Ape Escape Review - Quickies Don't Cut It
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 ส.ค. 2015
- Stay updated via social media:
Facebook ► / retropoliszone
Twitter ► / retropoliszone
-----
Today, we're going to have a look at one of my favorite games from my childhood: Ape Escape, released for the original PlayStation in 1999 and re-released for the PlayStation Portable in 2005 (or 2006 in Europe). It could be viewed as Sony's very own response to Super Mario 64 in terms of 3D platforming, while also taking some inspiration from the legendary Ocarina of Time in certain respects. Ape Escape is very much its own thing, though. The premise is that a bunch of evil monkeys with a high degree of intelligence (under the influence of experimental scientific helmets, that is) escaped from an amusement park, out to dominate the world, and you have to catch them all. The original version is often mentioned for its simultaneous dual analog stick gameplay on the then new DualShock controller, so how does the PSP version stack up with only one analog stick? Also, many early 3D games have fallen victim to the flaw of time, so is Ape Escape overall still even as good as I remember it to be?
-----
Writing, editing & narrating: Michael Hardeman
Game creation: Sony Computer Entertainment
PSP loan: ''Rick FM''
Ape Escape © Sony Computer Entertainment
Bubsy © Accolade
Crash Bandicoot © Activision
Spyro the Dragon © Activision
Sonic the Hedgehog © Sega
All music & imagery © to their respective owners - เกม
"Awesome library of games"
Puts Bubsy 3D on screen 🤨
I would love to see a Ape Escape HD collection, with the trilogy, for the ps3 or for PS4 with another new game :p
+ptRexy Me too, man. Such a forgotten series. :(
@@RetropolisZone
I still dream for ape escape 4/ hd anthology remastered.
i personally would rather have new game than a hd collection
Sad Coral Cave's theme didn't get a shoutout. That is my fuckin' jam.
Phenomenal editing. Really enjoyed this review. Ape Escape is very dear to me.
Thanks! I am glad you enjoyed the review. :)
15:45 The original PlayStation version allows you to perform an infinite jumping glitch with the Slingback Shooter. It was (unfortunately) patched out of the PSP version, so that means a Sky Flier is needed for reaching much higher places.
That opening tune from this game almost causes PTSD flashbacks for me. XD I didn't own this game when I was younger, but I borrowed it from a friend, and I MARATHONED this game, 100% completion, and even managed to literally blister BOTH thumbs from doing so. I now own all 3 main series games, and the PSP remake, but I have yet to complete them sadly, and don't even have my 100% file for this one anymore.
HOOOLLLYY SHIT!! How can I add more likes to this video?
Why does this have only 2000 views? This is not only one of my ultimate favorite games, but the review is not only good, it's amazing and most of all complete!!!
I don't see anything, any aspect left out that was important, and you see/hear pretty much all features/the stuff that makes this game so damn special/diverse
yes it's 30mins long but damn, that's only because there is so much stuff in this game! you cannot simply leave anything out (IMO)
and litterally cutting that video footage must have took ages!!! (like playing the game actually xD), creating scenes that demonstrated the gadgets, showing everything important that there is, trying to show all themes
Kudos to this man, like seriously wooowwww!
It's great to know people like my stuff; these videos takes dozens of hours to make. Thanks very much for this!
The Ape Escape series absolutely needs an HD remake / remaster.
These games were inventive, funny and enjoyable to play.
Amazing redone version of a old review. I really got alot more information about what makes this game so solid with the OoT-style inventory button mapping and the vast platforming/puzzle solving challenges, and the differences between the original PS1 and the PSP version.
I honestly don't see much of a issue with your narration over the content at the start of the video compared to the in-game audio at the same time, but maybe it could be a thing to work on muting the game audio low enough so your voice can be heard clearly in the future.
Like cjs said, great review.
I really love all these truly in-depth reviews! Have a sub!
I adored this game as a child! I'd love it if they decided to give it a HD rebuild, much like what Crash recently received.
I watched the video because I love the game, but I found also an incredibly well written and edited video review.
Kudos for you, man. I'm subbing.
Thanks, man!
Heres a tip to make the raft easier on PS1. Instead of rotating the analogue sticks, push both analogue sticks forward ( or backwards ) you will then row automatically. Dope video by the way.
I remember playing this on a demo disc that came with my PSX...ahh.. those were the days.
