Review
Release Date: 06.23.1999
Platform:
PlayStationDeveloper:
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (Japan)Publisher:
Sony Computer Entertainment AmericaReviewed by
Brian J. Balsan on 8.1.2003
| Review Rating: 9/10 | User Rating: 7.88/10 |
Leave it to Sony to capitalize on a good thing.
Shortly after Nintendo unveiled the N64 analog controller to the world, Sega followed suit quickly thereafter by pairing an analog controller of their own with NiGHTS. Then Sony saw that bet, added two anolog sticks to their controller, made them both have internal buttons (Officially labeled "L3" and "R3"), and offered rumble capabilities. This controller would eventually be known as the "Dual Shock".
And while the PlayStation games slowly began to use this new controller, most of them saw the right analog stick, as well as the L3 and R3 buttons, as purely optional and unnecessary. So SCEI decided to make a game that would use every button on the controller to its fullest extent. As a result,
Sarugetchu, or
Ape Escape, as it is better known here, is the first (and currently only) Game on the Sony PlayStation where having the dual shock is an absolute requirement. Fortunately, Ape Escape is a fun and involving game that manages to more than make up for the wonky control scheme.
The story goes something like this: Specter, the smartest monkey in the entire monkey amusement park, gets ahold of a "Peak-Point Helmet", a device designed by the professor which has the power to give its wearer super-intelligence. With this new intelligence, Specter has all the monkeys in the park attack the professor's laboratory, with the intention of using the time machine there to send the monkeys back, change history, and rule the world over the humans. Along with the monkeys, Spike, the hero of the game, and his best friend, Jake, are also sucked into the time machine. Jake goes missing, leaving the fate of planet entirely on the shoulders of Spike.
Thus the game begins. Your goal in each stage is to capture a certain amount of monkeys. You'll have to look everywhere, as they could be hiding in the most unlikely of places. Thankfully, as you play, you'll be offered a plethora of 'gadgets' to toy around with. These gadgets are pretty much the reason the game requires a Dual Shock, as each gadget has its own unique use. One gadget may be used to detect and track down monkeys, another will allow you to fly in the air, and yet another will have you controlling an RC car to lure monkeys out of tight spaces. In the end, the 'time net' will be required in capturing all of the monkeys.
Along with the neat gadgets, you can also open mini-games. Collecting enough Specter Coins will allow you to unlock up to three minigames, ranging frome skiing to boxing to a classic-style Asteroids-type shooter.
To keep playability high, beating the game doesn't mean it's over. You'll still have monkeys to catch, and when you finally caught them all, something else happens....
The only gripes, as can be said, are in the controls and voices. While you won't have much problem getting used to understanding all the gadgets, the idea of the jump being one of the L buttons is still a foreign concept to me. The voices sound like the actors were grabbed from the street and given an hour to record before being kicked back out. The synching is bad and characters tend to ramble incoherently for long periods of time.
With that said, Everything else about
Ape Escape is fun to the last drop. This isn't a game you will beat in an hour, either; there's enough stuff here to keep you thoroughly entertained for a while.
If, for some reason, you're still lacking a Dual Shock controller, however, it's about time for a serious upgrade.
