By
Michael Palisano
The newest installment in Sony's long
running monkeyshines series arrives on the PS2. While Ape Escape 3 doesn't
reinvent the wheel, there are a few new twists, like the ability to morph
into different characters, to keep things fresh. Players can choose one of
two characters and go through a variety of satirical television-themed
levels and mini-games where they have to capture out of control apes and
prevent the evil Spectre from controlling the world. Read our review and
find out why Ape Escape 3's instantly accessible gameplay and
light-hearted approach make for an appealing title for all gamers.
Ape Escape 3 begins as the evil Spector
and his band of hypnotized monkeys are once again trying to take over the
world. This time, their plan is simple yet effective. These crazed, yet
lovable little monkeys have taken over the airwaves and produced a series
of idiotic programs designed to turn anyone who views them into mindless
couch potatoes. As one of two young heroes, it's up to you to stop the
monkeys from invading the television studios and put a stop to their
hi-jinks before they can hit the air. You can play as either a boy named
Kai, or a girl Yumi, both of whom have been enlisted to help save the
world from the monkeys. Each of Ape Escape 3's levels takes on a distinct
theme such as a soap opera or a wedding. These satirical episodes can be
quite funny in a bizarre sort of way, though the actual main storyline of
the game is somewhat surreal as well, playing as almost a send-up of both
television clichés and video game culture, with a famously 'Solid' gaming
franchise getting lampooned by the monkeys as they hit a variety of
targets.
As
they begin to crash onto the production lots of television studios, the
crisis becomes more widespread. With some of the heroes of previous games
under their broadcasted spell, It's up to you to capture the preset number
of monkeys on each level using your powerful net to collect them as they
try and run from you. You can also use your stick to stun them
temporarily, making them that much easier to collect. In addition, you can
use a variety of extra gadgets such as a monkey radar to help you along in
each level. To make your life easier, you can assign these extra gadgets
to specific buttons as well, allowing you to use these special items
quickly and easily. Collecting all the monkeys in a level isn't as easy as
it sounds, since they can spot you coming a mile away, and seem to
anticipate your moves. You can tell how angry a monkey is by the color of
the light on their helmet, which goes from blue to red, allowing you to
see how much of a challenge you'll face. You'll also have to find hidden
monkeys and some mini-bosses near the end of each level that are much more
aggressive and can be challenging to capture.
In addition to fighting a seemingly
endless number of crazed monkeys, you'll also face other bad guys such as
the cameras and directors who will attack when you get near to the other
monkeys. Each time the character takes a hit, you lose energy but can
regain some of your strength by collecting cookies and other power-ups.
Dodging some of the attacks is simple, though other times the camera
doesn't keep up with the action, making for some frustrating points in the
game. Most of the game's levels are larger than you'd expect, though their
straightforward design means you won't get lost. Each area has enough
space to let you wander around and explore. This gives the gameplay an
open-ended feel, that makes finding the monkeys quite enjoyable. The
majority of Ape Escape's levels are designed like this but there are
several areas where you have to battle against a boss character and these
can be a bit harder to take over. Ape Escape 3's overall pacing and
structure is fairly simple, and most players shouldn't have to much
trouble with the game. Adding in a bunch of mini-games and extra features
helps to give things a non-linear feel. However, the game's lack of an
online or multiplayer component is somewhat disappointing, especially in
light of the online modes seen in the PSP editions of the series. So while
the solo game is quite enjoyable, there definitely seems to be something
missing from the experience.
One
of Ape Escape 3's major innovations is the ability of the player to morph
into another form and use special abilities and attacks to capture
monkeys. In order to morph, the first thing you need to do is power-up
your gauge by collecting monkeys. Once the morph energy bar has been
filled, you can then perform a special morph jump by pressing down both
right trigger buttons. While you can't use the special gadgets while in
this form, you can use special attacks. These are only available for a
short time, so you have to keep an eye on the timer. Since both characters
have different forms, morphing definitely adds a new twist to the series'
already enjoyable style. Figuring out the best time to morph your
characters makes Ape Escape 3's gameplay more interesting, though it
doesn't really throw the balance off that much, you can use these
strategically to make boss battles easier. In addition, players can
collect and play a number of mini-games throughout their adventure, which
increases the game's replay value substantially. Players can also view
items and other extras in the game's trophy room, including all the
different apes that you have captured. The game flows fairly simply from
level to level, and most players should have little trouble making
progress quickly.
From a visual standpoint, the game's
brightly colored environments and cel-shaded characters give Ape Escape 3
a sunny, cheerful appearance that brings the cartoonish world to life. The
worlds are vibrant and colorful and the game looks solid throughout with a
consistent frame rate. Ape Escape's production values are excellent as
well, with some humorous cinematics that outline the wacky plots of the
surreal television shows in the game. The characters have a typically
anime-style appearance, and their morphs are somewhat cool as well. During
the course of the game, the always helpful Aki will give you advice via
the cell-phones scattered around each level. The voice-overs are nicely
done as well, and give the game a slightly off-kilter feel throughout. The
only problem we faced on a consistent basis was the camera, which
frequently failed to keep pace with the action, and was difficult to
control while also chasing apes. However, this is something you can adjust
to after awhile, and becomes less important as you become accustomed to
it. Despite these minor glitches, the game's overall look and feel is fits
the humorous and light-hearted approach of the plot effectively.
Some franchises reinvent themselves with
every installment, while others like Ape Escape thrive on their
consistency. While the developers give players a host of new mini-games
and the ability to morph into different forms, most of the conventions and
style that made the previous titles so appealing is back this time around.
You'll find the same charming cast of simians that made the older games so
much fun to play, along with a few surprises as well The controls remain
remarkably simple and accessible making the game a joy to play. The new
gadgets and weapons add to the fun, but don't hinder this simple concept.
While you can morph into more powerful characters at certain points, the
basic objective remains the same. The game's light-hearted satirical bent
is nicely done with excellent production values with the slight exception
of some minor camera issues. The concept is also appealing, since you
can't go wrong putting monkeys in silly situations. Add in intuitive
controls that are quite easy to understand and use, and you have a solidly
entertaining action title. Ape Escape 3 is an entertaining and
occasionally challenging game that should appeal to gamers looking for an
uncomplicated yet enjoyable diversion.
