Video game review by ERIK LEIJON

So it’s the second week in a row that I introduce a monkey-based title, but other than our favourite de-evolved versions of us being the stars, King Kong and Ape Escape 3 (PS2/SCEI, SCEI) have nothing in common. Actually, Ape Escape 3 plays a lot like... well... other Ape Escape games.

No big surprise, but Ape Escape 3 is precisely what gamers love and hate about the industry today: it’s a sequel that is only a minor upgrade over previous Ape Escape titles, but it’s so much fun that it doesn’t matter. In this instance the argument that games have lost their originality will fall on deaf ears—Ape Escape is what it is and is better suited by not changing its spots.

For those unaware, the Ape Escape series has been a platforming mainstay since the original PS1. You play as a cute, anime-looking character that must run around a series of generic-looking levels and catch monkeys with an oversized net. That’s it. Out of all of Sony’s attempts to thwart Mario’s domination of the platform genre, Ape Escape was their best hope. The third of the series finds evil genius-monkey Specter as a Rupert Murdoch-esque media mogul. His television channel is turning viewers into mindless drones, and it’s up to a new funky-haired brother-sister team to catch him and his simian squad. Unfortunately the professor and Spike take a seat in this iteration, on the couch, as they become victims of Specter TV.

The movie/tv theme works really well to set the themes for various levels. These include shootouts in the Wild West, a space adventure and ninja films. The monkeys, always a pain in the ass, are even more difficult to catch this time around, as they’ve learned to fight back rather effectively. The control scheme is exactly the same, and while other games have copied Ape Escape’s inventive setup, it really works perfectly here.

The series’ best aspect is its use of gadgets to manoeuvre the levels and to catch monkeys. All the familiar tools such as the slingshot and hula-hoop are back, so vets will definitely notice the familiarity immediately. What is new, and it takes a few levels to truly appreciate, is the ability to turn into level-appropriate characters with a range of special powers. In the Wild West level, for instance, you transform into a gun-wielding cowboy by pressing the two R buttons, capable of capping many a monkey ass. I still can’t explain the genie-controlling costume.

The last Ape Escape game I tried was the PSP version, and while I didn’t like the boss levels in that title (they were merely obstacle course races against Specter), the boss levels here take advantage of the myriad of weapons you can wield, and they introduce a team of funny, colour-based monkeys.

Ape Escape’s graphics-style is rather distinct for their minimalism. This game doesn’t look light years ahead of the PS1 or PSP versions. It would be nice to see Sony take advantage of next-gen to revitalize the Ape Escape series. Ape Escape 3, like most platformers, has a lot of shelf life because of its unlockable content. This time, they included a monkey metal gear game.

Ape Escape 3 continues on the same successful path of its predecessors, even if that comes at the expense of originality.

Hasta la vista

I have fantastic news! Halo 2 will finally be coming out on PC. Except that we don’t know when. And you can only play it if you get Microsoft’s new OS, Vista. And we don’t know when that’s coming out either.

Could be worse; it could be Starcraft: Ghost.