Ape Escape occupies a special place in Sony's history as it was the first game on the platform to require the use of the DualShock analog controller. While modern gaming has coalesced around a standard control scheme for analog sticks, Ape Escape's developers had the challenge of being one of the first development teams to design a game around such a controller. This results in a 3D platformer that feels unlike any game I've ever played.
It was a constant delight to encounter how much thought was put behind Ape Escape's non-standard control scheme. To tackle the game's ultimate objective of capturing every monkey on the loose, the different gadgets you acquire are critical. The left analog stick controls your character movement while the right analog stick gives you precise control over each of your gadgets. Each gadget is assigned to a face button on the controller and the function of the right analog stick contextually changes depending on which gadget is being used.
With the beam sword or time net equipped, a flick of the analog stick corresponds to the direction the item is swung. But other items, such as the propeller that allows you to gain extra height, can only be used by quickly moving the right analog stick in a circle. With each item's movement assigned to the right stick, you can be much more precise in your movements. Instead of having the range of your item be locked to the direction your character is facing, any gadget can be used in any direction at any time. It's a great mechanic that makes the act of tracking down and capturing the monkeys satisfying. Ape Escape is chock full of different scenarios and boss fights that take full advantage of the gadgets you acquire and the analog controller.
The whole package is tied together with an appealing Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic and an incredible drum and bass soundtrack. The PlayStation library is slowly becoming one of my favorites because of the amount of incredible music made for its games. Never would I have guessed that Ape Escape's soundtrack would be spearheaded by a famed Japanese house and jungle music composer.
Favorite Tracks: Soichi Terada knocks this soundtrack out of the park. The soundscape is atmospheric, up-beat, and off-kilter.
Time Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqeaFVsz30w&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=3
The Lost Land, Molten Lava: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iAqWfD6q_0&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=10
Mysterious Age, Dark Ruins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jbNHgmU1TM&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=14
Mysterious Age, Cryptic Relics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsYXbnGv2Gg&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=15
Oceana, Inside Dexter's Body: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcxbrsYU_ds&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=18
Cave Area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glDCWh1cnz4&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=21
Medieval Mayhem, Crumbling Castle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBy_pkcsdzs&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=26
Futurama, Tv Tower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmYCG6Jyog4&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=30
It was a constant delight to encounter how much thought was put behind Ape Escape's non-standard control scheme. To tackle the game's ultimate objective of capturing every monkey on the loose, the different gadgets you acquire are critical. The left analog stick controls your character movement while the right analog stick gives you precise control over each of your gadgets. Each gadget is assigned to a face button on the controller and the function of the right analog stick contextually changes depending on which gadget is being used.
With the beam sword or time net equipped, a flick of the analog stick corresponds to the direction the item is swung. But other items, such as the propeller that allows you to gain extra height, can only be used by quickly moving the right analog stick in a circle. With each item's movement assigned to the right stick, you can be much more precise in your movements. Instead of having the range of your item be locked to the direction your character is facing, any gadget can be used in any direction at any time. It's a great mechanic that makes the act of tracking down and capturing the monkeys satisfying. Ape Escape is chock full of different scenarios and boss fights that take full advantage of the gadgets you acquire and the analog controller.
The whole package is tied together with an appealing Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic and an incredible drum and bass soundtrack. The PlayStation library is slowly becoming one of my favorites because of the amount of incredible music made for its games. Never would I have guessed that Ape Escape's soundtrack would be spearheaded by a famed Japanese house and jungle music composer.
Favorite Tracks: Soichi Terada knocks this soundtrack out of the park. The soundscape is atmospheric, up-beat, and off-kilter.
Time Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqeaFVsz30w&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=3
The Lost Land, Molten Lava: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iAqWfD6q_0&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=10
Mysterious Age, Dark Ruins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jbNHgmU1TM&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=14
Mysterious Age, Cryptic Relics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsYXbnGv2Gg&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=15
Oceana, Inside Dexter's Body: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcxbrsYU_ds&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=18
Cave Area: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glDCWh1cnz4&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=21
Medieval Mayhem, Crumbling Castle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBy_pkcsdzs&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=26
Futurama, Tv Tower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmYCG6Jyog4&list=PL06360565CFC0FAC0&index=30