Ape Escape Million Monkeys

Your goal in each stage is to capture monkeys while taking out whatever targets lie in the way. You have the expected arsenal of weapons at your disposal. Your default arsenal includes a sword, a net, a laser gun and a pair of roller blades, but you can also select other weapons, including a remote control car and rocket launchers. During the heat of battle, you may also find yourself boarding tanks and mechs to wage extra fire power. In addition, each character has individual special attacks that can be performed by pressing two face buttons simultaneously.

The control is classic Ape Escape, for better or worse. The face buttons are used to switch between weapons, with the right analogue stick used to attack. This is actually true only for some weapons, like the sword and net. The laser gun and roller blades are controlled exclusively with the face buttons, making for a somewhat confusing mix. Combine this inconsistency with the total lack of camera control, and combat can be sloppy.

If you don't take the game too seriously, though, Ape Escape packs some laughs. The game has all the humor you've come to expect from the series, with the zany monkey antics made all the more fun due to a real setting. That's right, Kakeru, Natsumi, Hakase and the like fight in real locations throughout Tokyo. If you've been to Tokyo, you'll recognize the hot spots in Akihabara and Shinjuku.

The game can be played in coliseum, versus and story modes. Like the main story mode, versus mode is played from the traditional 3rd person Ape Escape perspective, and offers a split screen battle to the death for up to four players. You can also face off against three computer controlled opponents. Coliseum mode, also for four players, switches the battle to an overhead view, with all players on the same screen.
All modes of play allow you to chose from a large cast of characters. You'll recognize Kakeru, Natsumi, Hakase, Haruka, Specter, Saru Team, Pipo Team, but if these aren't enough, you can also create your own character. The character you create is based around one of the default characters, but can be equipped with costumes and extra weapons that you earn by playing through the story mode.

Million Monkeys is a bit sloppy overall, with rushed presentation and bland visuals making it seems like a throw-away title that was forced out in time for the cartoon. It's no Ape Escape 3, but if you want to catch monkeys, where else can you go?