Ape Escape 2
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| Ape Escape 2 | |
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| Developer(s) | Sony |
| Publisher(s) | Sony EU Ubisoft |
| Aspect ratio | 480i (SDTV) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
| Release date | JP July 18, 2001 NA June 30, 2003 EU March 14, 2003 PS2 the Best JP December 5, 2002 NA March 10, 2005 |
| Genre(s) | Platform game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Rating(s) | CERO: A ELSPA: 11+ ESRB: Everyone PEGI: 3+ |
| Input methods | DualShock 2 |
Ape Escape 2 (Saru! Get You! 2 in Japan) is a platform video game developed by Sony and published by Sony in Japan and Europe, while Ubisoft published it in North America for the PlayStation 2 video game console. It was first released in Japan on July 18, 2001, and was later released in Europe on March 14, 2003, and in North America on June 30, 2003. It was re-released in Japan under the PlayStation2 the Best line twice - first on December 5, 2002, and again on March 10, 2005. It is the second game in the Ape Escape series.
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[edit] Story
This game takes place after the events in Ape Escape, where Kakeru (known as Spike in U.S. versions and the original British Ape Escape release) 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. English version), and Kakeru's cousin, Hikaru (Jimmy in the U.S. English version) to watch over the laboratory. Professor has left them with one task: deliver a load of monkey pants to the monkeys in Monkey Park. Jimmy accidentally sends not only the monkey pants, but The Peak Point Helmets as well. Specter gets a hold of one, and yet again makes an army of monkeys bent on ruling the world. Hikaru aims to capture all the monkeys and stop Specter.
[edit] Characters
The original name is listed first, followed by the U.S. English name, if applicable.
- Jimmy/Hikaru: The main character, who accidentally started the fiasco. He is Kakeru's younger cousin. Hikaru is kind, brave, and simple-minded. How you can tell is that when he's either nervous/stumped, he scratches his head. He doesn't have any special abilities, but appears to be quite athletic. He has a little, monkey pet named Pipotchi. This is his first appearance in the Ape Escape series.
Voiced by: Veronica Taylor (U.S.)
- Pipotchi: Pipotchi is Hikaru's pet. He is a small, baby monkey who wears a special Peak Point Helmet that makes him friendly instead of mischievous. He sits on Hikaru's head and gives tips whenever the player needs it.
- Natalie/Natsumi: The Professor's teenage granddaughter, Natsumi performs most of the chores around the lab. She helps Hikaru on his mission and often gives advice. She is usually nice, but has a short temper and easily gets angry, especially when Hikaru first sent the Peak Point Helmets.
Voiced by: Rachael Lillis
- Professor: An old researcher who originally created the Peak Point Helmets, though not for evil. He was off on vacation when Hikaru sent the Peak Point Helmets and does not yet know what has happened. He is very kind, and can be forgetful at times. He is Natalie's grandfather. One difference in his outfit scheme is that the classy shirt he wears underneath his jacket is replaced with a yellow Hawaiian shirt, and he now wears blue sandals instead of shoes. In conclusion, some of the characters from the first are wearing summer wear in the second.
- Specter: Specter is an Albino monkey who lives in Monkey Park. When he found and put on a Peak Point helmet, he became incredibly smart, evil, and bent on world domination. Spike stopped him in Ape Escape, but now he's back with more monkeys. Specter is the leader of all other monkeys. He is cruel, clever, and hates all humans because they stand in his way of world domination.
- Spike/Kakeru: Kakeru appears as a secret playable character after you complete the game and was shown at the end of the game where he meets Natsumi, the Professor, and Hikaru.
Voiced by Dan Green.
- Monkeys: They used to be average monkeys who lived in Monkey Park, but once they put on Peak Point Helmets, they turn into rampaging mischief-makers. They are all under Specter's command, and are helping him take over the world. They also have certain abilities and personalities based on the color of pants they wear, and even rarer monkeys sometimes wear diverse outfits, such as Thomas the
magician monkey.
- Freaky Monkey Five: These 5 Monkeys have all been fed special "Vita-Z Bananas" and have become far more powerful and intelligent than normal monkeys. They are all loyal to Specter and act as the game's Bosses. They can all speak the same language as humans, like Specter. They each have unique personalities and appearances that resemble pop culture icons. The Blue Monkey is a riding freak who rides a unicycle and is the fourth strongest of the group. The Yellow Monkey is a fat sumo wrestler and is quite feminine; he is also the third strongest of the group. The Pink Monkey is a cute and bubbly pop singer. After Jimmy/Hikaru ruins her 'ESCAPE THE APE THAT'S IN YOU' debut, you have to fight with the Dark Pink Monkey, who is the second strongest. The White Monkey is a genius monkey who invents a Jimmy/Hikaru robot but is the weakest, not actually doing any fighting. The Red Monkey is the stongest of the Freaky Monkey Five and is very boastful, as shown by the Number One on his shirt.
