Ape Escape: Difference between revisions

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A [[Play Station]]-exclusive series and proof that [[~~Everythings~~ Better With Monkeys]]. Known as ''Saru! Get You!'' in Japan.

A [[Play Station]]-exclusive series and proof that [[Everything's Better With Monkeys]]. Known as ''Saru! Get You!'' in Japan.

All three main games (the first was for the [[Play Station]], the other two for the [[Play Station 2]]) are about a superintelligent [[Evil Albino]] monkey named Specter who suddenly gains [[Department of Redundancy Department|super-intelligence]] through a hapless professor's [[Hat of Power|intelligence-increasing helmet]], who proceeds to [[Hilarity Ensues|put said helmets on every other monkey in a monkey enclosure and teleport them all over the place]]. Your character's task is to...well, [[Gotta Catch Them All|catch them all]]. In a possibly inadvertent [[Shout Out]], the second game's characters are all voiced by voice actors from ''[[Pokémon (Anime)|Pokémon]]'' - in the USA version, anyway.

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Notable also in that the PAL versions of each game have a unique dub, with the Professor affecting a German accent and everyone else speaking in London children's show accents. Specter also sounds noticeably older than his American counterpart.

Your characters change from game to game, starting with a guy named Spike/Kakeru, then going to a kid named Jimmy/Hikaru, then your choice of two characters Kei and Yumi in ''3'', and recently a nameless [[Heroic Mime]] in the Playstation Move game. Also, starting from ''2'', the game's [[Quirky Miniboss Squad]], the Freaky Monkey Five, shows up, monkeys that have been fed the power-boosting [[G Rated Drug|Vita-Z Banana]] and making them go completely insane.

Your characters change from game to game, starting with a guy named Spike/Kakeru, then going to a kid named Jimmy/Hikaru, then your choice of two characters Kei and Yumi in ''3'', and recently a nameless [[Heroic Mime]] in the Playstation Move game. Also, starting from ''2'', the game's [[Quirky Miniboss Squad]], the Freaky Monkey Five, shows up, monkeys that have been fed the power-boosting [[G-Rated Drug|Vita-Z Banana]] and making them go completely insane.

The series has had numerous PS2 and PSP spinoffs and is notable for its control scheme, where the [[Play Station]]'s symbol buttons change your myriad gadgets and the right analog stick uses them. The first game in the series, in fact, was the first PlayStation game to explicitly require the use of an analog controller. (Also, [[My Friends and Zoidberg|R1 and R2 are used to jump]]).

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* [[Cameo]]: In ''3'', a few underwater enemies come straight out of the Japan-only Sony game Space Fishermen. It's even lampshaded in the description for one of the enemies, wondering if it's in the wrong game.

* [[Camp Gay]]: Yellow Monkey. So much that he "flirts" with Kei, the male protagonist of 3. Also, Dr. Tomoki, to a lesser extent.

* [[Color Coded for Your Convenience]]: The monkeys all wear different colored pants, which hints at their nature when you encounter them in a level; yellow = basic grunts, light blue = cowards, navy = insanely-fast speedsters, red = aggressive fighters (and they gain the ability to block your attacks in ''2''), green = nimble monkeys who carry backpacks that fire homing missiles, black = machine-gun toting monkeys with [[A Team Firing]] skills, white = oddball with weird quirks and poor eyesight due to their [[Nerd Glasses]].

* [[Color Coded for Your Convenience]]: The monkeys all wear different colored pants, which hints at their nature when you encounter them in a level; yellow = basic grunts, light blue = cowards, navy = insanely-fast speedsters, red = aggressive fighters (and they gain the ability to block your attacks in ''2''), green = nimble monkeys who carry backpacks that fire homing missiles, black = machine-gun toting monkeys with [[A-Team Firing]] skills, white = oddball with weird quirks and poor eyesight due to their [[Nerd Glasses]].

** Except in the first game, where monkeys with white pants were exceptionally alert, and thus pretty much impossible to sneak up on.

* [[Continuity Reboot]]: The Playstation Move Ape Escape has a completely new story. The main character is a teenager [[Heroic Mime]] and his two sisters capturing monkeys from space, while looking for their grandmother too. The overall style underwent an [[Art Shift]] (although the monkeys themselves remain the same). The only returning character is Specter, and his backstory has been completely changed from a circus monkey corrupted by a intelligence boosting helmet {{spoiler|to an already intelligent [[Woobie Destroyer of Worlds]] after being forcibly launched up into space.}} While not horrible, most fans are hoping it doesn't stick.

