![]() ![]() It’s the voice acting that’s killer here though – while I understand what they were going for, almost universally the voices sound cringe-worthy and annoying. Music is decent, although somewhat unimaginative and forgettable which is surprising given the platforming genre normally produces some of my favorite VGM. Sound is particularly worth noting, although not for particularly positive reasons. It’s also worth noting that the title does experiment with some interesting ideas such as destructible environments in certain parts as well as many big, open levels – certainly not the norm from the time it was developed. With that said, thanks to its bright, vibrant colour palette and gleeful cartoony aesthetic, it’s difficult to be too disappointed with Ape Escape‘s graphics – especially since it runs so smoothly throughout. In addition, floors and walls feature low-detail texture work and objects generally look less than impressive when compared to the standard of other PSP games. ![]() For starters, draw distance is low which is never a massive problem, but on some occasions interferes with gameplay such as when you’re dodging obstacles on a rollercoaster and can barely see in front of you. Unfortunately, this is also where the technical limitations from the time it was developed come into play. Variety is key here and there is a certain excitement to seeing what comes next. You’ll explore a variety of areas – from your platforming staples like frozen tundras and grassy plains to more unique areas like a hot spring and bath-house to a theme park complete with ticket barriers and rides. It’s the animations that are really nailed here though – from the way the monkeys flap around everywhere in a panic once they’re spotted to the way Spike uses each gadget, there’s a level of comical exaggeration that looks brilliant.Įnvironments don’t look quite as great, although thanks to some solid art they manage to convey certain feelings well. Some ele ments haven’t quite held up, with things like Spike’s hair looking like an indistinct blob and Jake’s missing facial features, but overall these don’t detract from the experience. With that said, thanks to its bright colour palette and impressive art design it still looks a treat even today – which is only made better by Vita’s sharp screen.Ĭharacter models are great – cartoony and over-the-top, everything from the monkeys to the Professor looks fantastic. Although the monkey-infested streets aren’t quite as open and explore-able as I’d hoped given this is a PS1 game, it’s still fun to explore around the game’s exaggerated world.Īs a game originally made for the PS1, Ape Escape isn’t among the best looking titles on PSP, featuring sharp edges and simple textures and geometry. Most of Spike’s travels will be in previous time periods, each of which is fleshed out fairly well, but it’s the latter chapters of the game that are the most interesting as they return to the present day. ![]() The world itself is a heightened version of reality – one where a Professor can invent a time machine and intelligence-boosting helmet. Each has a little description of their personality when targeted by the monkey radar as well, a nice touch which makes things more personal. This slapstick humour goes a long way in setting Ape Escape‘s tone and undoubtedly helped lead to the IP being as successful as it was – they’re just so likeable and funny. The titular apes are undoubtedly the stars of the show – not quite possessing the intellectual might of Specter, they run around like lunatics when spotted, dropping banana peels and slipping over along the way. ![]() It’s not a bad plot, although simplistic (which makes sense given the target audience) but still manages to explain the reasons for your actions while remaining fairly humorous and light-hearted to boot (major developments are kept for the latter half of the title though, making the beginning feel quite sparse). Story is surprisingly central in Ape Escape – just like rival platformers from around the same era such as Crash Bandicoot: Warped or Spyro: Year of the Dragon. ![]()
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