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I feel like crying...

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: September 27, 2003
Author: Amazon User

It's very hard to find a way to express just how dissapointed and sad I was when I played this game. I mean, how can the words 'ape escape' and 'stupid' possibly go in the same sentence?! Well I'm sorry to say they do. The first game was so awesome. Sure the graphics aren't good anymore, but at the time they were. The gameplay, the characters, the levels were just plain better than in the sequel. The second one just makes me sick. From yellow monkeys to Jimmy saying that he's gonna spank Spector, the game was just plain DISGUSTING. Sure the music was alright, but the opening theme to the first one just sticks with you. The new one isn't catchy at all. Sigh, with a maximum of only 1,000 words, I never be able to say everything that whent wrong with this game. What were those developers thinking?! The absolute only thing that I will give this game credit for were the nice updated graphics. But you can't hold a game together with only graphics. i just can't stand seeing one of my very favorite games disgraced like this. The era of great games is over. Now all you can hope for is childish sequals. They need to read their customer reviews over in Japan, and realize what they're doing to their classics. Or I'm afraid that the real Ape Escape will be dead forever.

If you loved the original Ape Escape as much as I did, PLEASE listen to me!! DO NOT PLAY THIS GAME!!!!

disappointed

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 6
Date: November 23, 2003
Author: Amazon User

first of all, i am german, so please excuse my bad english.

at the beginning, i liked the game, even though it did'nt reach the first part. in some levels, it's not realy easy to play and i got frustrated sometimes. but mostly the "big monkeys" appearing every now and then are making me sick, specially spector. me and my whole family tried to beat him for a very long time, and this is just disappointing!

stay away from this game, it's not worth the money, you spend for it!!!

Greatness gone bad.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: February 17, 2004
Author: Amazon User

There was a hint of brillence in the first ape escape that you could really admire. The game tested you in many catagories, and in the end, you were a better gamer than before. But that was five years ago, and it seems that gamming standards have fallen greatly.
I think the biggest creative mistake the developers made was waiting so long to create a true sequal to the debute title. I mean think about it. The first game was made almost 5 years ago now, meaning the audience it was aimed for at the time is older now. If they had raised the E rating to T, it would have given the game a lot more potential for a more exciting and creative plot. It's safe to say that the 'original' fans of ape escape were pretty shocked when they played this game. You can really tell which of the reviewers on the cite played the first game and which ones didn't. This game pretty much alienates it's former fans with childlish dialog and way too easy gameplay.
As for the characters, you can't really be satified with any of them. With stereotypes of your everday after-school anime shows, this game really disapoints you. And no matter what some reviewers say, this "jimmy" is Ash from pokemon. Whoever said it wasn't, is beeing mistaken by the replacement voice over that the pokemon series used in later seasons. But that aside, it's really annoying, and I liked the original characters more.
Even with all the flaws that this game so readily displays, there is one fact that you cannot ignore. The graphics have without a doubt gotten much better. But obviously that wasn't enough to cancel out the rest of this games problems.
Even tho stories don't really matter in games like this, this story pretty much annoys you to the core. Sure it was sorta cute at first to see specter in the opening scene, but if it werent for that, the story would be flat out lame.
Well as you can tell, from my point of view, this game wash incredibly dissapointing. I don't think I'll ever think about ape escape the same again. It went from the coolest game ever, to the coolest game ever with the stupidest sequal. It's just amazing how many flaws this game had, campared to how awesome the first game was. After you beat the first game, you truly feel like you've accomplished something by beating such a difficult game. But when you beat the sequal, you feel as if you've finally completed some tedious never-ending chore.
Yes, many things went terribly wrong in the creation of this sequal, but you can never destroy the classics and that is a relief! But if you won't take my word, and the word of all the other 'original' fans, play this game and wittness the horror yourself.

It's Just Not The Same

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: August 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I was a major fan of the first Ape Escape released for Playstation...it is still one of my favorite games. However, when I rented Ape Escape 2 and played it, I was dissapointed!! Although the graphics are better, and the levels are er, slightly bigger?, the game is WAY too easy. It's not very fun to play. The monkeys just kinda run around in circles until you catch them... and they're VERY easy to find. The levels LOOK nice, but they're nothing better than the original ones. Also, the main character us annoying. His voice HAS to be the voice of Ash from Pokemon...it's horrible. The gadgets remain the same, but I swear the whirly-thingy dosn't go as high...I guess this game would be better for younger kids (10-13) and not older ones(14 and older). It's hard to make a sequel live up to the original game, I know, but still... If you liked the first one, you may or may not like this one.

