Ape Escape: On the Loose is a family friendly PSP launch title that is actually a port of the original Ape Escape for the original Sony Playstation. However, this updated version brings updated graphics and the addition of wireless multiplayer minigames. The premise revolves around the white monkey, Spector, who has recently gotten his monkey mitts on the Professor’s Peak Point helment – a powerful device that increases intelligence. With this newfound intelligence, Spector has gone from being a lovable lab animal to a megalomaniacal primate. He plans to rewrite human history by heading back in time with his monkey cohorts and wreaking havoc. It is up to you, as a spikey-haired boy named Spike to use your Time Net to apprehend these “apes” on the loose.

Gameplay
Gameplay is fairly simple and revolves around the capture of monkeys of ever increasing difficulty. As you progress through the game, the Professor and his assistant will issue new more powerful gadgets that will help you in your task. For example, at one point, the Professor will issue a Radar gadget that will allow you to track down hidden monkeys. There are also a few light stealth elements to the game. The best way to capture a monkey is to go into a prone position and sneak up on the monkey. The monkey’s level of alertness is indicated by the light atop its helmet. Blue light indicates that the monkey is unaware, while yellow and red lights indicate that the monkey is afraid and running for his life, respectively. A positive aspect of gameplay in regards to it being on the PSP is the short length of the levels. The levels never feel like lengthy quests. They’re small self-contained worlds that can be beat in a few minutes. They lend themselves to pick-up-and-play sessions. Loading times are a little too long for my taste (approximately 15 seconds), considering the size of the levels, but the dancing monkeys that appear on the loading screens keep me entertained while I wait.

Controls
The controls are the only truly grating aspect of this otherwise good game. Ape Escape was originally meant to be played on a Playstation Dual Shock controller which features two analog sticks – one for controlling movement and the other for controlling the camera. Due to the fact that the PSP only has one analog stick, developers have had to make compromises and assign movement to the sole analog stick and leaving camera control to the digital d-pad. When you are running towards the camera, you cannot see where you are going unless you rotate the camera. Luckily, with a press of the L button, the camera will swing behind the character so that you can actually see what lies ahead. However, this is not a complete solution as a second press of the button often activates a function of the monkey radar. This is certainly not welcome when you are only a few feet away from catching your prey.



Graphics
Ape Escape: On the Loose is clearly a visual step up from the original Playstation version. Judging from older screenshots of the Playstation version, it is clear that many textures have been completely redone and 3d models tend to have more detail. While the graphics are far from rivaling the graphics powerhouse that is Ridge Racer, its low-fi, squishably adorable representation of its characters and world are appropriate for the genre and story. The overall visual aesthetic of the game is that of a colorful cartoon, with some Anime influences. The animations on the monkeys are especially well done and often add to the charm of the game.

Audio
The audio of the game is appropriate for the genre of the game. The music is bubbly and upbeat – matching the visual aesthetic quite well. While the kids may be completely into the infectious beats, some of these tunes can get a bit repetitive, especially for older gamers. Some of the sound effects are also needlessly annoying, such as Spike’s grunt when he executes a double jump. But all in all, these are minor grievances and can be overlooked.



Replay Value
With 200 monkeys spanning over 20 levels, the single player campaign should keep any gamer busy. Many of the levels also have good replay value as some monkeys cannot be caught until you have certain gadgets that can only be attained in later levels. And when you are done with that, there are plenty of multiplayer mini-games to keep you and a friend entertained.

Overall
While Ape Escape: On the Loose is not the greatest title to hit the PSP at launch nor is it a must-have, but it should be great for kids and fairly entertaining for adults. Control issues aside, this game is fun for any fan of 3d platformers.