G4TV

The first Ape Escape put the Dual Shock to work in ways it had never been used. The sequel was more of the same with a pretty new coat of PS2 paint. So what’s the third Ape Escape game? Boring. For starters, it’s a party game in the supposed spirit of Mario Party and Super Smash Bros., but really, it’s a game that you’ll have fun playing for a short amount of time.

Spanking the Monkey

Out of the gate, Pumped & Primed offers up enough challenge to be fun for the entire family. Like many party games, it’s created to level the skill of all gaming entrants. The simplicity means anyone from a joystick jockey to a complete newcomer will have a fighting chance, as long as they have a base level of digital dexterity. But that ease of use doesn’t last long. After you cruise through the first set of minigames, you’ll be forced into a mind-numbing boss battle. By the time you’ve reached the second tier of games you’ll find some of them so achingly boring (particularly ones that happen underwater) that beginners will lose concentration in a snap, and the veterans will recognize that the game isn’t worth playing.

Who Escape?

One major issue with Ape Escape is that it lacks the most important jumping off point: the ability to play with characters we care about. Instead of characters we’ve known for seemingly eons, like in Super Smash Bros., we’re delivered a scattering of cute monkeys, and overly exuberant humans with terrible haircuts. This franchise isn't big enough to make people say, "Hey, sweet, I’m taking Spike!" Or, "Wow, I can play with any of my favorite Ape Escape characters! I’m taking Casi!" No. Just no.

Monkeying Around Is Out of Sight!

The game isn’t all bad, mind you. It’s not Clyde from Every Which Way But Loose good, but it does have a few selling points. The games are mostly creative and you don’t feel like you’re doing the same thing over and over. The variety is commendable, but the camera isn’t. You’ll sometimes end up so far away from the action you won’t know what’s going on, and once everyone’s clustered back together and the camera should zoom in again, it doesn’t. It’s a shame, because it really takes away from what should be the game’s best bit: the multiplayer options.

Planet of the Bored Gamers

One would think that the multiplayer in this type of creation would stand to be the game’s best feature. Get four people together for a madcap monkefied throwdown, and everyone will have a great time! Or not. Yes, the games are innovative at times and creative at others, but the gameplay just won’t keep the single-player or the multiplayer experience going. In the end, it’s more fun to go completely Simian and pick lice out of one another’s hair.

Neither Pumped, Nor Primed

Maybe if the characters were more iconic. Maybe if this would’ve been a true sequel instead of a party game. Maybe if the game were fun. Maybe if monkeys could tango. But as it stands, this one definitely falls short of any monkey lover's reasonable expectations. We would say it’s disappointing, but we can’t say we expected this new spin to really light up the gaming world