An easy, predictable video game

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: July 13, 2003
Author: Amazon User

When I saw ads in magazines and commercials for Ape Escape 2, I knew that this game would be fun and cute. Well, I was only right about one thing: It's cute. It turned out to be an easy and predictable game with no twists and turns whatsoever. If you did like Ape Escape, then you'd probably enjoy the storyline of this one. But it has poor controls, and it is the most predictable game I have ever played. It has horrible voices (think Pokemon all over again), and even worse controls. If you liked Ape Escape, you may want to rent this one. Overall, Ape Escape 2 was no big surprise.

Great gameplay, Annoying Camera work

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: October 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This is a fun game. Its main strength is the sheer amount of inventiveness and imagination that went into its creation. Now, I'm not the average gamer perhaps. I am an adult, and I like games such as Creatures or The Sims. In other words, non violent, pleasant games.

Ape Escape is not exactly NON violent, in the sense Tom & Jerry cartoons aren't. Some monkeys you'll chase heave 'bombs' at you but it's cartoon style. Most of the monkeys just run around screeching though. You can tell what method they'll try and escape with, by the color of their clothes. Each color means something different: Punches, Banana Peels, Runs Fast etc.

I'll try & cover things not covered in these other reviews. I believe it's okay for kids although really young kids may find it a bit difficult at the end (then again they may be tons better at joystick than I am !). I found the Sky Flyer gadget (a propeller you have to hand-crank using the joystick) difficult at times. If you dont' crank the joystick around fast enough for long enough you suddenly drop out of the sky, and that could cost you time or even a 'life' in the game. That and the camera work were the hardest parts in my opinion.

Finding the monkeys is mostly easy: You can use "monkey radar" gadget and it will show you where each is hiding. You have to be close already to see that, though. The radar also tells you what type of weapons they have if any, and how alert they are, etc. Some monkeys are easy to sneak up on. Overall the game balances easy and hard parts very well. Its biggest strength is the sense of humor. The monkeys do a lot of amusing things. In one scene they were dancing around in the forest like a Highland Fling or something. In the mini games they tease you by thumbing their 'noses' at you.

The second strength is the imaginative design. Each level is called something funny (Like "The Blue Baboon" instead of "The Blue Lagoon") and even their names mean funny things. Each level is entirely different: A beach, a factory, a city in the sky, a dinosaur park with Brontosauri eating leaves; even a "moon unit" or UFO. You travel around each level trying to find the monkeys hiding in, or guarding each part. I would give this game five stars except for the camera work: Just when you are fighting or jumping, the camera turns around at times and you can't see where you are going or what you're fighting ! For instance, a closeup of 'your' head, or the view BEHIND you, of the wall !! That is hardly helpful. The camera takes too long to turn on its own, and by that time, a monkey or "Porky" (piglet) can defeat you. Or you can't see where you're flying or jumping to and hit something and fall.

But eventually you will prevail, and then it's on to see what the next level brings. This game will truly keep you entertained for about 25 hours of gameplay. Right now I am starting the final level and have all three mini games. Those are all fun, although I find the Monkey Soccer a bit difficult. The other two games are again ones to make you giggle. In one, you dance like the other monkey dances; in the other, you swing from vine to vine trying to get bananas. And as in the larger game itself, the graphics and writing are funny. A sense of humor isn't seen often enough in games in my opinion and it's very nice to see here. I advise net searching for walkthroughs though. Especially when fighting Bosses, you may need them !

Be warned the last two levels do not let you save until you defeat the Boss at the end of each level. And each of those two last levels are very long and difficult ! Just allot a few hours for that. And rack up several 'lives' first ! The levels do tend to get harder throughout the game, but, stick to it and you will do fine. They drop in an easier one just often enough to keep you from giving up, hee.

Now if they'd just fix that game camera, so you can actually tell what you are doing sometimes !

Decent but the original is still the best

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 22, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Ape Escape 2 is a game where you run around and catch monkeys...that's right son catch monkeys. As weird as that sounds, the game is pretty fun to play and has a unique control scheme.

For those who played the PlayStation original, you will be a little disappointed in this sequel. It's just not as fun as the original. The controls have changed slightly and the camera has gotten worse. This is still a very enjoyable game and is at least worth a rental. Ape Escape 3 is coming out and hopefully it will play closer to the original.

A step down.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: September 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I fell in love with Ape Escape 1 so I just HAD to buy the sequel. I was RUDELY dissapointed again and again by this game. First and most noticeable, were the voices of the charactors. Two of the charactors were from pokemon!! I hate pokemon. Second, it was just SO easy! The first game really tests your gameing ability with hidden monkeys, Spector coins, races, and overall just great challenges. And I would like to add that the lack of Spike really anoyed me. And yes, I did do the special trick at the end to play as him, but once again I was RUDELY dissapointed to find that they changed his voice... to YUGI!!! I mean come onnnnn! They use the same childrens anime voices for EVERYTHING!! Spikes old voice suited him much better, of course Spike IS worlds better than Jimmy.

