Ubisoft
attempts to defy the odds by releasing Ape Escape 2
(AE2), the sequel to one of the original PlayStation’s more
innovative platformers, and one of the first games to truly utilize
every aspect of the Dual Shock controller. The premise is simple
enough: Jimmy, the lead character, botches the delivery of monkey
helmets, which results in a rain of helmets falling from the sky and
being collected and donned by 300 of the little simians. Your job is
to utilize several special devices called “gotcha gadgets,” and
capture all the monkeys (all of which have their own personality and
statistics) along with five super-powered monkey bosses and their
leader, Specter.
Gameplay
consists of searching for monkeys scattered throughout wildly
different worlds, including everything from snow covered Christmas
levels to a lost world of Dinosaurs. As you progress, new gadgets
are introduced and you are given the opportunity to test each one
out in a handy trainer that gives general instructions for their use
(though you’ll soon find that there are other uses that aren’t
readily apparent). Gadgets vary from remote controlled cars to a
powerful magnet that lets you cling to metal objects or pull metal
armor from protected creatures.
Using these
devices is really the hook that separates AE2 from most
platformers, and figuring out which to use for each situation does a
great deal to keep the game feeling fresh. Each device uses the Dual
Shock controller in special ways, and using each item becomes fun in
its own right. For example, to use the Bananarang, you must pull
back on the right analog stick, aim using the left stick, and
quickly release the right stick to throw it. Once in the air, you
can also spin the right stick to release a monkey scent that will
attract hidden or hard-to-reach monkeys and make them easier for you
to catch. Several vehicles that require controls similar to the
special gadgets can also be found scattered throughout the game.
Another
impressive aspect of the game is in the varied and interesting level
designs. Unlike most games that seem to reuse a texture set over and
over for several levels to expand the length of a game, AE2
chooses to focus on twenty completely different levels, each with
its own set of challenges (including monkeys specific to each
level). Every level features a different experience to look forward
to, and there isn’t a bad one in the barrel despite a few cheap and
frustrating jumping puzzles in the last few levels.
However, while
the game does a great job setting the bar for original gameplay
mechanics and level design, it doesn’t do much in the way of raising
it in terms of graphics. Character and enemy models are fairly basic
low-polygon fare. Similarly, the levels are relatively simple in
appearance, despite each being amazingly functional in terms of
playability. While none of the anime-inspired graphics are a turn
off by any means, it would have been nice to see a little more
attention given to the package, since it doesn’t look much better
than a cleaned-up version of the PlayStation original.
Unlike the
graphical portion of the game, sound holds up much better. The music
is catchy, and fits perfectly with each environment you are playing
in. The voiceover work is especially commendable, and features
recognizable talent from several cartoons including Pokemon.
Sound effects in general are equally effective, though not as varied
as it probably could have been.
Adding to the game’s longevity, an enormous
number of unlockable items can be purchased at the Gotcha Box (a
kind of gumball machine found at your home base) using coins you’ve
collected. There are hundreds of items including concept art, monkey
fables (typically, classic fairy tales retold using monkeys),
creature pictures, and other goodies viewable at a virtual
entertainment center. Of special note, however, are the mini-games
that can also be won from the Gotcha Box. Each one is fairly
impressive, supports multiple players, and could probably stand on
its own as a $10 bargain game. I’ll leave what they are as a
surprise, but the fact that Ubisoft put that much effort into an
additional diversion shows the amount of attention they placed on
the package as a whole.
HIGHS:
-
Spot on controls
-
Amazing camera system
that rarely gets in the way
-
More extras than you can
shake a monkey at
-
Excellent and original
level design
LOWS:
-
May get too hard for the
younger target audience, too easy for the rest
-
The main game is a
relatively short affair
-
Cute, but somewhat
uninspired graphics
FINAL VERDICT:
In the end, Ape Escape 2 overcomes practically every pitfall
found in most 3D platformers. The gameplay is wildly original, the
controls are spot-on, and there are only a few occasions where the
camera angle gets in the way of gameplay. In fact, the only real
complaint I would level against the title is the relative ease in
which one can beat the game. While it could be argued that this is a
game for a younger audience, the complexity of the controls and
difficulty of the last few levels might elevate it above that crowd.
Still, what matters is the amount of fun a game delivers, and
despite an easy ride for most gamers, it’s a blast while it lasts,
and there’s still plenty to see and do even after you’ve beaten
it.
Overall Score: 8.
Navigation
menu
