Average Rating: 
Rating:  - You'll go ape for this wild platformer!
Ape Escape is the Mario 64 of the playstation. In this game, you play as Spike, a guy who is trying to catch monkeys and in my opinion, kinda looks like a monkey. This is the first game that takes full advantage of the Dual Shock controller. The controlls are tricky at first, especially for someone who isn't firmilar with a playstation controller, but they're easy to learn, about a 15-20 minute learning curve. Just to warn you, you NEED the dual shock to play this game, hear me? I find it somewhat easy, but I'm so far from beating the game I couldn't tell you. There are huge variety of weapons to use, plenty of mini games, and vass landscapes to explore, yep, I'd recommend it to anyone with a PSX. It's almost worth it to buy a PSX for this alone, but the key word is almost. Have fun :)
Rating: - 1999's best platformer for the Playstation!
While I regard the Crash Bandicoot series the premiere platformers for the Playstation, I was pleasantly surprised with Ape Escape. Hunting down monkeys is such a hilarious concept it makes we wonder why nobody thought of it before. Overall, I found the game to be very well-designed, fun, and addictive. The graphics, while not as pretty as Crash Bandicoot or Spyro, grow on you after a short amount of time. The developers made optimal use of the Dual Shock controller, more so than any other company. Control is perfect. I also found that, compared to many other 3D games, the in-game camera caused me very few problems. To make it easier for younger players, the game levels are littered with helpful hints. While not a huge game--it can be finished in about a week--the three mini-games that are eventually opened up are a ton of fun and add longevity to the title. What I found most amazing is that each of the game's 204 monkeys has a unique name and personality. A tremendous amount of creative energy went into this title. You want to complete 100% of the game just to see every square inch of each level. If I can find any fault with the game at all, it's that you must complete the levels in a linear fashion. Other than that, it's an unusual and highly enjoyable platformer. Highly recommended.
Rating:  - I'd like to shoot the "camera man"
To wit, this game quite fun. Since my game play style tends towards using the analog controller whenever I can, this game seems to be custom made for myself. And of course it is. It's a pretty neat concept having the monkeys (I don't think the manual writer did a lot of research on monkeys since the book uses "baboons," "apes," and " chimps" interchangeably) escape from the zoo and having your job to chase down and capture them. Nice non violent plot really, one of the very few games that I buy and my girlfriend is willing to play.And while the game has a nice plot, the programmers also spent a little time on the graphics in the game. Since the PSX is showing its age there is only so much any programmer can do. But the programers did a very good job. The smooth graphics, "large" worlds and a grand variety of scenes make this game a delight to explore (Never mind the obvious use of some of Sony's stock SDK files, usually evident by the "Pa Rappa" look in some areas). Throw in a huge variety of weapons and usable "tools" make this a winning formula indeed. In fact it is likely that after the PSX goes the way of the Atari 7800 that this game will be one of the reasons that die hard fans of the PSX will dust off that gray box (Or blue if they upgrade to the PSX2) and play a few levels. However, I have one major gripe. It shocks me that many people consider the Ape Escape camera to be nice and well behaved. This camera is one of the most ill-behaved I've come across in a long time. Just what are some people comparing this camera to? Super Mario 64? If that's the case, then that's a hard judge. SM64's camera was pretty bad but at least it was aware of walls and didn't go behind them too often. Ape Escape's camera not only goes behind walls but it goes through them as well! Haven't the programmers at least heard of a "Jelly Cam"? C'Mon, there are numerous examples out there of what to do and what not to do with the camera. Ones with decent (mind you, decent, not perfect) camera's include Spyro 2, MDK 2, and Zelda 64. All of these games had cameras that were somewhat well behaved (although none show the classic "Jelly Cam," A Jelly Cam is a camera that when it goes through a wall turns the wall, or anything else, into a semitransparent entity. You know it's there but at least you can see what's going on on the other side.) AE does not fall into that category. I can't tell you how many times I've run back and forth in a level looking for a way out only to discover the camera wasn't "swinging" in an appropriate direction. Some pundits may tell you that only adds to the difficulty of the game. Someone should remind them of the difference between skilled difficulty and annoying frustration. Never, Never should any one ever lose a life because the camera wasn't doing a good job of showing what is happening around you. "How about blind spots?" Some may ask. What about them? It is very possible to design a game and camera to allow the classic "leap of fate." My gripe lies with the camera refusing to shift at appropriate times so that I can at least survive the darn jump! Or Shifting to an appropriate angle to allow a fair fight against a baddie. All to often I'm getting pummeled by a monkey with a machine gun or rockets simply because the stupid camera doesn't know enough to swing around a column. And using buttons to "fix" the camera's faults is a cheap trick. Sorry Sony, A big company like your self should know better. This game gets three stars due the rotten camera work. If the programmers spent more time with this crucial element then the game would certainly win five stars. Too bad Sony, the frustration with the camera is simply too high. For those who think the camera works "perfect" play a few more games for comparison.
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