Ape Escape series
Encyclopedia
Ape Escape is a series of video games made by Sony Computer Entertainment
, starting with Ape Escape for PlayStation in 1999. The series often incorporates ape-related humour, unique gameplay
, and a wide variety of pop culture
references; it is also notable for being the first game to make the DualShock
controller mandatory.
. In 2001, it was confirmed that two games would be coming out from the franchise. "Piposaru 2001" was confirmed first as well as "Ape Escape 2" to follow. Piposaru 2001, was released in July 2001 in Asia only, and was a massive success making it into the "Best Of" series. It was received well, most saying that the game was fun, and easily one of the best platformers the PlayStation 2 had seen. But it was criticized for not being as addictive as the original. In 2003, Ape Escape 2 was released worldwide to great success entering the 'Best Of" series again in Asia, making it the franchise's 3rd consecutive title to enter the series. In the US, the game entered the "Greatest Hits" series and in Europe, the title was re-packaged in 2005, with a whole new look, to match the then just-released title "Ape Escape 3". The game gained similar reviews, with its only criticism being the game wasn't as good as the first.
to jump, both the R1 and R2 buttons are used, while the 'shape' buttons are used to cycle through the available items in the inventory.
In the PSP spin-offs, a more conventional control scheme must be used, due to the PSP's lack of a right analog stick.
The main objective through the majority of the games is to use your available array of gadgets to locate and capture monkeys. When a monkey has been found, he needs to be caught with the Time Net gadget. On the first through, players will have a set number of monkeys to catch before progressing towards the next level. Once each level has been completed, they can be reentered with the gadgets necessary to catch the remaining monkeys.
s that can be played at the hub. These can be accessed by clearing the necessary amount of stages and/or having the necessary amount of coins. In Ape Escape and Ape Escape: On the Loose, you had to collect a certain amount of Specter Tokens to unlock a minigame.
In Ape Escape 2, you could obtain these three minigames by betting ten coins in the Gotcha Box, but here the stage-clearing was much more vital, yet it didn't mean it'd be based on your percentage on your record.
In Ape Escape 3, because coins were far more abundant than Ape Escape 2 and the fact that you could hold coins past 999, the prices went up for the mini-games as well. Another thing is that this time it was based on your percentage, so clearing stages, beating time attacks, or purchasing things from the shops would get you faster to making the mini games become available to purchase. The minigame Mesal Gear Solid seems fuller and more of a game of its own rather than just a simple unlockable. This game has a plot and more traditional gameplay of the AE series, and could be the start of more fuller minigames based on a series already established, like Metal Gear Solid
.
In Ape Quest, the player randomly encounters
mini-games in a very similar fashion to classic JRPG random enemy encounters.
consoles. These figures are also displayed on the Sarugetchu Development Page, but can not be seen by the public.
It is the 12th best-selling video game franchise of all time.
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
, starting with Ape Escape for PlayStation in 1999. The series often incorporates ape-related humour, unique gameplay
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
, and a wide variety of pop culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
references; it is also notable for being the first game to make the DualShock
DualShock
The DualShock is a line of vibration-feedback gamepads by Sony for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. The DualShock was introduced in Japan in late 1997, and launched in the North American market in May 1998...
controller mandatory.
Ape Escape, Piposaru 2001 and Sequel (1999 - 2003)
In 1998, it was confirmed that a title would be developed under the name "Sarugetchu" and would be specifically designed for the DUALSHOCK controller, and would be the first game to do so. The title was a massive success going Platinum, entering the Greatest Hits series in the US, and entered the "Best Of" releases in Japan. It was reviewed positively, and was compared to games such as Super Mario 64Super Mario 64
is a platform game, published by Nintendo and developed by its EAD division, for the Nintendo 64. Along with Pilotwings 64, it was one of the launch titles for the console. It was released in Japan on June 23, 1996, and later in North America, Europe, and Australia. Super Mario 64 has sold over...