[edit] Gadgets
Gadgets are Hikaru's main forms of offense and defense.
- Stun Club - This is Hikaru's basic weapon. It can defeat most enemies in a few hits and can break things and answer help telephones.
- Monkey Net - This is Hikaru's most important tool. It catches monkeys.
- Monkey Radar - This device helps Hikaru locate monkeys and find out their statistics.
- Super Hoop - A hula hoop that allows for Hikaru to travel very fast and damage enemies.
- Slingback Shooter - A slingshot that fires normal, explosive, and guided pellets.
- RC Car - This car helps Hikaru attack enemies, collect items, and reach switches from afar. There are 5 different chassis.
- Sky Flyer - A helicopter - like device that lets you glide for a short while.
- Bananarang - This boomerang emits a banana - like scent that attracts monkeys. (note this gadget will not work on monkey white,pink and red.)
- Water Cannon - A water gun that can put out flames and distract monkeys.
- Electro Magnet - A magnet that can move or attract metal items and remove enemy armor.
- Magic Punch - This is the ultimate weapon that defeats all enemies in one hit, except bosses. It can also destroy objects that no other gadget can destroy. You only get it after defeating Specter.
- Secret gadget - When playing as Spike, players can use a different Monkey Net to the one that Hikaru uses. To use it, players must press R1 whilst the cursor is over the net in the gadget select screen. The net will then be replaced with a blue aqua net, which can be used on land and is fired in the same way as the actual aqua net. Pressing R1 on the gadget select screen again will change the net back to normal.
Hikaru has to face the common enemies using his various gadgets as well. Most of the enemies are pig-like, but there are different ones as well, some even taking forms of vegetables and other natural animals.
[edit] Minigames
Like in the previous game, Ape Escape 2 features minigames, this time to get them you pay for them via a vending machine in the hub when you've got up to a certain stage in the game. The minigames are:
- Dance Monkey Dance: A dancing minigame similar to the Dance Dance Revolution Series where the player competes against other monkeys in a dancing contest. Alternatively, the player can dance alone and is reviewed on his or her dancing by judges.
- Monkey Soccer: A minigame similar to the FIFA Series where the player plays against other teams in a soccer game. You can use monkeys captured in the game to replace the ones you are given by default.
- Monkey Climber: In this minigame the player has to make the monkey climb up the vines by repeatedly tapping the analog stick buttons.
[edit] Differences between the European and North American versions
The character names are the same as the original Japanese names in the United Kingdom version of the game, but are different in the United States version of the game.
[edit] Trivia
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- This is one of the only Ape Escape games that break the fourth wall. In the Yellow Monkey Battle cut scene, Jimmy/Hikaru says "Geez, this is sure one weird monkey," and he seems to be directing it to the player.
- There is an ape named 'Mulder' that has the tagline "The Truth is out there!" in this game. This is obviously a reference to the highly popular TV series, The X-Files.
- Also, there are two enemies, a soda can and a blue shark, that break the fourth wall in their descriptions.
The soda can's description is - "What's that? I came to the wrong game?! "
The shark's description is - "I came to the wrong game too?!"
- There are many concept sketches that show bizarre working appearances of Hikaru, about eleven of them, quite a hefty amount for just one character. But yet some of them were just probably outfit schemes, as one sketch shows Hikaru wearing a white shirt and shorts. In the jumping pose, you could see his navel. The official sketch is though slightly incorrect, as Hikaru wears a red vest, not silver.
- A working Pipotchi sketch shows Pipotchi with just a bandana on, and they even show you a nude rear end.
- Specter's Goliath Armour in this game, and the Robo Jimmy made an appearance in one of the minigames in Ape Academy 2.
- There are several monkeys in the space level which all relate to Star Wars.
- While most rating systems gave Ape Escape 2 one of the lowest ratings, ELSPA rated Ape Escape 2
11+. 11+ is similar to the E10+ rating by the ESRB, and is most commonly given to fantasy titles, such as Alundra and Dark Cloud.
- An expansion "Uki-Uki" disc was released in Japan only. It includes a new mini-game, three new monkey types (Dragon Ball, Sorcerer and Borg), and a new gadget called the Ape Buster.
[edit] External links
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