Average Customer Review: ( 36 customer reviews )
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The first thing that I noticed about this game is the way the controls are handled. They are great! The developer has managed to utilize all the features of the dual shock to the fullest extent. At first it may seem a bit oberwhelming to run in one direction and swing your net in another, or use one analog stick to move and the other to control your little RC car. I am happy to report that this feeling soon wears off and you will find yourself pleased with the fluidity at which the game can be handled.

Ape Escape 2 is your standard platformer. Run, Jump, Catch monkeys, Beat Bosses. Thats the gist. Not really too complicated or anything like that. NO questions about the fate of mankind, nothing deep and philisophical like the ponderings of the human soul. Just a bunch of rowdy monkeys that need to be taught a lesson. Along the way, pick up some coins so that you can buy things like songs, concept artworks, pictures and even monkey fables. All in all, its an entertaining concept.

The graphics seem as if they could use a bit of polish, particularly the monkeys- those darn primates seem to be rendered with as much un-imagination as possible.(And I wont even go on about the big yellow freaky one!) Otherwise, the worlds are colorful and bright. The control, as mentioned earlier, is fluid and awesomely quick and responsive. Jimmy can run, jump, roll, climb, swim, dive, fly and hang on ledges. You have a variety of weapons available to help you get all the primates into captivity. Helicopter, Radar, RC car, and a Bananna-rang just to name a few.

I though this game was fun, if a little to easy and basic in terms of storyline and challenge. It is something that a family with small children and a PS2 should buy, as there isnt any over-the top violence, gore, language or mature themes. Ape Escape 2 provides a whimsical diversion from the "heavier" games that we are starting to see, ie Metal Gear Solid series and the Grand Theft Auto franchise. This game is fun (and thats what games are all about)silly and whimsical. I would suggest it to anyone with small children and to those who sometimes want to take a break and play someting fresh and new.

7 of 8 found the following review helpful:

Very creative - great fun for kids!Jul 02, 2004
By SandmanVI
The reviews here really surprise me a lot. It's hard to believe that such a fun (and funny) game could get so many gripes. However I notice that most of those come from people comparing it to the original which preceded this title by 5 years. I think UBI Soft intentionally abandoned those players and aimed this game squarely at today's young children (5-12) rather than the teens that the original's players are by now.

Given the target audience, I think the difficulty level is appropriate and even challenging at times. This comes from the fact that the controls are very different from ordinary games, though they are perfect for this one. The buttons are used merely to switch between your many devices rapidly while all game controls actually are executed with the 2 joysticks. It works quite well once you get used to it. It also requires a bit of puzzle-solving and critical thinking for young children to determine which device is best for a specific job.

The main point is that the game is just plain fun to play. The action is fact-paced but not stress-inducing. The presentation is refreshing. The graphics are good but nothing stellar. A key is that the big bosses are very funny and novel. Who but the Japanese could present as a major enemy a petite, karaoke-singing monkey girl who grows enraged after you disrupt her chance at stardom? Others are equally zany.

Honestly my kids (5&9) love this game and revisit it often. My son often plays the Monkey Soccer mini-game even when he doesn't want to play the normal game; and it's knid of cool that the only monkeys that you can add to your roster are monkeys that you have already captured in the real game. My daughter loves the Dance Monkey Dance mini-game. Rare to find a game that girls and boys enjoy equally like this one. Highly recommended for kids... not good for teens or more edgy audiences.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:

Isn't the review section for people who've played the game?Jul 12, 2003

This game definitely lives up to the first game. I stumbled across the first ape escape and played it obsessively for hours. The graphic are very good in this version. The weapons are similiar to the previous game (there may be one or two new ones--I can't remember). The new gadgets are added slowly throughout the game and you get to practice them in a training center if you choose. You are tracking down monkeys (you only have to find a certain number at each level) and have various tools radar, etc. The descriptions of the various monkeys are funny and what they do can be pretty hillarious (you can watch them through your radar). The bosses are fairly easy (if I can do them without walkthrough help--they are pretty easy).

I have one major complaint about this game. The camera STUCKS. It is never in the right place. It doesn't follow you properly. Given that the two analog sticks are used to move the character and use your weapon and R1 is used to jump, the camera controls are put to the arrow keys. It was pretty frustrating. After awhile, however, I just learned to move it myself. But trust me it peeved me to no end--to stop and move the camera so I could see where I was going. I believe the first game had a similiar problem.

IF you loved the 1st ape escape (and many people did) I think you will like this one too. I have to say I loved it, its a fun game, even the camera problems weren't enough to stop me from enjoying this game and playing it obsessively. You may find yourself going back after you are done to find the monkeys you didn't find the first time around.

I don't think it is just a kids game either.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Near-perfect platformer that never fails to amuseMar 20, 2008
By M. R. Bottemiller
The wife and me loved Ape Escape 3. Next came Ape Escape 2, and it's been just as entertaining, just as clever. The simple play is wonderful, letting the humor and quirkiness take center stage. The game can be intense, but is also forgiving--generous when it comes to save points and restoring lives. The Ape Escape series is a welcome diversion from some of the video game brutality that's out there, its minimalist approach a nice alternative to some of the more complicated titles.

Ape Escape 3 gets a 5-star rating, while Ape Escape 2 gets 4+ stars. Why? While Ape Escape 2 has a solid, enjoyable soundtrack, Ape Escape 3 has one deserving of a Grammy. Also, the morph powers in Ape Escape 3, while frustrating at times, add another dimension of fun without confounding game play. And the monkey movies are neat. Too bad Pipotchi is gone.

2 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Much bettter than the first!Oct 29, 2004
By Cumulonimbus Harpe "samsmylife"
Ape Escape 2 is a highly entertaining, fun game. The music is great, my favorite songs are from the Simian Citadel level and Lookout Valley. The other levels have great music too. It also has some new gadgets like the Bananarang, the Water Cannon, and the Magnet. New vehicles include the summerine, Snowmobile, and the Pipo Mech. In this game there are 300 monkeys out there to catch and over 20 vast levels. The storyline isn't to in-depth but it's creative. My favorite new feature it the Gotcha Box, where you can trade in your gold coins for some fun secrets that can be viewed at the entertainment center. These various extras include: Monkepedia, Enemy Photo Album, Secret Photo Album, Movies, Soundtracks, Monkey Fables, Art Collections, Bonus RC cars, and Mini-Games.

There were some problems in this game though. One was that they brought back the Boat. The boat is probably the most hard-to-control gadget in the game. I've tried and I've tried but I still can't seem to get the hang of it. Maybe you'll have better luck than me. The Tank is another ridiculous gadget. Another down side to this game is the 5th monkey in the Freaky Monkey Five. He is nearly impossible to beat. It is impossible to dodge his spinning attacks and his flaming attacks. I am still stuck on him.

Well anyway, I'd recommend this game for you if you enjoyed the first Ape Escape, it's even better than that one.

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