But, though many things were bad, some of the greatness from the first game remained through to the second one. I of course am talking about SPECTER! Though his voice may have been changed-I haven't been able to tell-he still has an awesome non-pokemon, voice. He literally was the only reason that I finished the game. So, if you are Specter obsessed, like me, prepare for dissapointment, and play the game anyway.

Though the game was not very good, it is still Ape Escape. I really do hope they make a third, so they can make up for all the dissapointment caused by this one. And don't even THINK of making Jimmy the main charactor! Maybe old Spike or Jake, but NOT Jimmy!

Fun gameplay and much good humor, hampered by some pre-teen, even offensive humor

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: April 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I really loved this game until two things happened. One was when my (young) kids were playing and I was reading one of the comics that you can "win" to them and the punchline was a fart joke. The comic didn't even make much sense - they were banking on the inherent "humor" in the word. It's disappointing as a lot of the humor in the game is fun and funny for both kids *and* adults. Still, it isn't a big deal and I would let it slide as an aberration if it didn't show up again (maybe it doesn't - I don't know).

Then the second thing happened, which was that I watched my kids play the 2nd boss and this monkey opponent is depicted as a huge, wobbly sumo wrestler with a massive outie belly button. He's clearly intended to be grotesque, and that to be "funny". He also happens to be depicted as flamboyantly homosexual, with a high pitched voice, ballerina moves and even sporting stars on his nipples. Now, don't take this comment wrong - I have no problem with homosexual, even flamboyantly gay characters in a game, in fact there should be more of them. What I have a problem with is the negative depiction of such a character for supposed "comic" effect, especially in a game so otherwise appealing for kids. Sure, have funny gay monkeys, perhaps dressed as Zorro. That would be great. It's a matter of how this character is depicted, and why it is suppose to be funny. It seems wholly out of place compared to fun stuff such as monkeys dressed as disco dancers and bull fighters, monkeys attempting to hide behind a leaf they are holding, etc. There's a lot of really fun and playful humor in the game, and then there is this idiotic stuff. Why?

The game itself - it is fun, no doubt about it, and if you're an adult without kids you will probably enjoy the game and probably wouldn't even give that boss a second thought, but for me it was very disappointing. It colored my experience of the game and my outlook for any other Ape Escape games, knowing the type of humor the developers are going for. I realize that not everyone is going to be as put off by this as much as me, but for those who might be, for those who want there kids to laugh at other, better things instead, this review is here so you can make your own informed decision.

Gotta Catch 'Em All!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: October 13, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Let me start off by saying this: I dont own Ape Escape 1. I have never played it. I havent even seen it in a store to tell you the truth. So, I can honestly review this game as if it were something brand-spankin-new. Nope, not even the least bit hyped or full of expectations. Just a plain and simple, straightforward review of the game itself. Ready? Here we go!

The first thing that I noticed about this game is the way the controls are handled. They are great! The developer has managed to utilize all the features of the dual shock to the fullest extent. At first it may seem a bit oberwhelming to run in one direction and swing your net in another, or use one analog stick to move and the other to control your little RC car. I am happy to report that this feeling soon wears off and you will find yourself pleased with the fluidity at which the game can be handled.

Ape Escape 2 is your standard platformer. Run, Jump, Catch monkeys, Beat Bosses. Thats the gist. Not really too complicated or anything like that. NO questions about the fate of mankind, nothing deep and philisophical like the ponderings of the human soul. Just a bunch of rowdy monkeys that need to be taught a lesson. Along the way, pick up some coins so that you can buy things like songs, concept artworks, pictures and even monkey fables. All in all, its an entertaining concept.

The graphics seem as if they could use a bit of polish, particularly the monkeys- those darn primates seem to be rendered with as much un-imagination as possible.(And I wont even go on about the big yellow freaky one!) Otherwise, the worlds are colorful and bright. The control, as mentioned earlier, is fluid and awesomely quick and responsive. Jimmy can run, jump, roll, climb, swim, dive, fly and hang on ledges. You have a variety of weapons available to help you get all the primates into captivity. Helicopter, Radar, RC car, and a Bananna-rang just to name a few.

I though this game was fun, if a little to easy and basic in terms of storyline and challenge. It is something that a family with small children and a PS2 should buy, as there isnt any over-the top violence, gore, language or mature themes. Ape Escape 2 provides a whimsical diversion from the "heavier" games that we are starting to see, ie Metal Gear Solid series and the Grand Theft Auto franchise. This game is fun (and thats what games are all about)silly and whimsical. I would suggest it to anyone with small children and to those who sometimes want to take a break and play someting fresh and new.

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