The apes have, once again, escaped!
What Is It? Ape Escape 2 is a 3D platformer released on the PlayStation 2 in 2002, following the original game’s 1999 release on the first PlayStation. The game has you playing as Jimmy, a young boy who uses a variety of gadgets and platforming moves to traverse 20 levels and capture monkeys under mind control of the evil Specter.
Ape Escape 2 plays almost identically to the original. If you have experience with that one, there will be no surprises here. The main change is that Spike, the original protagonist, is on vacation this go-around.
From a hub area Jimmy’s pals send him to a world to catch some apes. Upon arrival you are given a number of monkeys you must catch and once you do so, you are immediately taken back to the hub area. There are always extra monkeys per level that are not required on the first pass. Do this across the game’s 20 levels, with a handful of boss fights mixed in, and you’ll face the final showdown(s).
The game has some unorthodox controls which were a byproduct of the original game being one of the first on PlayStation to require the dual-stick analog controller. The left stick is used for movement with R1 or R2 being the jump buttons. That alone is a strange enough start, but there’s more!
The face buttons are mapped to four different gadgets and pressing one will equip the mapped gadget. There are 11 total gadgets, given out as you progress, with each providing a unique ability. You swap out which four are active in a menu. Each gadget is controlled with the right analog stick. The net is the most important gadget as it is what you use to catch monkeys. Push the right stick in any direction and Jimmy will swing his net there. Spin the stick and Jimmy will spin the net in a circle. The stun rod is the other gadget I never remove from my four, it is used to bash enemies and controls the same as the net.
Beyond those, the game offers some variety such as a slingshot, water canon, propeller, magnet, and more. These offer different abilities, some of which are purely situational while others can be used more often. The propeller which allows you to jump higher and farther is important, while the magnet is reserved for use when there is something metallic that needs moving or attaching to, for example. They control in various ways, mostly through vigorously circling your right stick or pulling it back and releasing.
The magnet, and the platforming/puzzles it is used for, is the biggest addition to the game. It seems like a narrow-use afterthought, like many of the others here, but the last stage really lets it shine as an integral part of the game.
The game leans into platforming quite a bit as most levels have multiple sections where “getting to the other side” or “finding a way up there” are the most important parts. The levels are fairly open, typically with multiple paths to take which often circle back to the starting area. You won’t have to search too much to hit the initial level requirements for monkey captures, but some are hidden decently enough to make it a bit of fun if you enjoy the exploration. The only platforming moves you have are a double jump and the propeller, but the game makes it fun within that small moveset.
Monkeys themselves aren’t purely pushovers. Many of them will attack you in one way or another, from guns to rockets to boxing gloves. Your five hit points, with some damage only dealing half a hit to your, will deplete quickly against a particularly annoying monkey. Other monkeys will simply run away quickly making them a pain to catch. Overall, though, I spent significantly more time finding the monkeys than I did actually capturing them.
The game looks good for the era, its cartoon visuals hold up better than games attempting realism. The game took me around eight uneven hours to hit the credits. The early levels can be very short while the last couple both clock in over 30 minutes.
The Best Part: The game replaced race sequences in the original with proper boss fights. I did enjoy the races, but the boss fights are undeniably better and fit much better with the rest of the game. They mostly involve you dodging attacks, waiting until the right time, then slapping an enemy with your stun stick. Not the most novel concept ever, but fun and varied enough to be an obvious step up from the clumsy, often frustrating races the first game featured between every few levels.
The Worst Part: The game is shockingly similar to the original. It doesn’t iterate on the formula much at all. It does clean up some of the controls, particularly in the handful of vehicles you will commandeer over the course of the game, but that and the visuals are the only real improvements here (with a tip of the cap to the aforementioned magnet which is a good addition). The devs were clearly focused on moving the original concept into the next generation, and it’s hard to argue that this game isn’t objectively better, but it really does feel like “the same game with better graphics.” It’s certainly better than making the game worse, but it’s a somewhat strange lack of progression from the original formula.
The Verdict: Ape Escape 2 does not reinvent anything. It, mostly, just refines the original, smoothing out a few of the more bumpy control aspects along the way and gives you more silly, ape-catching goodness. There’s nothing wrong with this; if you liked the original, there’s an extremely high chance you’ll have a good time with this as well.
It is, unfortunately, another physical game which has seen its price rise to unreasonable amounts so I can’t recommend seeking out a copy. If you are diehard, you already own it. If you are looking for a fun few hours on your preferred play Anyway You Can device, I absolutely think this sequel is worth giving a try.
How to Play: PlayStation 2*
*console played on for this review
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