basic gadgets: a net to capture the monkeys and a club to stun them with. Later your gadgets become more sophisticated, helping you adapt to new challenges and opening up more areas of the levels to explore. You access levels using The Time Station hub where you can not only select stages, but also play mini-games, redo gadget training, or save/load your game. You can even browse a fun monkey book about all the little apes you catch on your journey!
The story of Ape Escape goes like this: you (Spike) and your friend (Jake) go and pay The Professor, who studies apes at the local amusement park, a visit one morning and on arrival you’re confronted with helmet wearing ape’s who have tied up The Professor and his assistant. The apes are being led by one particularly intelligent and cunning ape, named Specter, and manage to hijack The Professor’s time machine. They use it to send themselves, as well as you and your friend Jake, back in time to rewrite the course of history.
You as the main character must now help The Professor locate and capture all the apes (including Specter) to prevent Specter’s world domination plans.
There isn’t much in the way of character development. Characters remain largely the same throughout the game and don’t have any real arcs except for Jake, who gets brainwashed by Specter into being a mindless slave. You do eventually learn what Specter’s problem with humanity is, but it doesn’t really reveal itself until you 100% the game.
The plot takes itself seriously (perhaps a little too seriously) and I think it does a good job of imposing the seriousness of the situation onto you. A kid friendly version of trying to prevent a Planet of the Apes situation by goofy looking, silly-billy monkeys. A pressing matter for sure, but there’s still plenty of room for humor and slapstick antics.
The time travel aspect of the plot is also a nice concept! Going through different time periods provides the game with unique settings and keeps things from getting boring.
The graphics are amazing especially when you consider the time period the game was developed in. Stages are very colorful and bright, others are darker, and all reflect the historical periods and settings that they take place in. Nothing about the game looks like they cut corners when it came to visual quality.
The audio design is also solid. The monkeys yelp when they notice you, you can hear the whirring of machinery, each gadget has its own distinct audio profile, and enemies react to you in similarly unique ways.
The music! Oh my god the MUSIC! Soichi Terada brings his absolute fucking A-game here, his magnum opus, to Ape Escape. I didn’t know it was possible for me to imagine what the appropriate type of music would go along with being inside a T-Rex’s body, but Terada is the best to ever do it. Every song fits perfectly within the stage it’s supposed to represent. Every track is banger. Terada brings a now emblematic, drum and bass style to the game and it works spectacularly.
Ape Escape is just a very pretty and audibly impressive game. I have no doubt that you’ll find something about this game’s visual and audio feel that will charm you. There’s a lot to see and do here.
The game won’t take you weeks to finish, especially on a casual run. I’d say 9-10 hours max if you’re really taking your time. Maybe a little more if you’re going for 100% completion, which is where the replayability of the game is going to factor in. The two main driving forces of which are collecting all the monkeys (204 in total) and collecting all of the Specter Coins hidden within each level that unlock mini-games in the Time Station hub area.
Ape Escape scratches that monkey-brained (no pun intended) part of me that just yearns to collect and sort. I can’t help but be drawn to wanting to capture every single monkey in the game no matter how many times I play through it! It’s a certain type of collect-a-thon game that you just don’t see much anymore. Which is a shame! Ape Escape really shines in this aspect and is where most of the fun comes from. You’ll find yourself coming back to Ape Escape even after finishing and seeing everything it has to offer.
One shortcoming is due to the PS1’s limitations the game can experience some slowdown and sluggishness at times from simply too many things happening at once. Nothing about it is grating or unplayable, but it is something to keep in mind. There’s jank here, but manageable jank.
Some gadgets and vehicles take a bit of getting used to at first. It’s hard for me to put into words exactly what I mean by that. I’m reminded of a phrase my parents used to say: "Todo tiene su chiste" a Spanish phrase that translates to "Everything has its trick". You just have to feel it out and eventually it will just click in your head how they work and function. Almost like you’re developing Ape Escape motor skills.
The best comparison that I have for Ape Escape with other games would have to come from Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon; two other PlayStation collect-a-thon platformers from the same era.
Where Ape Escape stands out from both of those is the full use of the DualShock’s capabilities, but also from the gadgets themselves which give the player more to do like puzzle solving or navigating levels. You have to put a bit more thought into the game than you normally would for Crash and Spyro.
