While the single-player component features more than 40 games to test your skills, you'll find fewer available in the multiplayer game. The multiplayer mode actually comes in three flavors: two players on one PSP, two players on two PSPs, and four players on two PSPs via Wi-Fi. You'll also be able to check out the roughly 300 collectible monkey statues you'll come across in your adventure in a gallery. Much like in Nintendo's WarioWare, you'll be able to practice on any of the games you've cleared in the single-player mode to perfect your skills and beat high scores. In addition to the single-player game, you'll find several other modes in Ape Academy that offer single- and multiplayer options. The visuals on the PSP are bright and colorful. The game will also offer some additional incentives in the form of special collectibles you can find as you go. The key to passing each session is to succeed in the available games and get at least three circles in a row on the grid. If you fail, it will be marked with an X. If you succeed, the game's square will be marked with a circle. Once the game is selected, you'll see a screen that informs you of the control for that game, and then you're thrown into it. You'll have a grid of nine games that will require you to stop a cursor that moves over each of them. The game will break down into different sessions that are led by assorted familiar faces from the Ape Escape franchise. Once you're in the game, you'll go through a quick boot camp to get yourself up to speed on the controls before being set loose in the school. You'll be able to customize your monkey avatar by picking a name and choosing from one of several different monkey types, each with his or her own hue of pantaloon. Your journey as a would-be member of Spectre's grand army forms the core of the single-player experience in Ape Academy. Following his epiphany, Spectre sets up his own institute of higher learning to school his ape army on the ins and outs of world domination. Sure, a massive gaggle of monkeys sporting performance-enhancing headgear seems like it should work out pretty well, but can you really expect to conquer the world if you don't train your minions properly? Of course not. It doesn't take a rocket scientist or even a superintelligent monkey to come to the conclusion that Spectre does-his help basically sucks. The game's loose plot manages to fit into the basic chronology of the series by catching up with Spectre, the superintelligent monkey who's been stirring up trouble since the first game, while he is focusing his massive intellect on the problem of his regular defeats. We've been playing the Japanese version of the game, which was released at the tail end of 2004 in Japan, to see how the critters have taken to the PSP.Īpe Academy finally answers the age-old question of how you would train an army of monkeys to conquer the world. The game, known as Ape Academy in the US, is equal parts minigame collection and management seminar for those of you hoping to one day use an army of monkey minions to conquer the world. One of the latest branches in the now-diverse family tree of Ape Escape games, which includes platformers, an EyeToy game, and a Mario Party-style multiplayer ape extravaganza, is Piposaru Academia for the PSP. The ensuing years have seen several sequels and spin-offs released in Japan, some of which have even made it to the States, thanks to Ubisoft. Despite strong visuals and innovative use of the then-new Dual Shock controller, the original Ape Escape didn't leave a very strong impression on this side of the Pacific, which is most definitely a shame. Sony's Ape Escape franchise never quite clicked with the US mainstream when it hit the original PlayStation in 1992.
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