It's another Ape Escape, but this time there's enough content to make you go bananas.
Ape Escape has always been about catching monkeys. Ape Escape 3 is no different. Although, there's tons of stuff to do now. Hundreds of tiny monkeys to capture as well as a bunch of neat extras like minigames, monkey theater (view and make your own movies starring monkeys you've captured - usually hilarious) and time attack modes.
This time around, you can choose between pop-star princess Yumi and some kid... presumably her brother (who is pretty much not as cool as Yumi). Unfortunately, that damned dirty ape Specter has escaped and decided to put a plan in motion with his human companion, Professor Tomoki, to turn everyone into brainless couch potatoes by hypotizing them via television. Now you must take these monkeys off the air and capture them, as well as their leaders, the freaky monkey 5.
Naturally, you get quite an amount of weapons to do so. You get beam swords, nets, remote control cars, spinning propellers and tons of other stuff to help you get these monkeys, but this time you also have the ability to morph into other forms. Like wizards, cowboys, ninjas... there are a decent amount of them, all with their own abilities and monkey-catching techniques.
The fact that Ape Escape 3 provides a happy-go-lucky and fun platforming venture really is what makes it the most fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously (EVER. The monkeys are so zany and hilarious...Hell, one of the bosses you fight attacks you by... ahem... passing gas) and the level design is clever and colorful.
Part of what makes it so colorful is the fact that the graphics are pretty. Smooth and charismatic models for the monkeys and characters, as well as the vibrant levels pretty much add up to a most surreal experience. Detail is quite lacking at points, however, which is what prevents it from getting a higher score in graphics. The sound is mostly great, with catchy tunes for each of the themed levels and lovely pop songs in there too (Yumi's and Monkey Pink's) make a really lovely soundtrack, which I am still looking for. The voice acting is a bit corny and the sound effects can get a bit irritating, though.
One of the best things about this game, is the sheer about of extra things to do. Although the literal game is short and somewhat easy, the minigames can extend the playtime by a lot (including the hilarious and surprisingly true-to-the-series rendition of Metal Gear Solid, aptly called Mesal Gear Solid, which revolves around a monkey whom thinks he's Solid Snake infiltrating a base to destroy Mesal Gear. A solid waste of a few hours indeed). You can get all the monkeys and minigames pretty fast unfortunately, but it is a blast doing so nonetheless.
Ape Escape 3 helps keep platformers alive. This is very good, since it's a highly underrated genre. I recommend it to any Ape Escape fans, or even fans of colorful and fun platformers. Anyone else... who knows if you'll like Ape Escape. Depends on if you can withstand the cuteness and zany antics of those tiny primates!