An overall great review. The only gripe with the video I have is at the beginning the gameplay audio can sometimes interfere with your narration and it's best to pay attention to that in future videos (It took me a long time to get the hang of that). Ape Escape is hands down my favorite PS1 game but then again I didn't have too many of those. It's a shame the series has kind of stopped after 3 cause I would love to see an Ape Escape 4 or even a collection. Heck I'd like to just see them on the PSN but it honestly feels like either SONY doesn't care about them or there's something else going on behind the scenes. The bosses didn't bother me too much for whatever reason though I'm surprised you didn't bring up the camera all that much but hey to each their own right?
+cjszero01 Glad you liked it. I assume you are refering to the characters speaking in-game? Yeah I tried to lower it as much as possible until I started noticing background noise in my voice over, but I think a song during the story section is going to be better for future videos. Thanks for the advice. :)
I would love to see a true Ape Escape 4, as well, but I don't see it happening, unfortunately. And right, Jak and Daxter, Ratchet & Clank and Sly Cooper have gotten HD re-releases on PlayStation 3 and Ape Escape certainly should have one, too.
My problem with the bosses is that they don't really change much during the battle. This isn't inherently bad on its own, many boss fights are like that in games, but a large chunk of your time is spent waiting for the boss to make its move. When the encounter isn't that interesting as it is, I certainly don't want them to be so relentlessly padded out. Should've explained that better, I think.
As for the camera, I realized I had completely failed to mention it when the video was far done into the editing phase. It was too late to really add it in and I didn't want to do it so haphazardly. When I cover Ape Escape 2 I'll shortly take a moment to talk about the camera in the first game.
Retropolis Zone
With concern to the background music I do agree that would be for the better but be careful. Copyright claims have been rather out of control lately (they don't hurt but if you ever get a partnership there goes your money), in fact I even got one on my Ape Escape 3 review for using the staff credits music which really surprised me. So if you do start using those the best advice I have is to avoid the opening and closing music pieces and over extended lengths of time using just the music.
In that regard to the boss fight I definitely see where you're coming from and in that regard I agree with that. I do admit that bosses like that can get a little tedious and boring at times but I guess what I liked about these is that you're not just standing by waiting for them, you have to take out the enemies that might be there, avoid attacks that are everywhere, and basically just stay on your toes. That being said I definitely see what your saying and how they wouldn't sit too well with others.
I wish it was cooler over here so I could finish playing Ape Escape 2 since I play it on my PS3 and it tends to over heat like crazy.
+cjszero01 Copyright claims for music on a video like this are down-right ridiculous. You can't really listen to it with somebody talking over it and I very consciously use around 10 seconds-long snippets of each song. I want to show how awesome (or bad) the music is and how it blends in with gameplay. Words never really do that justice. I don't see myself partnering for a long time to come, however. Building an audience takes a long time nowadays on TH-cam.
It's true that enemies come at you and what not during boss fights, but it's the same loop every time and the fact that it's such a consistent theme in the game that the bosses dictate the pace of the battle rather than you or a mix of both, bothers me a whole lot. Boss encounters should never make you feel like you just want to have them done and over with and get back to the good parts. Maybe Gunstar Heroes has spoiled me, though... Haha.
You have a PlayStation 3 that plays PS2 games? Darn, it's surprising that it still lives then.
+Retropolis Zone Well the ones that were hit were the ones where the music was playing on it's own far longer than it should, mainly the credits of my older reviews. That being said if you're only using it for about 10 to 20 seconds you should be fine.
I think this part with the bosses has pretty much hit every nail on the head so I don't think there's much to go over.
NO KIDDING! That's why I'm so worried about playing it in the summer, it gets hot pretty fast. Then again so does the Wii just being plugged in. I also heard that Sony won't fix those PS3's if they die and if that's true then I'm even more worried about my PS3 and why I can't take chances with it. Man I really wish the PS4 was fully backwards compatible instead of just playing PS4 games. At least most if not all PS3s could play PS1 games.
+cjszero01 It'd be a lot more expensive for Sony to produce a PS4 that's fully backwards compatible. They could emulate the PS1 and PS2 through software (though emulation can have its share of quirks, Ape Escape PAL on PS3 not working being an example), but the PS3 could never be emulated and the hardware in the PS4 is too different for any sort of native compatability.
