If you don’t mind a rather extreme challenge, I can’t recommend Ape Out enough, a perfect marriage of style and execution that’s difficult as hell while also managing to be an exciting power fantasy. Every step of the way is exciting and fun, and even when you’re running up against a wall, it has that “one more run!” power that gets you to keep trying, and then whoops, hours are gone. Ape Out is definitely worth checking out and returning to for a quick and excellent experience.
Orthodox yet sophisticated action, a wacky art style, a crazy score and events that make great use of these characteristics make Ape Out a thrilling experience throughout.
Ape Out is grueling. Constantly, all in movement and speed, the game will make you live something very satisfying. It is like a little walk before turning into a jam-session that will seem very messy from a distance, for the uninitiated. You'll enjoy replaying it, in the manner of a single good vinyl.
Ape Out is great if you've only got a few minutes or a few hours. Its simple design, constant excitement, and reward loop mean you can be satisfied with one turn or twenty.
The rhythmic, cymbal-centric, jazz music is combined impeccably with the frenetic action of Ape Out. Taking a cue from the way the game categorizes its levels into vinyl disks we feel that we only received side A now and we still missing side B. Probably this shows how much we enjoyed the game (wanting more of it) but, nevertheless, it feels like it could benefit greatly from more content, at least in terms of levels.
Mashing up unique aesthetics and gameplay doesn't always yield a perfect result, and Ape Out tries to fit together two disparate ideas without successfully navigating the challenges of such an endeavor. Too many elements just don't work at a fundamental level, making it an uneven effort at best.