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Ape Escape 2 ps2 Game Reviews
Ape Escape 2
Critic Score
Metascore: 82 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
7.8 out of 10
based on 31 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 18 votes
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Rate this game

Ape Escape 2 is all about no-holds barred expansive gaming - with 20 stages to navigate and 8 boss fight stages as well as second and third playthrough, this game will keep you playing well into the wee small hours! With so many monkeys gone mad, heavy artillery is Hikaru's only chance of saving the planet. As such you get to try out a feast of gadgetry - 12 items in total - to try and catch the ape anarchists. Think weird and wacky - The Banana Boomerang and the Radio Controlled Car are just a few of the Professor's spectacular creations! [Sony]

PUBLISHER: Ubi Soft
DEVELOPER: Sony Computer Entertainment
GENRE(S): Action, Platform
PLAYERS: 1
ESRB RATING: E (Everyone)
RELEASE DATE: July 1, 2003

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
GameNow
No, it's not revolutionary, but there's enough variety that it never feels monotonous or repetitive. [July 2003, p.54]
93
Gamezilla!
A solid platform game through and through. Simply put, Ape Escape 2 is worth going bananas over.
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91
TotalPlayStation
The freshest thing to hit the market since bananas. The wildly addicting gameplay and monkey-catching offer hours and hours of enjoyment, and completing 100% of the game is a rewarding task that can easily offer 20+ hours of gameplay time.
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90
IGN
More than anything, the inescapable level of addiction in COLLECTING monkeys is the overriding reason to not just rent, but to buy and cherish this game.
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90
GamePro
What makes Ape Escape 2 rule is that it simply feels like no other game, thanks to an intuitive analog control scheme in which pressing or rotating the right stick both aims and activates your various gadgets.
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90
Village Voice
Several diverting mini-activities unlock along the way, like a remarkably in-depth soccer game. These are only the largest unexpected bonuses in the game's cascading series of thrills, which rely on aesthetics as much as action.
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90
Total Video Games
The game can be used a classic example of great game design, everything from the levels to the control set-up to the actual game structure is as near to perfection as we could have hoped for.
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90
Deeko
Though the game is uncannily similar to the first one, with very few changes having been made, it is an exceptional game and one Sony shouldn't have glossed over.
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90
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
Basically more of the same, but with better graphics and some nifty new gadgets and vehicles. That's a good thing, by the way. [July 2003, p.92]
89
Gamer.tv
One of the most instantly likeable games you're apt to play this year, with bags of charm, but there's also real substance, as well as many, many bizarre extras to keep you coming back for more.
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88
TotalGames.net
The learning curve of Ape Escape 2 is damn near perfect... If you’re looking for top-flight platform entertainment then you really cannot go wrong with Ape Escape 2, it’s brilliant.
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86
GameSpy
A wonderful platformer with a fresh gameplay mechanic and a great sense of humor.
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86
Game Chronicles
There’s nothing too innovative here; just a great solid platform title with loads of content and fun.
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84
GameSpot
The game's relative ease is offset by the sheer number of weird unlockable items, and the end result is a platform game that is, above all, great fun.
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83
Armchair Empire
Despite being a somewhat easy game that’s visuals are slightly long in the tooth, Ape Escape 2 still proves to be a fun game.
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80
Gamestyle
Ape Escape 2 just hooked me by being just plain fun while being different and original from today’s generic platform games. Oh and it has monkeys in it.
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80
PSM Magazine
A wonderfully controlling game, with vibrant (if a bit simplistic) graphics and great presentation. [Aug 2003, p.28]
80
G4 TV
It's a great platformer with a lot of the strong, fun play mechanics that are simply missing from a lot of the PlayStation 2's platformers these days. However, if you played the first game, Ape Escape 2 won't be a shining gem but just a fond reminder of the first time you played this series.
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80
Cheat Code Central
A great example of a successful collective consciousness. It just lends credence to the saying: If a group of programmers that are confined to a room are placed in front of computers, eventually they will create a great game.
80
eToychest
100% completion can be had in a few days play, and after that I am afraid the game will be yet another dust magnet on the shelf. In that time, however, players can experience a truly well made, and magical game.
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78
GamingWorld X
A fun and addictive game.
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75
Into Liquid Sky
It's a shame that Ape Escape 2 is so easy and that there are so few new gadgets as the game is quite fun. With some more decent minigames (in place of the mundane Monkey Fables) and a little more challenge, I would recommend this to anyone.
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75
Game Informer
It's cute as hell, fun as can be, but a few steps back on the evolutionary ladder. [July 2003, p.104]
73
Electronic Gaming Monthly
I love the satisfying mix of action and puzzles as you find, disarm, and nab rogue apes, and the colorful cartoony graphics and wacky story are top notch. [Aug 2003, p.73]
70
PSX Nation
The game is just too short and easy for the average PS2 action junkie reared on a steady diet of "Sly Cooper," "Ratchet & Clank" and/or "Jak & Daxter."
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70
netjak
The game isn’t really innovative, and it won’t wow anyone. But at the end of the day, you’ll find yourself still laughing about how the health meter cookies have the Japanese word for “monkey” on them as well as the subtle joke behind Pierrot the clown monkey.
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70
All Game Guide
What it lacks in new ideas is more than made up for in playful exuberance.
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70
GMR Magazine
A lot of fun, but if it has one problem, it's that it is too similar to the previous game. But hey, the first game was great. [Aug 2003, p.71]
67
Play Magazine
While the game is still good fun, its kid-friendly finish and slightly dated graphics make less of an impact than it might have if released a year ago. [July 2003, p.79]
60
EuroGamer
Sony has at least attempted to approach the genre from a quirky and strategic angle, but our lasting impression of the game is one that mostly entertains, but rarely inspires.
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60
NTSC-uk
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.
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What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jake W. gave it a10:
A great game. Me and my mates spent hours on it!

Spike gave it a 10:
Excellant game. And its great for kids! I highly recommend it! Hours of fun and very funny scenes.

Carl N. gave it a 9:
Ape Escape 2 is without question the best platformer on the Playstation/PS2 pronto! Ok, it has not lovely graphics like JakII or Ratchet and Clank, and it is not a big improvment since the first one, so it doesnt get a clean 10'r. -BUT it is funny, it gives you a fare challenge without beeing annoying, and the control is exellent!! Top that with three great two player mini-games that put the mighty 'mario-party' to shame! Highly recommended!

Billy C. gave it a 1:
This game sucks who would play a game that has a lot of monkeys in it and one monkey is evil. the graphics suck the fiction is way to high the game is only for little children like toddlers.

Peter H. gave it a 2:
Thank you comic book guy, a man with some true sense this game wasn't worth the 10 bucks i bought it used for its repetitive and a repeat of the first one, to put it simply "Worst Game Ever"

Sonic O. gave it a 10:
I remember a long time ago Ape Escape was my fave game ever! I played it everyday even though I already got all the monkeys ;) But when I got Ape Escape 2 on the very first day it came out my eyes boomed! Me and my bro play it all the time cuz I want to get Spike and beat the extra boss when you get all of the monkeys!

Comic Book Guy X gave it a 2:
Worst...game...ever!

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