I recently got around to beating Ape Escape 3. Woo! That got me thinking back to the previous 2 Ape Escape games. In case you don't know, the Ape Escape series are a bunch of platformers where you go around capturing monkeys. It really is a creative bunch of games. Besides the whole, evil monkeys story, the controls are probably the most famous. They are extremely unique and fun to use. Every single button is used in some special way. But which one is the best? That's what I'm here for. And I am not counting Million Monkeys and all the crazy spin offs. Just Ape Escape 1, 2, and 3.
"Pshhhh, the sequels are always worse!" No, not really. The 3 main games are extremely fun in their own special way. It's a challenge having to pick out whichever one is the best, it all comes down to personal preference. Anyway, Ape Escape 3 added a bunch of awesome things that the others didn't. Specter (the evil lead monkey) is now taking over the world through TV. There are tons and tons of spoofs on movies and TV shows. (there is even a Darth Vader monkey) You can choose to play as a boy or a girl. The monkeys can take your stun club and net now and capture you instead. A neat system of "morphing" was introduced. You could transform your character in different things with special abilties. (you can turn into a ninja, alllowing you to walk in walls and across thing rope. A genie dancer with a genie you could control, ect)
It has the traditional style and fun of Ape Escape. You go around collecting monkeys. A new villain was introduced, Dr. Tomoki. (he's got a badass afro) whose got an awesome ending of being deformed, joining good, sacrificing his life, then surviving. It was very fun to play through, and I plan to beat it again, but as the guy this time around. There are several unlockables mini-games and such after you've beaten the game. Too bad you can't play as Spike or Jimmy. Even thought I'd still recommend this to anybody, it is lacking in some areas that the other Ape Escape games had.
For one, the game has no depth in the story. It's just "Go get monkeys. Ah hell, Specter!" The other games at least had some type of stress for the characters. It just wasn't very dramatic here. Even the last level was lame compared to the others. You had to turn off the TV stations....again? I thought we were doing that during the course of the whole game? Meh. Kei and Yumi aren't very impressive either. They're just random twins with a random Aki (I don't remember how she's related to the Professor and Natalie anymore) The game is also too easy. I died once on the ending boss. I went and bought 7 lives, went back, then I didn't die at all. What? I breezed through it. I mean, Ape Escape games were always easy, but I think this one is just slightly too easy.
Despite this, Ape Escape 3 is still a good addition. The music is still excellent, fun enviroments, creative monkeys, love the morphing system, good stuff man.
YAY THE ORIGINAL. I gotta say, this one and the 2nd one are basically tied. They are both so awesomeeeeeeeee. NRRRRRRRRR. Anyway, you play as Spike, and this is the first time Specter goes crazy. Through the game, your friend, Jake, gets mind controlled. The Professor and Natalie get captured, and you have to work with the robot girl to get them back. You actually go around to each one rescuing them, into of straight to Specter. You even un-brainwash Jake, it's cool.
Out of all 3 games, this one wins in the music department. It's just...wow. It's epic when it needs to be epic, but yet bouncy and goofy. It can be silly without overdoing it and ruining the mood. That's saying something since all the games have wonderful music. It beats the 2nd game in this category. It's refreshing through, the environments are all time based (up until the end of the game) as the monkeys have been sent back through time.
There isn't much to criticize. I mean, I could get my panties in a bunch about there not being too much to do after you beat the game, but that's stupid. You can collect all the monkeys, get the Specter Coins, unlock and play minigames, and just race yourself to see how fast you can do a level. It was also the first in the series, and PS1 game, give it a break.
Ape Escape 2 takes the crown for being the best. Why's that? Well, it added in "modern" elements. Slightly different control (for the water net and such). You play as Jimmy (Ash) who has a companion, Pipochi (Pikachu) and you have to take orders from bossy Natalie (Misty) See? Isn't it odd the voices of Ash and Misty are Jimmy and Natalie? Pipochi doesn't have Pikachu voice, but he hangs out with Jimmy (Ash) so he's Pikachu.
Again, the music is awesome. There aren't many big differences between this and the 1st. (well, besides the whole Space concept) Specter is srs fcking bsns like in the 1st one, he even catches Pipochi. I almost cried, I WANTED PIKACHU BACK. There are a few new gadgets, like the magnet and water gun. They weren't good enough to be carried over into the 3rd game but that's ok. Jimmy is also a cool character. He has more of a personality than the others (just a tiny bit though) There are more unlockables than in the 1st game, and you can have the option to play as Spike.
Like I said, it comes down to personal preference, as all the games are awesome. The 2nd game is the best because it's like Pokemon on steroids. That, and I like how Jimmy has more of a personality than the others. I do wonder about Ape Escape 4. I've heard Million Monkeys is supposedly 4, but it's..it's too different. :/
*I've recently found the Ape Escape anime. It's pretty cool, I'm having a good time. BUT THEN.
WHAT. THE. FUCK. IS. THIS. SHIT? I don't get this channel, so I've been blissfully unfair. I swear, I thought this was just a joke at first, BUT NO, IT'S REAL. http://frederatorblogs.com/ape/ IT'S FUCKING REAL.