I had a lot of fun playing Ape Escape from start to finish and if memory serves me correctly it was the first game I ever truly felt the urge to 100%. What stood out in particular to me was how much character the Ape’s had. Their personalities distinguished by the color of their pants was already a genius concept by itself, but giving them each a small bio via the Monkey Radar gadget added that little bit of charm and cuteness that gives Ape Escape its fun personality.
And that’s ultimately what Ape Escape is in its rawest, purest form; just plain fun and that’s what video games are supposed to be. Ape Escape isn’t just a good game, it’s a great game. Ape Escape holds a special place in my heart. When I die, bury me with a copy so that when I get to the afterlife I can enjoy it for eternity.
Ape Escape is an example of a game that combines good gameplay mechanics, and a remarkable audio-visual experience. Its use of the DualShock controller was engaging and demonstrated its capabilities.
The story, while simplistic, is engaging and well-executed. The graphics and audio, particularly the music by Soichi Terada, are exceptional for its era, and enhance the experience.
Furthermore, the game's replayability and content, highlighted by the collect-a-thon nature and charming details, make it a game that continues to draw me back again and again. Despite some technical hiccups and a learning curve with certain gadgets, Ape Escape is a game that you cannot miss. A game that transcends nostalgia to stand as an example of how fun video games can be when they’re done right.
Whether you're revisiting it or experiencing it for the first time, Ape Escape is a game that promises and delivers so much. A must-play beyond any shadow of a doubt.
Ape Escape, a platformer on the PlayStation developed by Japan Studio and released in North America on June 22, 1999.
To this day, I am so grateful to both that store employee and my dad for putting that game in front of me. Ape Escape has ended up becoming one of my all-time favorite games of my entire life. An unexpected gem of a game. Ape Escape established a standard early on in my life for how video games should be.
Ape Escape, beyond being a nostalgically cherished game from my childhood, stands out as a monumental title for its gameplay, engaging audio-visual presentation, and offering an experience that endures to this day; redefining a standard for video games.
The gameplay mechanics are unique in that Ape Escape is one of the earliest titles on the PlayStation to make full use of both joysticks (specifically requiring a DualShock controller be plugged in before allowing you to play). The controls feel very natural and each button on the DualShock controller is given a purpose.
There are awkward moments: particularly in vehicles like boats and tanks, but nothing torturous once you get the hang of it. Objectives are simple: catch the required number of monkeys to move on to the next stage. Rinse repeat. You accomplish this through the use of various “gadgets” that the game provides to you as you progress throughout the game.
You start with two basic gadgets: a net to capture the monkeys and a club to stun them with. Later your gadgets become more sophisticated, helping you adapt to new challenges and opening up more areas of the levels to explore. You access levels using The Time Station hub where you can not only select stages, but also play mini-games, redo gadget training, or save/load your game. You can even browse a fun monkey book about all the little apes you catch on your journey!
The story of Ape Escape goes like this: you (Spike) and your friend (Jake) go and pay The Professor, who studies apes at the local amusement park, a visit one morning and on arrival you’re confronted with helmet wearing ape’s who have tied up The Professor and his assistant. The apes are being led by one particularly intelligent and cunning ape, named Specter, and manage to hijack The Professor’s time machine. They use it to send themselves, as well as you and your friend Jake, back in time to rewrite the course of history.
You as the main character must now help The Professor locate and capture all the apes (including Specter) to prevent Specter’s world domination plans.
There isn’t much in the way of character development. Characters remain largely the same throughout the game and don’t have any real arcs except for Jake, who gets brainwashed by Specter into being a mindless slave. You do eventually learn what Specter’s problem with humanity is, but it doesn’t really reveal itself until you 100% the game.
The plot takes itself seriously (perhaps a little too seriously) and I think it does a good job of imposing the seriousness of the situation onto you. A kid friendly version of trying to prevent a Planet of the Apes situation by goofy looking, silly-billy monkeys. A pressing matter for sure, but there’s still plenty of room for humor and slapstick antics.
The time travel aspect of the plot is also a nice concept! Going through different time periods provides the game with unique settings and keeps things from getting boring.
