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Good: New morph abilities, humor, TV and film parodies, extras, boss fights

Bad: Some camera issues, length, uninteresting cutscenes

Surreal: The dramatic cutscene between a monkey and Solid Snake

It seems initially surprising that SCEA has been able to produce three games based entirely around the concept of catching monkeys with a net, but they?ve done it. Also surprising is the fact that they?ve managed to do it while keeping the gameplay fun all the while. Ape Escape 3 is a very entertaining (albeit short) addition to this series, and it features a bevy of bonuses and plenty of incentive to play through again.

Specter (the villain from the previous games) is back, alongside his eccentric partner Dr. Tomoki. They?ve taken control of the world?s TV stations, and their simian minions are producing mind-numbing programming that is putting anyone who views it into a vegetative state. It?s certainly a ridiculous story, but gives the game plenty of parody opportunities. Each stage is a parody of a television show or film, so you can expect tons of references. I even caught a semi-obscure reference from the Eastwood classic For a Few Dollars More (the ?shoot when the watch stops chiming? standoff). While the stages are all interesting, the cutscenes usually aren?t. They?re overlong and uninteresting, and many aren?t necessary at all.

Core gameplay in Ape Escape 3 certainly resembles the previous installments, but features one main gameplay addition. A green bar in the corner fills up automatically during gameplay, and you can morph into a different form when it?s ready. Each of these forms helps with combat and basic monkey-catching. The best of these is certainly the Miracle Ninja form, which makes you run faster and spawns two mini-ninjas to fight alongside your character. They?ll attack enemies and take damage for you, and will easily catch monkeys with a press of the right analog stick. Wild West Kid is a morph that is a huge offensive help, as it allows you to shoot dual pistols with a Smash TV-esque control scheme. Each form is applicable to a specific situation, so you?ll use them all throughout the course of the game.

The game can easily be beaten in under five hours, but it gives you plenty of incentive to play through again. Monkeys that were initially unreachable can be caught on the second playthrough, so you can expect to invest a good amount of time if you want to catch all 400. On your first time through, each stage will give you a set amount of monkeys to capture, and it will automatically advance to the next stage afterwards. Before almost every level, you?ll be presented with a new gadget or morph ability. Each of these gadgets can be selected with a face button, and activated by tilting the right analog stick. While it?s not as innovative as it was back when the Dual Shock was first introduced, it?s still a fun way to control the game. Jumping is accomplished by pressing either R1 or R2, and this can be kind of odd at times. Double-jumping is possible, but your character can?t actually cover much ground for some reason, causing you to occasionally miss crucial jumps. The camera can also be glitchy and unresponsive at times, adding to this problem.

Various vehicles such as tanks and race cars can be manned, mixing up the gameplay significantly. Boss fights are also well-designed and entertaining, and the final enemy is easily the most challenging part of the game. The majority of the standard levels are very easy, and it doesn?t require much stealth to catch the apes. It?s almost always a matter of morphing into your favorite form, then storming the area while snagging every monkey you see. You can attempt to sneak up without alerting them, but it?s entirely unnecessary.

Like always, the graphics are bright and vivid. Humans resemble anime characters, and the apes look like they came straight from Jim Henson?s studio. Don?t expect any complex textures or detailed facial expressions here, just a lot of basic colors and simple character models. Music fits the stages perfectly, so you?ll hear traditional western music in the ?Fistful of Bananas? level, for example.

The part of the game I was looking forward to the most was the Metal Gear Solid minigame. After finishing the game, you can purchase this in the Hobby Shop, and it?s a hilarious parody of the MGS series?..but starring monkeys. Solid Snake has been kidnapped, and Colonel Campbell arranges to send in someone to rescue him. They decide to fit a monkey with a helmet that includes Snake?s battle data (which apparently also causes the ape to grow stubble, a mullet, and sport the trademark bandanna). While the gameplay isn?t certainly as polished as the true MGS games, it?s a welcome homage. Your ?Snake Monkey? will peek around corners, take out guards with a Banana Pistol, and even face off against a ?Mesal Gear? and a monkey Revolver Ocelot. The monkey guards feature some pretty basic AI, but I?d imagine real monkeys would react in a similar fashion if you tried to train them to guard a fortress. Clocking in at almost two full hours, it?s hard to even call it a ?minigame.?

Considering you can go back to catch all 400 monkeys, there?s a lot to do beyond the initial 4-5 hour run-through. Not to mention multiple minigames and other goodies can be purchased in the shopping area of the game. Ape Escape 3 would be a great rental, and might even warrant a purchase if you?re a true completist.

Graphics: B-

Sound: B+

First Play: B+

Last Play: B

Gameplay: B

Overall: 85% B