Status TheChampionTiger May 4, 2026
Before Sora and Riku, there was Spike and Jake.
Ape Escape (1999)
PlayStation · PlayStation 3 · PlayStation Portable
3.77 from 468 ratings
1063 members have it in their collection · 21 playing now · 199 backlogged · 148 wish listed
How long? Main story 7h · with extras 13h · 100% 17h (from 12 logged playthroughs)
Details
- Developers
- SCE Japan Studio
- Publishers
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Genres
- Platform
- Themes
- Action
- Franchises
- Ape Escape
- Series
- Ape Escape
Release dates
- Jun 22, 1999 (Full Release) (North_America) PlayStation
- Jun 24, 1999 (Full Release) (Japan) PlayStation
- Jul 02, 1999 (Full Release) (Europe) PlayStation
- Aug 30, 2007 (Digital Compatibility Release) (Japan) PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable
- Jan 24, 2008 (Digital Compatibility Release) (Asia) PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable
Also available on
- Ape Escape (2022) · PS4, PS5
- Ape Escape: On the Loose (2023) · PS4, PS5
Related
Remakes
- Ape Escape: On the Loose (May 2005) · PSP
Featured in lists
Rating distribution
5 stars
95
4 stars
207
3 stars
135
2 stars
24
1 star
6
Community All Reviews Statuses
Status travisyager Apr 17, 2025
This game does not age well. I have to keep in mind that this was on Playstation. I wanted to try it, since it had quite a presence on Astro Bot. I thought that maybe I had missed something. Maybe I did, and now I can say that I've played it. Not very much, but now I know what it …
Read moreThis game does not age well. I have to keep in mind that this was on Playstation. I wanted to try it, since it had quite a presence on Astro Bot. I thought that maybe I had missed something. Maybe I did, and now I can say that I've played it. Not very much, but now I know what it is conceptually.
Read less
Status TheBeautifulEric Aug 3, 2024 Completed
I've been trying to get a few streamers to play this game, but I've been unsuccessful, so I ended up replaying it myself. I honestly still love this game and really wish we could get a new entry in this series. It's so fun and whimsical.
Status TheBeautifulEric Jul 18, 2022 Completed
I've been feeling nostalgic for the PS1 lately, so I've been enjoying playing a bunch of games from my past rather than trying to make progress in my backlog. I've been playing games like 40 Winks, Medievil, Metal Slug X, Strikers 1945, and Ape Escape. I really want Ape Escape to make a comeback with either another remake or a …
Read moreI've been feeling nostalgic for the PS1 lately, so I've been enjoying playing a bunch of games from my past rather than trying to make progress in my backlog. I've been playing games like 40 Winks, Medievil, Metal Slug X, Strikers 1945, and Ape Escape. I really want Ape Escape to make a comeback with either another remake or a 4th entry in the mainline series.
Read less
Status fanofgames Apr 13, 2021
i got this game when it came out and never got very far. i am giving it the old college try now. when i started it i thought 'why did i give up on this game?? it rules' and now i kinda see why i gave up. but i believe it will be worth persisting. im going to break down …
i got this game when it came out and never got very far. i am giving it the old college try now. when i started it i thought 'why did i give up on this game?? it rules' and now i kinda see why i gave up. but i believe it will be worth persisting. im going to break down my academic gaming notes so far:
pros:
- love those apes
- "gotcha!"
- WARNING + wireframe ape render at beginning of stages is really good
- control scheme
- just looks super crisp. great visual design
- good pacing of when to give you new gadgets
cons:
- some BS platforming in there
- the dumb footrace
- slow movement combined with certain labyrinthine stages gives a real 'wandering through empty hallways' vibe
- certain non-ape foes are frustrating
Status filmbeats Sep 6, 2019
I remember this game being a big deal because it was the first to require the dualshock controller. It definitely made innovative and intuitive use of the second, right analog stick for using different weapons. It controlled fairly well but not perfect. The graphics weren't great with a short draw distance. I thought the visual style was quite generic. I …
I remember this game being a big deal because it was the first to require the dualshock controller. It definitely made innovative and intuitive use of the second, right analog stick for using different weapons. It controlled fairly well but not perfect. The graphics weren't great with a short draw distance. I thought the visual style was quite generic. I don't remember the music at all. The gameplay was good mainly due to the different personalities and behaviors of various monkeys, which required different approaches to catch many of them. That combined with different level designs made for a good amount of variety. But after Spryo I was a bit disappointed by what felt to me as rather small levels. Surprisingly I actually felt pity for Specter by the end of the game as he shows a bit of vulnerability. This wasn't my favorite 3D platformer at the time but it had some unique gameplay, which I did enjoy. But I never felt compelled to play any of the sequels.
Apparently a new game or remaster might be in the works.