The graphics are amazing especially when you consider the time period the game was developed in. Stages are very colorful and bright, others are darker, and all reflect the historical periods and settings that they take place in. Nothing about the game looks like they cut corners when it came to visual quality.
The audio design is also solid. The monkeys yelp when they notice you, you can hear the whirring of machinery, each gadget has its own distinct audio profile, and enemies react to you in similarly unique ways.
The music! Oh my god the MUSIC! Soichi Terada brings his absolute fucking A-game here, his magnum opus, to Ape Escape. I didn’t know it was possible for me to imagine what the appropriate type of music would go along with being inside a T-Rex’s body, but Terada is the best to ever do it. Every song fits perfectly within the stage it’s supposed to represent. Every track is banger. Terada brings a now emblematic, drum and bass style to the game and it works spectacularly.
Ape Escape is just a very pretty and audibly impressive game. I have no doubt that you’ll find something about this game’s visual and audio feel that will charm you. There’s a lot to see and do here.
The game won’t take you weeks to finish, especially on a casual run. I’d say 9-10 hours max if you’re really taking your time. Maybe a little more if you’re going for 100% completion, which is where the replayability of the game is going to factor in. The two main driving forces of which are collecting all the monkeys (204 in total) and collecting all of the Specter Coins hidden within each level that unlock mini-games in the Time Station hub area.
Ape Escape scratches that monkey-brained (no pun intended) part of me that just yearns to collect and sort. I can’t help but be drawn to wanting to capture every single monkey in the game no matter how many times I play through it! It’s a certain type of collect-a-thon game that you just don’t see much anymore. Which is a shame! Ape Escape really shines in this aspect and is where most of the fun comes from. You’ll find yourself coming back to Ape Escape even after finishing and seeing everything it has to offer.
One shortcoming is due to the PS1’s limitations the game can experience some slowdown and sluggishness at times from simply too many things happening at once. Nothing about it is grating or unplayable, but it is something to keep in mind. There’s jank here, but manageable jank.
Some gadgets and vehicles take a bit of getting used to at first. It’s hard for me to put into words exactly what I mean by that. I’m reminded of a phrase my parents used to say: "Todo tiene su chiste" a Spanish phrase that translates to "Everything has its trick". You just have to feel it out and eventually it will just click in your head how they work and function. Almost like you’re developing Ape Escape motor skills.
The best comparison that I have for Ape Escape with other games would have to come from Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon; two other PlayStation collect-a-thon platformers from the same era.
Where Ape Escape stands out from both of those is the full use of the DualShock’s capabilities, but also from the gadgets themselves which give the player more to do like puzzle solving or navigating levels. You have to put a bit more thought into the game than you normally would for Crash and Spyro.
I had a lot of fun playing Ape Escape from start to finish and if memory serves me correctly it was the first game I ever truly felt the urge to 100%. What stood out in particular to me was how much character the Ape’s had. Their personalities distinguished by the color of their pants was already a genius concept by itself, but giving them each a small bio via the Monkey Radar gadget added that little bit of charm and cuteness that gives Ape Escape its fun personality.
And that’s ultimately what Ape Escape is in its rawest, purest form; just plain fun and that’s what video games are supposed to be. Ape Escape isn’t just a good game, it’s a great game. Ape Escape holds a special place in my heart. When I die, bury me with a copy so that when I get to the afterlife I can enjoy it for eternity.
Ape Escape is an example of a game that combines good gameplay mechanics, and a remarkable audio-visual experience. Its use of the DualShock controller was engaging and demonstrated its capabilities.
The story, while simplistic, is engaging and well-executed. The graphics and audio, particularly the music by Soichi Terada, are exceptional for its era, and enhance the experience.
Furthermore, the game's replayability and content, highlighted by the collect-a-thon nature and charming details, make it a game that continues to draw me back again and again. Despite some technical hiccups and a learning curve with certain gadgets, Ape Escape is a game that you cannot miss. A game that transcends nostalgia to stand as an example of how fun video games can be when they’re done right.
Whether you're revisiting it or experiencing it for the first time, Ape Escape is a game that promises and delivers so much. A must-play beyond any shadow of a doubt.