. In 2001, it was confirmed that two games would be coming out from the franchise. "Piposaru 2001" was confirmed first as well as "Ape Escape 2" to follow. Piposaru 2001, was released in July 2001 in Asia only, and was a massive success making it into the "Best Of" series. It was received well, most saying that the game was fun, and easily one of the best platformers the PlayStation 2 had seen. But it was criticized for not being as addictive as the original. In 2003, Ape Escape 2 was released worldwide to great success entering the 'Best Of" series again in Asia, making it the franchise's 3rd consecutive title to enter the series. In the US, the game entered the "Greatest Hits" series and in Europe, the title was re-packaged in 2005, with a whole new look, to match the then just-released title "Ape Escape 3". The game gained similar reviews, with its only criticism being the game wasn't as good as the first.
Main series
- Ape Escape (PlayStation) - June 1999
- Ape Escape 2Ape Escape 2Ape Escape 2 is a platform video game developed by Sony and published by Sony in Japan and Europe, while Ubisoft published it in North America for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was first released in Japan on July 18, 2001, and was later released in Europe on March 14, 2003, and in North...
(PlayStation 2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
) - July 2001 - Ape Escape: On the Loose (PlayStation PortablePlayStation PortableThe is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
) - March 2005 - Ape Escape 3Ape Escape 3Ape Escape 3 is a platforming video game published and developed by Sony for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was first released in Japan on July 14, 2005, and was later released in North America on January 17, 2006, in Europe on May 5, 2006, and in Australia on May 18, 2006...
(PlayStation 2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
) - July 2005
Spin-offs
- Ape Escape 2001Pipo Saru 2001Pipo Saru 2001 is an action video game developed and published by SCEI for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It has only been released in Japan. A demo was released through McDonald's named the "Happy Disc". The levels were slightly altered to contain Fries and Burgers as life's and the levels...
(PS2) (Japan only) - July 2001 - Ape Escape Million Monkeys (PS2) (Japan only) - July 2006
- Ape Escape RacingApe Escape RacingApe Escape Racing is a racing game featuring the monkeys from the Ape Escape series....
(PSP) (Japan only) - December 2006 - Ape Escape SaruSaru Big Mission (PSP) (Japan only) - July 2007
- Ape QuestApe QuestApe Quest is a role-playing game spinoff from the Ape Escape series by SCEA. It is a PlayStation Portable title and was released in North America & Europe exclusively on the PlayStation Store and a UMD in Japan only...
(PSP) (released in North America & Europe exclusively on the PlayStation StorePlayStation StoreThe PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
and a UMDUniversal Media DiscThe Universal Media Disc is an optical disc medium developed by Sony for use on their PlayStation Portable handheld gaming and multimedia platform...
in Japan only) - January 2008
Party games
- Ape Escape: Pumped & PrimedApe Escape: Pumped & PrimedApe Escape: Pumped and Primed, known in Japan as Gacha Mecha Stadium Saru Battle , is a video game that was developed by SCEI for the PlayStation 2. The game was published by Ubisoft and SCEI in 2004. It is the fourth title in the Ape Escape franchise...
(PS2) (Japan & USA only) - July 2004 - EyeToy: Monkey ManiaEyeToy: Monkey ManiaEyeToy: Monkey Mania is a game that requires the EyeToy camera to play. It is based on Ape Escape and the monkeys in the game are guided through 50 minigames...
(PS2) - August 2004 - Ape Escape AcademyApe Escape AcademyApe Escape Academy, also known as Ape Academy in Europe and Piposaru Academia: Dossari! Sarugee Daizenshuu in Japan, is a game for the PlayStation Portable system that consists of a collection of 45 mini-games, many of which borrow from elements of Ape Escape 2. The game was first released in Japan...
(PSP) - December 2004 - Ape Academy 2 (PSP) (Japan & Europe only) - December 2005
- PlayStation Move Ape Escape (PlayStation 3PlayStation 3The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
) - December 2010
Cameo appearances
- Monster Rancher 4Monster Rancher 4Monster Rancher 4 is a monster breeding and management game that was released by Tecmo for the PlayStation 2 in 2003.-Gameplay:Like the previous installments, this game involves the raising, breeding, and fighting of monsters. Monsters are created via a "Saucer Stone" regeneration system...
- Everybody's Golf 4
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake EaterMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eateris an award-winning stealth action video game directed by Hideo Kojima. Snake Eater was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and published by Konami for the PlayStation 2, and was released on November 17, 2004 in North America; December 16, 2004 in Japan; March 4, 2005 in Europe; and on...