Looking forward to the inevitable Ape Escape 3 review!
the voice acting being bad in the US version is far more charming and matches the game better than the UK version., You'll never convince me that the voice acting isn't great in a Saturday morning cartoon way. And the 2nd one even has Ash and Misty doing the voices in the US version.
This video deserve more views!! You deserve it!!!!! This was a great video!!
Yeah I'm glad I subbed to you.
Thorough reviews like this, in this style, with this production value that suit my fancy are far and few between.
If you ever start a patreon, I'll deff give you my american dollars.
Keep up the good work. Can't wait for more Sonic reviews; as well as MMX5!
nice channel man! thanks for all the reviews!
Thanks man! Glad you enjoy the videos. :)
I LOVE that game, pure classic, soundtrack and all!!! :)
The mini games were my favourite part to play with my sister as a child. They were genius for kids.
Crumbling Castle is one of the best tracks in that game. I regularly put on the entire soundtrack. I love it. Ape Escape is my favorite game of all time I think because it was the first game to REALLY utilize it's unique controller and layout.(I believe it was the very first game to require Dual Shock controllers.
i was in love with ape escape on the loose! now im looking to play all the main series games
Get the European versions they better
Was about to order this on ebay for my PS3, thanks for the heads up!
No problem! Glad I saved ya money, haha.
If I were working on the control scheme for the PSP port, I'd probably have the face buttons used to control the gadgets with L + face buttons letting you do quick select. Camera control would be with the D-pad or analog stick.
WE NEED A REMAKE OF "APE ESCAPE".
PD: 10:38 "Unlucky with the ladies" XD XD XD
Man this game was so influential for me. The idea of having different gadgets and weapons, and especially spector as a main antagonist. His mindset and attitude, his get up when he modifies the helmet, man he just looks like a badass.
You seem to review a lot of the games I loved as a child, haha
This one was great, I did everything but the time trials :D
Yoo! The final boss theme for Specter in Ape Escape 2 was and still is one of the most badass songs I have ever heard in any video game, I freaking love that song!
Retropolis Zone The transformations were pretty weird for me, but some of them were kickass like the Knight and Cowboy.
I loved Ape Escape 2 mostly for the soundtrack and 4Kids voice actors, Ash and Misty really landed a soft spot in my heart from Pokemon lol.
The voice acting in 2 is awesome and the OST is amazing, the bosses unlike Ape Escape 1 are pretty amazing and they were fun in Ape Escape 3 as well, but Ape Escape 2 was the first of the series I ever played so it'll always have a soft spot in my heart.
Shame I haven't had a chance to play it in a while though because PS3 doesn't play PS2 games sadly, even though it used to, so it's pretty obnoxious.
Seriously though, Specter's voice in Ape Escape 2 is badass, and Jimmy and Natalie being voiced by Ash and Misty is just icing on the golden cake.
Will admit one thing though, game was HARD when I was a kid, like so hard to the point it took me like 50 tries to beat Specter.
Well after I played it a few years ago it was too easy lmao, I remember beating Specter in like 2 tries then.
Maybe I was just a shit gamer or maybe I'm way better now, maybe both lol.
But yeah, I don't really like the voices or the protagonist in Ape Escape 3 as much, but the transformations were pretty dope.
+Retropolis Zone I would love to see you review Ape Escape 2 though, this review was very thorough and in depth, it's a shame you don't have more subs man!
+TheBurkinator4 I've long been interested in reviewing Ape Escape 2 and 3 after 1 but there are some technical reasons as to why I haven't been able to. Don't know when I'll get them to 'em, but know that I have been having them on the back of my mind for a while now!
Also, thanks a lot! I hear that often and I really appreciate it. :)
Great video! I love how you looked at both the original and the psp version of the game! I no longer have my ps1 so i cannot replay one of my favourite games and was considering purchasing a playstation vita to do so. Great video quality and quantity! i enjoyed every second of it. Is there any other way to play the original (other than through an emulator) with two analog sticks? If not can you use/map controls to the second analog stick on the vita?
Thanks for the comment! I am glad you enjoyed it. :)
I don't know if there is another way to play the original. As far as I know, the original isn't available for digital download on PSN.
There is a PSN release for the PS one Classics version for Ape Escape, but in Japan only. Over there, it's named "Saru! Get You". Unfortunately I don't recommend that since PS one Classics downloads add additional input lag, unlike playing the disc-based versions.
