Douglas's Game of the week: Ape Escape 2

Ape escape 2 is the sequel to one of the most fun platformers ever-Ape Escape! (Kind of like Pokemon meats SM64) Ape Escape was the first game to use the analog controller-You know, the joysticks. This was good in some ways, but in some parts (Especially in those stupid rowboats or Underwater or in that stupid tank) it can get VERY frustrating-How frustrating you ask? Well, just about as frustrating as the start of Disc 2 of Xenogears. Yup. That frustrating (The Moving controls of Startropics were pretty frustrating too but not nearly as bad as the rowboat in Ape Escape). Ape Escape is clearly one of the greatest games of all time, No PS2 or PS1 owner's collection is complete without that game.

The graphics are a major improvement from the first one. The graphics in the first one were kidna gritty (Ocarina of Time had that same problem at times) Here, they look alot better. When you rotate the camera, the stage doesn't mysteriously disappear and you see your character standing around in an endless void. The enemies look alot better too-Especially the Freaky Monkey 5. Blue monkey looks very tough, Yellow Monkey looks just plain disturbing (He's a 600 pound Sumo Wrestler wearing a Thong, High Heels, and has a girl voice. You can't get anymore disturbing than that! ), Pink Monkey looks pretty weird, White monkey looks really demented, and Red Monkey looks like Donkey Kong in a Spandex suit and a monkey helmet. One other weird thing is the fact that Jimmy is supposed to be like 11, yet he's taller than his cousin Spike, who is supposed to be 10 yet he's tiny and sounds like he's in Junior High. Also, the Final boss looks like a gundam.

The music is also as good as the first one. The stage music really fits the stage setting (Like when you're in the Spanyard apartment, you mear spanyard music, and when you're in a snowy paradise, you hear Christmas music playing), which is a very good thing. The Freaky Monkey 5 battle theme is very good too, same with the last battle music. Also, the voiceovers are nice too. One thing you'll notice is how Jimmy sounds like the retarded Ash (And Pipochi sounds like Pikachu, doesn't it?) and one thing you'll clearly notice is how Natalie is voiced by the same girl who does Misty in Pokemon.

The gameplay is a major improvement. When you spin the stun club around, you can finally move while doing it. Okay okay okay, so the Sky-flyer isn't nearly the god's gadget it was in the first one, so you don't fly as far or soar as high as you did in the first one. That might be an improvement, because the Sky-flyer made everything almost too easy. And they completley mangled the Monkey net controls too. It may be the same as the first one, but you swing the net slowly and the monkey gets away, and the Rowboat controls aren't nearly the endurance challenge they were in the first one.

The game has quite alot of extras, some are the soundtracks of the game, the sketches (It's hard to believe that Jimmy could have looked like Jak with flaming red hair), extra RC cars, Secret Photos, monkey fables (Some are really funny, like their version of the three pigs), and even comic strips with one of them's punchline being that of a farting banana being boiled to death (Now THAT was totally uncalled for when I played it.) that can be obtained from the "Gotcha box", you put 10 coins in there and you get a prize.

Overall, Ape Escape 2 is one of my most favorite games of all time, and it is definatly a very great thing to spend your Birthday or Christmas money for. It does have its flaws, but one major thing is that the game patches up most of the first Ape escape's flaws. (Ever wonder how Spike and Jake are around 10 years old yet they sound like they're 16 maybe 17? ) 8.58/10

Awards:
-Great Sequal
-Most underrated/overlooked
-Calvin and Hobbes quality humour (Not that farting banana thing, that's just plain disturbing)

[Pentagon]

I gotta get this game. They did such a good job on the first one.