When the first Ape
Escape was released on the original PlayStation it was heralded as one of
the best games of its type, proving once and for all that Sony`s 32-Bit system could do just as much as the
Nintendo 64. Not only was the game a
chaotic mix of platforming and playground tag, but it was also the first game
to really take advantage of Sony`s
Dual Shock control. Critics and fans
fell in love and it looked like Ape
Escape was Sony`s E-ticket for
family entertainment.



But what was once the critic`s darling quickly got swept
away to be ignored and forgotten. Sony,
who was riding high with the success of games like Jack & Daxter and Ratchet
& Clank, opted against releasing Ape
Escape 2 in the U.S.,
pawning it off on UbiSoft who released it a full year after the Japanese
release. Fans of the series had a right
to be concerned; it looked like Ape Escape`s days were numbered.



But never fear, Sony apparently saw the error of their ways
and decided to take back control of Ape Escape and release this third
installment. Not a lot has changed since
the very first game, but to the millions of fans out there who have been stuck
on this rollercoaster it`s just nice to have a bunch of new simian villains to
fight, chase, and (hopefully) catch. Ape Escape 3 may not be the most
original game of the year, but once you get a taste for simian hunting you`ll
never want to give it up.



Early into Ape Escape
3 we`re re-introduced to Specter, the leader of those adorable (but deadly)
little monkeys. His latest scheme
involves taking over the TV airwaves, making a lot of monkey-infused television
broadcasting. But this isn`t just your
normal bad TV; we`re talking about programs so bad that it will literally melt
your mind. That`s right; these are shows
that are actually worse than the Bachelor, Fear Factor and Deal or No Deal --
though, not by much. But I digress; Ape Escape 3 has you jumping into dozens
of film and TV-inspired worlds doing your part to rid those areas of those
damned annoying little apes.



Clearing each area of monkeys is easier said than done;
we`re hunting a prey that doesn`t want to be caught and is ready to put up a
fight. These aren`t your everyday monkeys;
these simians are dressed up in all kinds of outfits and sporting a number of
deadly weapons (including swords, guns, and even missiles). Worse yet, these apes are natural born
runners; you`ll find yourself scrambling to catch these little buggers, but
hey, that`s half the fun, right? Unlike
most 3D platformers that have you rushing around to pick items up, Ape Escape`s
items rush back and do their best to get away from you and your net.



Those crazy little monkeys aren`t the only thing that sets
Ape Escape apart from the crowd; this game is some of the most unique gameplay
mechanics you ever will see. Instead of
using the control`s face buttons like most platformers, Ape Escape is all about
using both analog sticks and the shoulder buttons.