Ape Escape

PS1 June 18, 1999 June 24, 1999 July 2, 1999 PSP March 17, 2005 March 24, 2005 May 10, 2006 PSN August 30, 2007

Subject

Game mode

Single player , multiplayer (mini-games)

1 CD-ROM

information

A remake of the game was released in 2005 for the PSP .

Ape Escape is a 3D - Jump 'n' Run game for Sony's PlayStation , which took an entire game turn up. It was the first game that required the use of a DualShock , which otherwise could only be used optionally. The game first appeared on June 18, 1999 in North America and shortly thereafter on June 24, 1999 in Japan under the name Saru! Get you! ( Japaneseサルゲッチュ, Saru Getchu ). A remake of the game appeared in 2005 for the PlayStation Portable under the new title Ape Escape P (original title Ape Escape: On the Loose ) with improved graphics and new synchronization . A version for the PlayStation Network Japan was released on August 30, 2007.

action

background

Ape Escape deals with the topic of time travel and takes place in a world similar to earth , with the levels being divided into different time periods . Among other things, you enter the prehistoric age in which dinosaurs appear, the ice age in which all landscapes are frozen, the middle ages in which castles are present, as well as the modern age up to the present .

story

Ape Escape tells the story of a monkey named Specter who by chance becomes the owner of a Peak Point helmet , an invention of the professor, which gives the wearer human intelligence, but at the same time arouses bad intentions. Spike and his friend Buzz come to the professor's lab to examine his new invention, but find the professor and his granddaughter incapacitated and watch Specter and his monkeys use the time machine. The latter pursues the plan to rewrite the history of mankind in order to bring about a reign of the apes. Thus he divides all the monkeys into different time periods. From now on, it's up to Spike to travel through time himself and use the time web to capture all the monkeys in order to stop the rebellion. In the meantime he has to face challenges against his friend Buzz , who was hypnotized by Specter . He travels from the age of the dinosaurs to different times until he reaches the present . This is where Specter has withdrawn as his attempts to rewrite history have failed for the time being.

After Spike paralyzes his acquired factory, where he tried to make more Peak Point helmets , and eventually defeats him at his headquarters in the TV tower, he retires to his own amusement park - Specter Land . Here he challenges Spike again to free the professor and Katie , whom he is hiding. Spike meets Buzz and defeats him in a final challenge. The spell of Specter breaks and Buzz comes to his senses again. He then returns to the professor's lab and finally encourages Spike to put Specter down. After everyone is freed, Spike follows the path through the park to a teleporter to a castle in space. Once there, he faces Specter , who tries to convert Spike as his henchman before the fight , since Buzz is now free. He shoots a beam of blue light at him that inflicts pain on Spike that would get worse if he didn't give up the resistance. However, Spike breaks the barrier and explains that strength alone does not make true strength - a quote from the professor. Specter is furious and gets into a robot. Spike manages to destroy it, but Specter flees. The castle sinks to the ground, where Spike is reunited with his friends.

Even so, there are still remaining monkeys in different times, and Specter also remains gone. Spike sets out one last time to capture all of the remaining monkeys and discovers Specter's whereabouts. It comes to the final showdown between the two, which Spike wins by finally capturing Specter with the time web, removing the helmet and bringing him back to the park circus, whereby Specter's evil uprising comes to an end.

Characters

Spike ( カケル, Kakeru in the Japanese version) is a 10-year-old boy and the protagonist of the game. He travels through time to capture the monkeys while being equipped with new devices on his journey.

Buzz ( ヒロキ, Hiroki in the Japanese version, Jake in the US version ) is Spike's best friend and at the same time rival on a friendly level. When the time machine is activated, he and Spike are separated and placed in different time periods. He is controlled by Specter , but regains consciousness after being defeated by Spike and then returns to the Professor.

The professor ( ハカセ, Hakase in the Japanese version) is the inventor of the time station with which Spike travels through time to catch the monkeys, as well as the Peak Point Helmet (short Pipo helmet ), which increases the monkeys' intelligence. He relies heavily on his granddaughter for his research.

Katie ( ナツミ, Natsumi in the Japanese version, Natalie in the US version) is the professor's granddaughter. She helps her grandfather, the professor, to look after the laboratory. She can be very spirited, which is extremely noticeable when Spike doesn't save her as quickly as she'd like.

Specter ( スペクター, Supekutā in the Japanese version) is a white monkey and the main antagonist of the game. He once performed at a circus in the park until he finds the professor's Peak Point helmet . He increases his intelligence enormously and gives him the ability to speak, but he decides to use his new power for evil intentions. He developed the helmet he found independently and duplicated and distributed the standard version to all the other monkeys at the same time in order to rule the world with this army. In doing so, he uses the professor's time machine and sends monkeys into all ages to ultimately rewrite history.

The Pipo monkeys ( ピポサル, Piposaru in the Japanese version) form Specter's army and appear in every area of the game. All of them wear helmets and colored pants, but their helmets do not increase their intelligence nearly like Specter's . The flashing light on their helmets shows their mood, the color of their trousers reflects their personality.