My face when I saw this game used both analogic sticks 😱
Damn. Nostalgic
how does this guy only have 5K subs?
I had a blast playing this game!
I like the soundtrack of this game! Molten lava and the lab tune are the ones that come to mind when I think of this game. Ps1 greatness
Galaxy Monkey would have suffered from the controls.
I desperately wish they'd do a remake of the original ps1 Ape Escape game for the PS4!! Imagine how fun it would be these days and how incredibly beautiful the graphics would look!!
Great review
In Ape Escape 3 you could keep on clicking on the gadget button and it changed in game instead of having to go to the inventory
When is part 3 coming out (if at all)?
Relatively soon, I hope. Not sure exactly when, but it's been planned for a while.
great review
I am so getting this game .
18:44 - Would you have played that game without a second analog stick?
Definitely eye opening. I'm not familiar with PlayStation Platformers since I was initially put off by Crash Bandicoot and have stayed away from them afterwards. I'll have to give this one a shot. Just by looking at it, I can tell that if I had played this 18 years ago, I would have loved the hell out of it. Think you'll tackle Jersey Devil at some point?
Ape Escape is definitely worth giving a shot if you aren't familiar with PlayStation platformers. It has a learning curve, but the experience is very unique and fun! I'm afraid I haven't heard of Jersey Devil, though. So chances are I won't be covering it - at least not anytime soon.
Are you not big on covering games that you aren't intimately familiar with?
It's not necessarily that. It's more that these videos take hella long to make and I'd have to be interested enough in the game to commit to it like that.
as i've played ape escape many times
and am playing through ocarina of time zelda
i can't help but tell there are So Many Similarities
and being made around the same time
they are probably made by the same team or something was going on
Crumbling Castle FIREE TRACK
You Made me want to play this
Loved the Review, really wish you talked about the Japanese Dub though. Since for today standards it's still really good.
I enjoyed that. It's definitely one of my favourite PS1 games and I would even go as far as to say it's one of the best games I've played in general. I try and play through it at least once a year. Though I'm not really fond of the PSP version at all to be honest. Due to the reduction to 3 equipped gadgets, the loading screens and the music. Just felt bland in compared to the original. It was actually one of the first PSP games I owned. I was disappointed by it as a remake. If Sony had waited until the Vita was released to do a remake of this instead then it would've been more feasible as it has two analog sticks.
Unfortunately, I don't see it being released a PS1 classic. Sure it may work as a download on the PS3 but wouldn't work on PSP or Vita.
+Darkstar263 Thanks for the comment. The PSP version is definitely somewhat watered down, but I don't find it to be unplayable. It's mostly just the RC Car that controls like shit. The rest of the gadgets work well enough, in my opinion.
It is a PSone classic on the Japanese PS3 store, but it is PS3 only.
So the lead character is Gunther from Futurama?
Wow!!!1 Never played it before. But ps1 version looks much cutie! If only it was in better resolution! Though I am sure emulators will deal with it ;D
Can we please talk about the aquatic nightmare fuel in the jungle stage though?
Richter Matthias what
Where's ape escape 3's review at?
This game was my GODDAMN CHILDHOOD!!! I played it on my yellow little psp. But it broke☹️😢😭😭
Thanks for calling out Crumbling Castle for being badass. I saw a review call it lousy and I almost vomited in anger.
Ape Escape is so goddamned good man. Anyone who brings it up is a good egg in my book. These reviews are easily some of the best on TH-cam. Please keep it up if you still have the desire.
What's awful about the boss fights? They're alright, just a bit too easy sometimes.
Guess you ended up giving us thorough run times :)
This game looks awesome
One of the best games ever
Ape Escape is one of the best videogame seriew out there. To me it's right up there with Mario.
The game mechanics and level design just keep suprising you and by the time Ape Escape 3 came (the best one imo) you have so many options to tackle a mission, lots of gadgets, transformations and over the top creative level design.
Sadly a cmpletely underrated series...
If you give it a chance it could become your favourite platforming game
I like this game, yes it really was one of the best at the time.
PS: 16'03" Jabu-Jabu's belly!? °_°
Natalie?? I thought that was Misty from Pokemon.
i cut my teeth on this platformer man forealz!
When it comes to the writing of the american version. I think it's worse, but the actors are much better picks.