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Developer: SCEI
Publisher: SCEA
Genre: Party
Region: NTSC
Format:
Release Date: 17 Jan 06
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- Monkeys can be quite a handful when they're at school, as this party game features a simplistic and frankly not fun assortment of mini games.
Overview
Who would have thought that the Ape Escape series in 2006 would still be alive and kicking the way it is right now. I was shocked to hear when Sony announced that it was going to release two Ape Escape games in one month, one for the Playstation 2 and the game we are going to be talking about today for the Playstation Portable. Having just previously reviewed the very good PS2 Ape Escape 3, I had high hopes for the PSP game Ape Escape Academy, hoping that this party game would hold up well on the PSP. So can it shine again here? Read our full review to find out!
Gameplay
We have seen over the years that there has been a steady growth of party games over the past few years, especially for the handhelds, which have been a primary target for party games. Well I should rephrase that and say Nintendo's handhelds have had good luck with party games compared to the slicker Sony PSP. So when I heard about this game I was hoping that Sony would be able to turn it all around with Ape Escape Academy and make a great game.
The whole premise behind Ape Escape academy is very simple, and one that I wouldn't consider to be all that interesting. Basically our buddy Specter is at it again seeking world domination. But instead of having to catch monkeys like in the other Ape Escape games, in Academy you play as the monkeys. Here you try to learn the way of the monkey and basically train to be a top monkey. Like I said, the premise of the game is very simple.
So basically you go through monkey school, and just like our school, students are broken up into grades. The game takes a very simplistic tic-tac toe method that makes things very simple to understand. Basically for each grade you are given a tic-tac toe board where you will be able to play random mini games. Win in a minigame and you get a circle, lose and you get an x. So basically the premise is to get a tic-tac-toe so you can move onto the next grade. This is really a weird way to string together things, and to be very blunt about it, it just seems like a very cheap and unorganized way to do it. I hate to say this but it just feels like they ran out of ideas, and figured throwing a tic-tac toe board, which has no significance to the game would be a good idea.
The mini games themselves range from good to terrible, and unfortunately for Ape Escape Academy they kind of run towards the latter of the two. Most of the mini games are pretty standard party games that require memorization and quick reflexes. The thing that bothered me about this game was that there wasn't one game that just stood out and that made me want to play it over and over again. I just felt like there were way too many games that made me happy to get out of the way, and not enough that I wanted to go back to play after completing.
The whole feel of Academy just didn't feel as comprehensive as I thought it would. Things just don't seem to gel all that well for single or multiplayer use. The mini-games have some good ideas, but like I have been pointing out, none make you want to come back for more. This for a party game is a bad thing. In the end the gameplay is just moderately amusing and unfortunately could have used a lot more originality.
Graphics
Visually Ape Escape Academy does a great job of continuing its pretty visuals on the PSP. I have to say that Sony managed to make the little apes just as colorful and as playful as ever. I think the visuals really had the right idea and allowed for a very fun light hearted. The environments are well done with a good deal of detail, and just a great feel of the Ape Escape history. If you have played an Ape Escape game in the past, I am sure you already know what to expect from the visuals!
Fun Factor
A successful party game largely rely on a good assortment of fun mini games. Unfortunately the mini games are just not that varied and doesn't offer up what I would consider an enjoyable experience. As much as I wanted the apes to tear up the PSP, they ended up just making an experience that wasn't all that enjoyable. It manages to make you just want to breeze through the many mini games and get it all done.
Overall
In the end I can't say that Ape Escape Academy was a terrible game. But at the same token, a game that is as light hearted as this series is already should have done much better than it did as a party game. I was surprised to see the PS2 game Ape Escape 3 to do so great, and Academy to just struggle. If you are a PSP owner I can see Ape Escape fans checking this game out in a rental. Otherwise this game is probably one that you can pass up while you check out Ape Escape 3 for the PS2.
- Gameplay
6.0 - Graphics
7.0 - Fun Factor
5.0 - Overall
6.0