- LittleBigPlanetLittleBigPlanetLittleBigPlanet, commonly abbreviated LBP, is a puzzle platformer video game, based on user-generated content, for the PlayStation 3 first announced on 7 March 2007, by Phil Harrison at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California...
Main Series
One of the main story elements of each of the main series involves a white-haired monkey named Specter obtaining a helmet known as the Peak Point Helmet (Pipo Helmet for short), which boosts his intelligence. After equipping an army of monkeys with Pipo Helmets, and using an enhanced helmet for himself, Specter sends his monkey army to take over the world, and Space. It is up to the game's protagonists, equipped with various gadgets, to capture the monkeys and restore order to the world.Alternate Series
The alternate series, developed by SCEI, Is the alternate main series. Specter and the Monkeys take over the world, or try to sabotage players in "Pumped and Primed". In both games, Specter does not end up being the main villain and there are usually darker forces behind Specter that you will have to defeat. The villains change from game to game. It is up to the game's protagonists, equipped with various gadgets, to capture or defeat monkeys/characters, to save the day.Gameplay
The Ape Escape series is notable from its radical departure from the tried-and-true control method in most other games. It was the first PlayStation game to require the use of a DualShock controller; the left stick moves the character while the right operates whatever gadget the player has in his/her possession. Again, unlike many games which use to jump, both the R1 and R2 buttons are used, while the 'shape' buttons are used to cycle through the available items in the inventory.In the PSP spin-offs, a more conventional control scheme must be used, due to the PSP's lack of a right analog stick.
The main objective through the majority of the games is to use your available array of gadgets to locate and capture monkeys. When a monkey has been found, he needs to be caught with the Time Net gadget. On the first through, players will have a set number of monkeys to catch before progressing towards the next level. Once each level has been completed, they can be reentered with the gadgets necessary to catch the remaining monkeys.
Minigames
In the main series, there are three unlockable minigameMinigame
A minigame is a short video game often contained within another video game. A minigame is always smaller or more simplistic than the game in which it is contained. Minigames are sometimes also offered separately for free to promote the main game...
s that can be played at the hub. These can be accessed by clearing the necessary amount of stages and/or having the necessary amount of coins. In Ape Escape and Ape Escape: On the Loose, you had to collect a certain amount of Specter Tokens to unlock a minigame.
In Ape Escape 2, you could obtain these three minigames by betting ten coins in the Gotcha Box, but here the stage-clearing was much more vital, yet it didn't mean it'd be based on your percentage on your record.
In Ape Escape 3, because coins were far more abundant than Ape Escape 2 and the fact that you could hold coins past 999, the prices went up for the mini-games as well. Another thing is that this time it was based on your percentage, so clearing stages, beating time attacks, or purchasing things from the shops would get you faster to making the mini games become available to purchase. The minigame Mesal Gear Solid seems fuller and more of a game of its own rather than just a simple unlockable. This game has a plot and more traditional gameplay of the AE series, and could be the start of more fuller minigames based on a series already established, like Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid
is a videogame by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Kojimas early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake...
.
In Ape Quest, the player randomly encounters
Random encounter
A random encounter is a feature commonly used in various role-playing games whereby encounters with non-player character enemies or other dangers occur sporadically and at random...
mini-games in a very similar fashion to classic JRPG random enemy encounters.
Other media
- Saru Get You -On Air- (anime series based on the franchise)
- Ape Escape (cartoon series)Ape Escape (cartoon series)Ape Escape is a series of cartoon shorts developed by Frederator Studios, Hawaii Film Partners, Project 51 Productions and Showcase Entertainment for Nicktoons. It is based on the Ape Escape video game series, with the characters and designs based on Ape Escape 2 in particular, and focuses around...
(animated shorts created by American studio Frederator StudiosFrederator StudiosFrederator Studios is an independent American production company founded by Fred Seibert in 1997, with its first series launching in 1998. The studio focuses primarily on artists who write their own shorts, series, and movies...
) - MangaMangaManga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
(CoroCoro comics)
Sales
The total Ape Escape franchise has sold around 58.9 million copies. 6.9 million are from PlayStationPlayStation
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
consoles. These figures are also displayed on the Sarugetchu Development Page, but can not be seen by the public.
It is the 12th best-selling video game franchise of all time.