* [[Continuity Reboot]]: The Playstation Move Ape Escape has a completely new story. The main character is a teenager [[Heroic Mime]] and his two sisters capturing monkeys from space, while looking for their grandmother too. The overall style underwent an [[Art Shift]] (although the monkeys themselves remain the same). The only returning character is Specter, and his backstory has been completely changed from a circus monkey corrupted by a intelligence boosting helmet {{spoiler|to an already intelligent [[Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds]] after being forcibly launched up into space.}} While not horrible, most fans are hoping it doesn't stick.

* [[Cool Shades]]: Black-pantsed monkeys wear sweet shades and carry submachine guns. Yeah, mankind is ''screwed''.

* [[Crossover]]: Appears as a [[Mini Game]] in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3]]''.

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* [[Disc One Final Dungeon]]: Pulled ''twice'' in the first game. The first time is Crumbling Castle (see "[[Wham Episode]]" below). When you return to the present, you then have to deal with TV Tower, which is merely a front for Specter Land. In ''2'', you make it to Code C.H.I.M.P after defeating Red Monkey, only for Giant Yellow Monkey to crash the party, forcing Specter to retreat. You ''do'' get to confront Specter one level later on the Moon Base though.

** Actually, three times. There's also the end of {{spoiler|Specter Land: Monkey Madness. After this, you have to go back and capture all the remaining monkeys before the true final boss.}}

* [[~~Everythings~~ Better With Monkeys]]: Every single game uses this trope.

* [[Everything's Better With Monkeys]]: Every single game uses this trope.

* [[Evil Albino]]: Specter.

** {{spoiler|Subverted in the Playstation Move game. See The Woobie below.}}

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** [[Captain Obvious|And Specter is very much like Specter]].

* [[Fartillery]]: Monkey Red. He can even ''fly'' with it.

* [[Fetish Fuel Station Attendant]]: Oh dear Specter, let me count the ways. [[White Haired Pretty Boy]]/[[Evil Albino]]? Check. [[Evil Genius]] [[Mad Scientist]]? Check. [[What Measure Is a Non Human|Not really a human but not quite an animal either]]? Check. Evil army at his disposal that bows to his every will? Sits atop a bad ass flying throne? [[Sharp Dressed Man|Looks damn good in a suit]]? [[Draco in Leather Pants|Oh baby]], [[Mr. Fanservice|check]] [[Squee|please]]!

* [[Fetish Fuel Station Attendant]]: Oh dear Specter, let me count the ways. [[White-Haired Pretty Boy]]/[[Evil Albino]]? Check. [[Evil Genius]] [[Mad Scientist]]? Check. [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?|Not really a human but not quite an animal either]]? Check. Evil army at his disposal that bows to his every will? Sits atop a bad ass flying throne? [[Sharp Dressed Man|Looks damn good in a suit]]? [[Draco in Leather Pants|Oh baby]], [[Mr. Fanservice|check]] [[Squee|please]]!

** [[Chika Sakamoto]]'s voice acting doesn't help matters much either.

* [[The Faceless]]: You never see a full front shot of the protagonist's head in any of the cutscenes in the Playstation Move game. You see his mouth for one scene but that's it.

* [[Five Man Band]]: The Freaky Monkey Five, in addition to being the [[Quirky Miniboss Squad]]. They fit this more than the [[Five Bad Band]], for some reason.

* [[Five-Man Band]]: The Freaky Monkey Five, in addition to being the [[Quirky Miniboss Squad]]. They fit this more than the [[Five-Bad Band]], for some reason.

** [[The Hero]]: Monkey Red

** [[The Lancer]]: Monkey Blue

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** [[The Chick]]: Monkey Pink

* [[Foe Yay]]: It's not exactly thick with [[UST]], but Specter seems more than just casually interested in Spike.

* [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]]: The monkey fables in the second game. [[Does This Remind You of Anything|Good God.]]

* [[Getting Crap Past the Radar]]: The monkey fables in the second game. [[Does This Remind You of Anything?|Good God.]]

** Also, [[Camp Gay|Monkey Yellow]].

** In one of the early levels in the first game (Dark Ruins), four of the monkeys are named after the kids from ''[[South Park]]''.

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* [[Gonk]]: Monkey Yellow.

* [[Gotta Catch Them All]]: You only need to catch a certain number of monkeys in each level to advance, but to unlock the final boss fight, you need to capture every single monkey in the game.

* [[G Rated Drug]]: Vita-Z bananas, which apparently act like steroids with the side effect of total, complete insanity.

* [[G-Rated Drug]]: Vita-Z bananas, which apparently act like steroids with the side effect of total, complete insanity.

