"A great new installment"

Ape Escape 3 Review

Story: The evil ape Specter has escaped yet again but this time around his plan his plan of attack is, using TV as a weapon. He has set up TV towers all across the globe and placed The Freaky Monkey 5 in charge of them, one at each tower. Using these towers he broadcasts shows staring Apes that are so mind-numbingly stupid they turn all who watch into mindless couch potatoes. Spike, Jake, and the Professor have all fallen under the TV spell, so it's up to two new characters to take center stage. Kei the plucky young sports enthusiast, and Yumi the tiny diva. You pick the character but the story remains the same. Overall it's a pretty funny story once you get deep enough 7/10

Game play: The classic Ape Escape game play we have all come to love is back in full swing, with a few new surprises as well. You still have your basic gadgets, stun club, monkey net, monkey radar and a lot more returning gadgets as well. This time around you have Morph forms that give you new powers and abilities, but each morph only lasts about thirty-seconds but you can now purchase more morph time, in-game music, cut scenes, bonus items, cards and much more more using the new store element. All things considered Ape Escape 3 mixes the classic Ape Escape game play with some exciting new features that keep the game fresh and exciting, Rating 8/10

Sound: Some of your favorite tunes from the original make a comeback, such as the happy tune that plays on the title screen, the music in each levels match perfectly, from a western showdown to a ninja battle the music will keep you entertained throughout the entire game. Now on to the voice acting, no real complaint here. The characters are children and they sound just like children would, but not too kiddish, Specter has a overconfident tune to his voice. The game sounds great with no flaws that I can see. 9/10

Visuals: It's what you'd come to expect from the franchise, slightly toned up graphics since the second installment. Bright and shiny landscapes with the same old monkeys and some gadgets have gotten a small touch-up, such as the Stun Club being a greenish instead of the traditional blueish hue we've all grown accustomed to. The cut scenes however look amazing, very detailed with perfect lighting and fluid movements. A big jump from the previous games. 9/10

Overall: A fresh new installment to a classic series, classic music and game-play will bring a sense of nostalgia. The graphics have been toned up and look great especially during the few cut-scenes this game actually has. It has an expansive set of mini-games and lots of things to collect and even a fortune telling portion using the monkeys you have captured. Plus once you've beaten it you can try your hand at survival mode. Overall 7/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 07/05/06