Anyone familiar with the original game on the PSX will immediately be at home here; the action is controlled using both analogue sticks on the pad – the left to control our hero, the right to swing whatever monkey battering weapon or territorial aid is required. R1 is used to jump, with a double-tap bringing about the necessary double-jump. Gadgets, provided by the Professor and his assistant Natsumi, can be assigned to the four face buttons for easy access. Hikaru travels from world to world via a central hub that houses his saved progress and the gadgets he acquires as the game unfolds. By collecting coins in the main game, Hikaru can buy extras from the Professor’s slot machine. These include music tracks and photos from the various worlds, as well as 3 mini-games – a bemani variant, monkey football and a rope- climbing affair. Each of the 3 is fun for a 5-minute blast, but not much more than that.

The Professor’s gadgets are numerous, with varying degrees of ingenuity – from the light saber-esque stun baton, to the monkey net, the catapult, the water gun, the handheld helicopter and the radio controlled car (yes, the radio controlled car), all come in useful in the ongoing ape chase. As each is introduced, the player is given a teaser level in which they can try out their new item, possibly earning themselves more coins as they do. Naturally, some gadgets are used more than others. The stun baton and monkey net will become second nature, whereas the radio controlled car (used to depress switches), or the boomerang banana less so. If there is a gripe to be levelled at the gadgetry on offer, it’s that there’s too much of it and it’s spread a little thin, with just the final level requiring the player to unload their full arsenal in the big push for simian netting glory. As harsh as it may seem to criticize a game for having too many in the way of toys, it might have been better served to make use of fewer gadgets in more inventive ways.

The main body of the game is made up of familiar genre staples; run from A-B negotiating varying landscapes, an occasionally twitchy camera and attempt to complete your assigned mission, in this case netting a certain amount of apes. Every so often there’s a boss to deal with (wrestling monkey anyone? How about enormous yellow monkey with rotten teeth?) Take the boss down and continue on your way. The levels feel fairly narrow in design as you’re really only ever going forwards rather than having a look around. The difficulty is pitched a touch too much on the easy side, at least until the last level where it ramps slightly. As the targets for each level are met, the option to repeat the level in time trial mode opens up, adding a little in the way of replay value. There’s an ice level, a lava level, an underwater level... you get the idea, that there’s not a great deal in the way of original concepts in action, but it’s all executed with so much charm and good humour that it’s hard to chastise the programmers for it. There is a colour and vibrancy to the worlds that’s sure to have the odd hardened palette reaching for the sick bag, but will have other, more relaxed people smiling with glee. Whilst the graphics won’t be nominated for any tech demo awards, they’re easy on the eye with only a modicum of slowdown or glitches. In similar fashion, the music is cute, upbeat and instantly forgettable – not one for the OST collection, but perfectly serviceable.

Which brings us to the real stars of the show - the monkeys themselves - 300 of the blighters if anyone’s counting. From the bog-standard primates up to the big bad bosses, each simian is a delight, with enough actions and animations to give them all personalities (albeit fairly one-dimensional ones). Witness the precision synchronicity of the Karate dojo apes, the frenetic movement of the boxers – complete with savage and costly punching skills. Giggle as the army monkeys cower in fear at your presence, then release a barrage of missiles in your direction. Wince as they hit. The reactions and behaviour of the apes is, in places, truly hilarious. If you’re bereft of the stealth skills required to sneak up on the critters, their hats will glow red, you’ll hear a high-pitched shriek and they’re off, scurrying about the terrain at a fair pace (some, a lot faster than others!), or deploying any anti-monkey catcher weaponry they may be in possession of. Whilst it’s possible to complete the game with much fewer than the full 300, going back to collect the rest will certainly add a few hours onto your value for money meter, as will the aforementioned time trial option.

Ape Escape 2 is colourful, charming, frequently funny and most importantly, fun to play. It’s not the biggest or hardest game, but the good controls, pleasing visuals and wonderful monkeys make it worth any platform fans time.