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Reviewed by Jimmy | 01.31.06

Introduction:The loveable apes are back! This time the tale takes a different twist shifting focus towards those crazy helmet wearing monkeys. Ape Escape Academy might not be what you expect, but Sony sure tries to retain its reputation for being a fun and enjoyable experience.

The Game:I mentioned in the introduction that this Ape Escape adventure isn't what you expect. This is because you're not playing the part of the ape collector, but the apes themselves. In a bold move things have been shaken around the Ape Escape pens and you will have to judge if you like capturing the furry critters or being them. If you haven't played Ape Escape Academy yet don't judge it too harshly until you give a try. It's a little different, but still provides a monkey of a time.

Schools for Fools
Ape Escape Academy puts you into a specialty training school for these mischievous monkeys. The goal is simple enough; graduate top of your class, getting there is the tough part. You will meet a number of different class instructors that represent the six years of the education. Three years are spent as a junior and the rest is as a senior of the school. The juniors' instructors for each level are represented by the superhero inspired Red Ukki, second year hot shot Blue Ukki, and the biggest freak of them all the Yellow Ukki. Whoever designed this yellow fellow needs to lay off the meds, I really didn't need to see a red star pasties on a huge clown looking monkey. There are also seniors which follow in the colour white and pink with Specter being the final boss of sorts.

Tic-Tac-Toe
Playing through Ape Escape is totally different then the previous games and essentially is a bunch of mini games thrown together. Think Mario party then throw in cut monkeys with shiny helmets. You basically select the class you want to study then try to win the each mini game. When you win a game you win an "O" that marks off on a giant tic-tac-toe board, get three in a row you is awarded the pass line. Each year has a number of pass lines you need to gain before graduating, and then you move onto the next year. The concept of the mission structures to be in the form of a tick-tac-toe board is pretty cleaver and fits into the silly nature of the ape academy.

Fun and Frustrating
Ape Escape Academy must sound pretty simple so far, and that's where we hit the "C" of the grade. This game is pretty hard even from the get go. The main thing is that you don't have too many rules before you start a mini game so you're bound to repeat most of the games. The system picks them randomly and only gives one shot per go, so you basically have to learn the game and win it the first time around to fly through this game. that's impossible. Ape Escape Academy will test your patience as you exit and retry the levels over and over. I'm not sure why they didn't place a retry button at the end of a game; it would have made things a whole lot easier.

The mini games in Ape Escape are classified into four different categories being "Mind", "Tech", "Body", and "SP" for special secret games. I'd like to reclassify them into "funny and fun", "dull and boring", and "annoying and frustrating". Now it's not all bad, but at times the game can really drag you down. My advice is to keep your composure and try again. These Apes can heat things up the blood pressure, it's a good thing these little bastards are so cute. One saving grace to the mini games is after you successfully beat one they are replayable from the collection section of the game. This adds a great deal of value to the end product and is all easily accessible thanks to the addition of a "Favorites" button.

Multiplayer
The multiplayer aspect of Ape Escape Academy is pretty bountiful and provides fun for those with or without an internet connection. There are two modes of multiplayer "Share" and "Multi" Share Mode is if you're using one PSP and just want to compete against friends. Multi mode supports up to four players over wireless. One cool aspect of Mutli mode is that you can wager figurines that you collect from the main game. So if you want to figures without doing all the work, try and grab some off a friend. I couldn't ask for more out of the mutliplayer portion of AEA. I'm glad they included thought of the online and offline crowd especially because you're not always able to grab and internet connection while on the go.

Lowdown: Ape Escape Academy has traded in capturing monkeys for a school full of fun and frustrating mini-games. I was thrown a little off guard, but the end results provide an entertaining package. Even though Ape Escape Academy has taken a different route then in the past doesn't mean it is lacking that Ape Escape charm. There is lots of fun to be had in Ape Escape Academy , and there is no harm in giving this once a chance. Now for the cliché one liner summary, Ape Escape Academy is more fun then a barrel of monkeys.

The Good:Large variation of games, Online/Offline Mutliplayer, Excellent Production, Apes Are Cute

The Bad:Can be frustrating, Not the normal Ape Escape expereince, No Replay feature in the Academy, Bad instructions

Gameplay: 7, Graphics/Sound: 7.5, Innovation: 6, Mojo: 7. Final: 7 / 10

FEATURES:

  • Compete in over 40 mini-games such as Monkey Hockey, Saru Matador and Monkey Golf, each overflowing with frantic fun and wacky-humor with up to 100 variations of each game.
  • Featuring Wi-Fi Wireless LAN (AD HOC) connectivity, 1-2 players can challenge anyone with a PSP (PlayStation Portable) system and the game with the general vicinity.
  • Unique Tic-Tac-Toe style interface provides distinctive and unique game progression.



Ape Escape Academy

 
Publisher
SCEA
 
Developer
SCEA
 
Genre
Puzzle
 
Released
Jan 2006
 
ESRB
Everyone