Ape Escape 2
| Ape Escape 2 | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Developer(s) | SCE Japan Studio |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Director(s) | Naoto Ohta |
| Producer(s) | Yasuhide Kobayashi |
| Composer(s) | Koji Hayama |
| Series | Ape Escape |
| Platforms | PlayStation 2 |
| Release date(s) | JP July 18, 2001 EU March 14, 2003 NA June 30, 2003 |
| Genre(s) | Platform |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Ape Escape 2 (Saru! Get You! 2 (サルゲッチュ2) in Japan) is a platform video game for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was developed by Sony and first published in Japan in 2001 and in Europe and North America in 2003. It is the second game in the Ape Escape series, and is also used as the basis for the cartoon series by Frederator.
Gameplay
Gameplay is similar to the previous game. Movement is controlled with the left analogue stick and R buttons, and gadgets are controlled with the right analogue stick. Three new gadgets are added, the Electro Magnet, used for pulling metal blocks and clinging onto metal surfaces, the Water Cannon used for putting out fires, and the Bananarang, that can attract monkeys with a banana fragrance. A new feature is the ability to change the gadget loadout by holding down one of the gadget buttons and changing the gadget.
Also introduced in this game is Pipotchi, a sidekick who can assist Hikaru (Jimmy) in reaching ledges and occasionally revive him if he's knocked out. Also, the gotcha coins that spawn from enemies are used as currency for bonuses, and can multiply in worth if left alone.
Following completion of the game, a New Game+ option is available by starting a new game while holding down the L1 button. The New Game+ consists of playing as Kakeru (Spike), the protagonist from the first game, with all of the gadgets available from the start, but omitting the FMV sequences, as Kakeru is basically a palette swap of Hikaru.
Story
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The game takes place after the events in Ape Escape, where Kakeru (Spike in the English versions) stopped Specter from taking over the world. It is a few years later, and the Professor left for a vacation leaving his granddaughter, Natsumi (Natalie in the U.S. version),[1] and Spike's cousin, Hikaru (Jimmy in the U.S. version), to watch over the laboratory. The Professor has left them with one task: deliver a load of monkey pants to the monkeys in Monkey Park. Hikaru accidentally sends not only the monkey pants, but some Monkey Helmets as well, wrecking the laboratory in the process. Specter gets a hold of one, and yet again makes an army of monkeys bent on ruling the world. Under Natsumi's orders, Hikaru aims to capture all the monkeys and stop Specter (due to the mess-up from earlier). However, Specter has supplied five monkeys, the Freaky Monkey Five, with Vita-Z bananas, making them stronger and more intelligent than the average monkeys.
Hikaru manages to capture all of the Freaky Monkey Five, except Yellow Monkey. Before his fight with White Monkey, Pipotchi, a baby monkey accompanying Hikaru, is kidnapped, in order to transfer the data in his Monkey Helmet (a re-engineered model which makes Pipotchi friendly) into a device called the Lethargy Laser. Rescuing Pipotchi, Hikaru makes his way through a monkey controlled military base, and confronts Specter, who is waiting for him with a redesigned version of his battle cruiser from the first game. Before the two can battle, Yellow Monkey, now a giant monster thanks to an overdose of Vita-Z bananas attacks the facility. Specter flees, and Hikaru manages to downsize and capture Yellow.
Hikaru, the Professor and Natsumi then discover the purpose of the Lethargy Laser. By firing it at the globe, all humans worldwide will lose the will to fight back, making it easier for Specter and the monkeys to take over the world. Hikaru confronts Specter at his moonbase, who attacks him with a giant robot. Once defeated, Specter attempts to fire the laser, but Hikaru states that humans will never give up, and captures him. Hikaru and Pipotchi then flee the exploding moonbase.
Shortly afterwards, Specter escapes and goes into hiding. Hikaru then proceeds to capture all the remaining monkeys before the Professor discovers Specter's hiding place. Hikaru warps there, encountering Specter, and the two of them battle again. Specter loses and is once again captured. The game ends with Spike visiting the laboratory, which is again destroyed when Hikaru accidentally crashes a spaceship into it.
Development
The music of the game was composed by Koji Hayama, managed by Don Makkou and Bungo Fujiwara of Two Five and data programmed by Masaaki Kaneko of Procyon Studio. The game's sound effects were created by Takashi Kanai and Junko Sano. The voice acting of the American version was recorded by Dan Rich and Jeremy Blaustein. The American voice cast features Rachael Lillis, Jay Snyder, Gary Littman, Carter Cathcart, Greg Abbey, Tara Sands and Kathleen McInerney. The voice acting of the European version was recorded at Side UK on Great Titchfield Street in London, with Andy Emery serving as the voice director. The European voice cast consists of Jonathan Keeble as the Professor and Red Monkey, Mark Silk as Specter and White Monkey, David Holt as Hikaru, Yellow Monkey and Pipotchi, Rachel Preece as Natsumi and Pink Monkey and Richard Pearce as Blue Monkey and Kakeru.
Reception
On release, Famitsu magazine scored the game a 32 out of 40.[2]
References
- ↑ "ae2_en_phase1.swf." Ape Escape 2. Retrieved on December 4, 2009.
- ↑ プレイステーション2 - サルゲッチュ2. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.78. 30 June 2006.
