PlayStation Keeps Teasing Fans With Ape Escape

by

It appears Sony could be generating excitement for MindsEye and Days Gone Remastered, but what’s really captivating fans are the latest hints about Ape Escape. The series was given a full level in Astro Bot, and it turns out some of the original designers were involved with that stage. Additionally, Metal Gear Solid: Delta reintroducing Snake vs Monkey has us speculating that they’re planning something significant with these hints.

According to an article in Famitsu (via user Genki), it’s been confirmed that designers from the original PlayStation series contributed to the creation of a specific Astro Bot level. The post asserts that the model data for the Pipo Monkey in this level was inspired by Ape Escape 3, and one of the designers from this series designed the entire stage after taking inspiration from their work within the franchise.

Despite the long hiatus of the series, it’s fascinating to witness such enthusiasm towards the franchise lately. Admittedly, Astro Bot seems to be tapping into PlayStation nostalgia, but this renewed interest has us optimistic for potential new developments in the series. Although no official announcements have been made yet, we can only hope that the series will receive more than just a Metal Gear Solid Delta cameo in the future.

In essence, spotting the Ape Escape monkeys in Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is quite an impressive sight, especially given their rare appearances and the fact they’ve been overlooked in multiple re-releases, such as the latest Master Collection. For some fans, just having this mini-game return is already a delight. Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that the Xbox version stands out more with Bomberman added as a substitute, offering a unique twist to the port.

As a dedicated fan of this iconic gaming franchise, I’ve got to admit that despite the monkeys being front and center, there’s a lingering suspicion that Sony might not have anything up their sleeve for this series yet. The massive success of Astro Bot could potentially flip the script, but let’s not forget that the 20th anniversary in 2020 didn’t exactly bring about any grand announcements. Here’s hoping they’ve got something special brewing for the 25th installment, but I won’t hold my breath until I see some solid evidence to back it up.

For individuals unfamiliar with them, the Ape Escape series offers engaging 3D platform games that employ analog sticks in an unconventional manner. Instead of the usual camera control, these games use the right stick for attacking monkeys and capturing them using various gadgets. As numerous apes evade capture, the main characters utilize a range of tools like stun batons, hula hoops, slingshots, among others, to apprehend these mischievous simians.

In this video game series, don’t anticipate complex narratives because it primarily focuses on the gaming experience. There are numerous monkeys to capture, but completing them all in one go isn’t possible. As the game advances, additional gadgets become accessible, enabling you to revisit earlier stages and collect any monkeys that you missed before. This mechanism enhances the game’s replay value.

Fortunately, even if new Ape Escape games aren’t being developed, several Ape Escape titles are already accessible on the PlayStation Network. At present, fans can enjoy the original Ape Escape from PS1, Ape Escape 2 originally from PS2, and Ape Escape: On the Loose from PSP. Although we don’t know why Ape Escape 3 hasn’t been released yet, there’s a possibility that Sony might bring it back in the future.

Read More

2025-02-20 16:42