Gameplay

Ape Escape is played in the third-person perspective and uses 3D graphics. the main character Spike is able to run, jump, crawl, sneak and use various devices that are made available to him over the course of the game. The character is controlled completely by the two analog sticks of the DualShock . Up to four devices can be placed on the four action buttons of the controller, which can be quickly selected and changed during the game.

There are several devices with different, unique functions. At the beginning the player is only the time net for catching monkeys, as well as the laser sword for beating opponents available. The equipment is gradually increased by further useful devices, not least to reach additional areas of the level. If you get a new device, it is necessary to first complete a training level designed for the device, in which you are familiarized with its function and use. The latter can be repeated at any time according to the point in time.

The time network will later be expanded to be able to catch monkeys underwater. The remaining devices are made up of a radar , the monkeys tracking, a sling , a magic tire similar to a hula-hoop , which briefly increases the racing speed, the Himmelsstürmer makes a handy propeller of the previously unattainable heights accessible, a radio control car to Chasing monkeys out of hiding spots, and finally the Magic Punch , a boxing glove that can be extended and has more penetration than the laser sword.

The monkeys

The main objective of each level is to catch a certain number of monkeys. As soon as this number is reached the first time you visit a level, the goal is achieved. The monkeys remaining in the level can be caught afterwards when you visit again, usually after you have the necessary equipment. Between the levels you act in the time station , which on the one hand leads to the level selection, and from which you also get to the mini-game room, the respective training rooms and the storage menu. The latter is also offered by the monkey primer , a kind of encyclopedia that lists monkeys that have already been caught with all the data.

Each monkey has its own personality and name. The names are usually made up of references to celebrities and general word jokes. Furthermore, each monkey has three different ability aspects: attack, speed and alarm which are classified with up to five points. Their behavior can be derived from the color of the pants, with the knowledge of which the player can proceed with a monkey-specific strategy.

The color of the pants reveals the following information:

Yellow - normal behavior
Red - Strong attacker, has boxing gloves
Blue - very fast runner
White - Can hear distant sounds
Green - Excellent eyesight, attacks with missiles
Black - Very dangerous, carries a machine gun
Light blue - Extremely fearful

In addition to the monkeys, other items can be found in the levels, including chips that can be collected until you get an extra life, ammunition projectiles for the slingshot, and Specter coins , which unlock mini-games as the number increases.

Mini-games

Ski Kidz Racing: An Alpine Skiing against the computer or a second player. You can choose your character from a selection of the main characters. The left and right analog sticks are used to align the respective ski accordingly.
Specter Boxing: A boxing tournament that includes a training mode and multiplayer mode. Both analog sticks are used to move the monkey boxer's fists.
Galaxy Monkey: An arcade game similar to the classic Asteroids . The player controls a UFO with a monkey on board and shoots enemies. The left analog stick is used for control, the right one is responsible for shooting.

PSP version

An upgraded port for the PlayStation Portable appeared as Ape Escape: On the Loose in North America , Saru Get You P! (jap. サルゲッチュ P! ) in Japan and Ape Escape P in Europe . In addition to the new aspect ratio of 16: 9 , the PSP version offers the option of using the multiplayer mode for mini-games via WiFi between two PSP systems. Furthermore, the remake now plays with an analog stick. The R key has also been changed for crawling, so that the X key is now used for jumping. This reduces the selection of devices on the action buttons from four to three.

The first unlockable mini-game has also been slightly changed. In the original, the two analog sticks were used to control the direction of the corresponding ski . However, since the PSP only has an analog stick, the skis have been changed to snowboards . The courses were therefore provided with a slalom .

successor

title	Yep title	Platform / s	Publication date
Ape Escape P / On The Loose (Remake)	Saru Get You P!	PSP	2005
Ape Escape 2	Saru! Get you! 2	PlayStation 2	2003
Ape Escape 3	Saru! Get you! 3	PlayStation 2	2005

Offshoot

title	Yep title	Platform / s	Publication date
Pipo Saru 2001	-	PlayStation 2	2001
Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed	Gacha Mecha Stadium Saru Battle	PlayStation 2, arcade	2004
EyeToy: Monkey Mania	Saru Eye Toy Oosawagi: Wakki Waki Game Tenkomori !!	PlayStation 2	2005
Ape Academy	Piposaru Academia: Dossari! Sarugee Daizenshuu	PSP	2005
Ape Academy 2	Pipo Saru Academia 2: Aiai Sarugee Janken Battle!	PSP	2005
Ape Escape Million Monkeys	Saru! Get you! Million monkeys	PlayStation 2	2006
Ape Escape Racing	Saru Get You: Pipo Saru Racer	PSP	2006
Ape Escape: SaruSaru Big Mission	Saru! Get you! SaruSaru Big Mission	PSP	2007
Ape Quest	Sarugetchu: Piposaru Senki	PSP ( PSN- exclusive)	2008
Ape Escape Fury! Fury!	Furi Furi! Sarugechu	PlayStation 3	2010

Web links

Official website
Ape Escape at MobyGames (English)
Ape Escape at IGN (English)