For many years, if you asked me what my favorite game series was, I probably would've said Splinter Cell. This is like you sent a team of scientists to develop the polar opposite game.

It is unabashedly loud, stylish and raucous. There is no stealth, because you are a fuck-huge monkey. You are given no tools but your hands and the speed to run at them, because you are a big, fuck-off monkey. The tutorial is three button prompts. There's music to accompany you on your quest for freedom, battling with you to see who can best embody this frenetic energy. You don't need more.

Reviewed on Aug 13, 2021


2 Comments


2 years ago

I don't really think I've oversimplified Ape Out with this review, exactly, but the way the handful of design elements come together as a complete package isn't something I could adequately describe - I'm not that kind of wordsmith. The levels are unique, it doesn't overstay its welcome by padding for length, and there are no superfluous elements.

2 years ago

For games that lean into being experiential rather than deeply mechanical or narrative-driven, I would say a review like this is concise, rather than oversimplified.

That was a lot of 5-dollar words to basically just say nah ur gd, so much for being concise.

2 years ago

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