Ape Escape (PS1) - So, so good!

Hi folks. Some of you may have read my previous write-ups on playing PS1 Games. I’ll link them at the bottom of the post.

This is part of my effort to play PlayStation 1 games that I’ve never played– and often never heard of– until now. I’m buying these games physically, popping them into my PlayStation 2, which is hooked up to an old Sony Trinitron KV-1981R TV, and trying to give each title its due. I love early 3D graphics, tank controls, and everything that comes with this generation.

Today I want to discuss Ape Escape. This is a 3D platformer and collectathon developed by Sony Computer Entertainment where you travel through time capturing monkeys.

Guys... this might be my favorite game on the PlayStation. Before I even started playing it, I popped in the disk to make sure it worked, and watched the intro cutscene. The level of charm, humor, and goofiness is off the charts. Dancing monkeys, monkeys with guns, chasing monkeys with a giant net...

Alright, Ape Escape, you got me. Chimps and apes all the way.

The gameplay is the classic collectathon formula. Travel to a new level, collect stuff, maybe get a new ability, rinse and repeat. But this game innovates in several ways that’s just genius.

First, having the collectible be monkeys that you have to chase around and catch in a big ol’ net never gets old. So often I’d be running around, slamming the net down frantically, literally shouting “Come here, ya little bastard!” while a sick drum and bass track blasts on. This adds a degree of challenge and humor to every level.

I was really impressed that these monkeys can climb, jump, and swim away from you, utilizing the level to put distance between you and them. They even jump in little UFOs or other machines to fight you. So good.

Plus, Ape Escape is the ONLY PS1 game that requires the Dual Shock controller, and they really make good use of the joystick. Slamming the net down in any direction, spinning to hover in the air, and even spinning around with the stun baton all works great. Aiming with the slingshot was smooth, too.

Many, many joysticks were blown out in playing this game, I’m sure. No different than Mario Party. I will say, the controls for the tank are... bizarre. Definitely the hardest part of the game for me.

The levels start out fairly small, which lends the early game a snappy pace. You’re traveling through time, dropping into a prehistoric area with dinosaurs, and quickly collecting some monkeys. Soon, you’re in medieval times and the levels become a little more sprawling. By the end game, the levels are absolutely massive. There’s a ton of variety and I never got bored.

Every few zones are broken up by a race level where you challenge your rival to reach the end of this sort of abstract race track. Remined me of those abstract levels in Super Mario Sunshine and make for a decent palette cleanser.
I do wish the game dropped the lives mechanic, which always feels so tacked on to these 3D platformers. I was never in danger of running out of lives, and by the end of the game, the “final” level even concedes that the lives system sucks, by literally giving you free lives to collect at certain particularly difficult platforming sections.

I also wish I could save without having the go into a sub menu. I get the memory card was technically optional for all these games, but the ability to be prompted to save after completing a level would have been a nice change. As it was, I saved after every level, which did drag the pace. And I’m glad I did, because just once the game froze up and required I re-do a level. First time that happened while playing on the PS2, but it made me even more paranoid!

And yes, I did collect all 204 monkeys and all the coins. I tried the skiing mini game, and it was interesting, but didn’t bother with the other two. Once you collect all the monkeys and beat the “final” level, there’s a secret final showdown with Specter. None of the bosses were difficult, and this one was particularly easy. Still, it was a nice surprise to get another level before the game ended for good.

Another small complaint is that while the story and voice acting were serviceable and fine in the beginning, by the end, there were some extended cutscenes that just felt off. I’m guessing its due to dubbing the cutscenes? That and the voice actors were just not great when there was a lot of dialogue. Not the game’s strong suit.

Seriously, if you haven’t played Ape Escape, you have to try it out. I was laughing my ass off throughout the game, just completely enamored with the charm and goofiness of the scenarios, music, and the vibes. I see now why this game is always mentioned when discussing PS1 games, and it has shot up to the top of the list right next to Final Fantasy 7-8 and all the Resident Evil games.

Right now, I’m playing Blaster Master: Blasting Again (what a title), and will follow up soon with my write up on that. See ya!

Prior PS1 Reviews:

Syphon Filter

Tenchu: Stealth Assassins

Omega Boost

Spyro the Dragon

Future Cop: L.A.P.D.

Had such a blast playing Ape Escape as a kid, felt way ahead of its time.

The whole series was really good. I didn't expect them to hold up today since they were "gimmicky." They were a tech demo for the new analog sticks similar to Astrobot.

I wasn't able to past the last level the carnival.
I was stuck with the big clown in a cage.

I was able to trick the game so the clown get down and I was writing outside so he ram the door thinking that was the solution.

I think I need to replay it some day, I had a lot of fun and the controls were nice with all the itema

My time with the game was mostly unpleasant. Platforming just feels clunky as hell. I wouldn't finish the game if PS5 version didn't have a rewind feature. It's kinda cool to see the first implementation of DualShock but that's it.

I never completed this one, I always ran out of steam around the Great Wall (?) themed levels.

The soundtrack is phenomenal though. I listen to the time station theme regularly.

The soundtrack is so good!

Yes, Great Wall is where the levels start to become a little more sprawling but also a little more linear like a traditional platformer. I could see that change in pace being a hindrance.

Interesting, I didn't find it clunky at all. And for the most part, the platforming doesn't require a lot of precision until near the end.

That carnival level was huge. I think I almost died to that clown boss, too, but go lucky just beating it up. Definitely give the game another shot at some point, although it sounds like you got through most of it.

I can see that although I think Ape Escape... escapes the the tech demo trap by being so damn charming. There's clearly a lot of love put into the design of the game, that tech demos don't have imo. There's also a solid base of 3D platforming and collecting that's just fun if you're into that sort of thing (which I very much am).

I really want to play the sequels but man is Ape Escape 2 expensive on PS2. We'll see if I revisit that or not.

Yes, it's the first PS1 game I've played recently that felt closer to the modern era than not because of the laboratory hub, the sprawling levels, the cutscenes, the decent draw distance. I could see Ape Escape being a modern indie game, for example.

Hell yeah. I need to get to it. I finish Ape Escape 2 a few years ago, and plan on playing 3. I think there is a PSP version of 1 that is a bit redone? Need to check out the options of which version to play.

Team Asobi should definitely make a new Ape Escape

Not sure on the various versions, but the PS1 version is completely playable. I gotta save up to buy Ape Escape 2 for the PS2. Definitely would be down for a modern Ape Escape.