* [[The Hat Makes the Man]]: The Hat Makes The Ape? All the apes (with the exception of Pipotchi in the second game) have their personalities altered by the Peak Point helmets.

* [[Heel Face Turn]]: At the end of the Playstation Move game, {{spoiler|upon being re-united with his owner Haru, Specter is more then happy to be with her and her grandchildren, and they take him home to give him a bath.}}

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** The main character of the Playstation Move game is this, to the point where his dialogue in the cutscenes ''is text only''.

* [[Heroic Willpower]]: How Spike wards off Specter's psychic probing in the penultimate battle against him from the first game. [[Fridge Logic|Why he's unable to do the same in the third game is unknown.]]

* [[Hey ~~Its~~ That Voice]]: Jimmy and Natalie ended up sounding like [[Pokémon (Anime)|Ash and Misty]] in the USA version of ''Ape Escape 2''. [[Gotta Catch Them All|Given the nature of the game]], it fits.

* [[Hey It's That Voice]]: Jimmy and Natalie ended up sounding like [[Pokémon (Anime)|Ash and Misty]] in the USA version of ''Ape Escape 2''. [[Gotta Catch Them All|Given the nature of the game]], it fits.

** [[Veronica Taylor]] also provides the voice of Pink Monkey in ''2''. In the same game, [[Pokémon (Anime)|Gary]] is Yellow Monkey, [[Yu-Gi-Oh|Mokuba]] is Pipotchi, while [[Yu-Gi-Oh|Tristan]] (or [[Yu-Gi-Oh 5 Ds|Yusei]]; take your pick) voices Red Monkey, Blue Monkey, ''and'' Specter.

** In ''Ape Escape 2'', '''''[[Dan Green|DAN GREEN]]''''' [[Talking to Himself|does double-duty as both]] the Professor and Spike.

** And in ''Ape Escape 3'', Debi Derryberry voices Pink Monkey.

* [[Hot Mom|Hot Aunt]]: Aki from ''Ape Escape 3''.

* [[Idiot Hero]]: Jimmy has shades of it. Most notably, he's the one who ''accidentally'' sends a shipment of pipo helmets to the zoo, [[Nice Job Breaking It Hero|setting off the plot of ''2''.]]

* [[Idiot Hero]]: Jimmy has shades of it. Most notably, he's the one who ''accidentally'' sends a shipment of pipo helmets to the zoo, [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|setting off the plot of ''2''.]]

* [[Idol Singer]]: Monkey Pink, and Yumi from the third game. It's a [[Running Gag]] that the heroes keep screwing up Pink's concerts.

* [[Improbable Weapon User]]: Some of the main tools in your arsenal are a butterfly net, a hula hoop, an RC car, a slingshot, and a boxing glove attached to a spring.

* [[Infinity ~~Plus One~~ Sword]]: The Magic Punch from the first two games and the Monkey Suit from the third game. Stop laughing.

* [[Infinity+1 Sword]]: The Magic Punch from the first two games and the Monkey Suit from the third game. Stop laughing.

* [[Inherently Funny Words]]: You know, saying "monkey" that much was already making everyone giggle. But when "monkey pants" were a prominent part of the second game...

* [[Innocent Innuendo]]: At the end of the second game before the hunt for hidden monkeys starts, Jimmy cries out "I'm gonna spank you, monkey!" while capturing Specter.

* [[~~Its~~ All About Me]]: Dr. Tomoki, much to Specter's dismay.

* [[It's All About Me]]: Dr. Tomoki, much to Specter's dismay.

* [[Large Ham]]: Specter is this in the UK dub.

* [[Lighter and Softer]]: The aforementioned anime.

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'''Jimmy''': "Yaaaah!! [[Say My Name|Specteerrrr!!!]] Gotchaaa!!" (''catches Specter'') <br />

'''Specter''': "Gyaaahh!! [[Big No|Nooo!!]] I was so close...!!" }}

* [[Peek a Bangs]]: Specter (again)

* [[Peek-a-Bangs]]: Specter (again)

* [[Pointless Band Aid]]: Jimmy, the protagonist of 2,wears one on his nose. Slightly justified, considering he could get injured trying to catch the monkeys.

* [[Psychic Powers]]: Monkey Pink, when angered, turns into the monkey answer to [[Carrie]].

* [[Psycho Serum]]: Vita-Z Bananas.

* [[Put On a Bus]] / [[What Happened to The Mouse]]: Roughly half of the main cast from the first game (Spike/Kakeru, Jake/Hiroki, and Casi/Charu) are missing from the events of ''Ape Escape 2''. While it can be surmised that Spike and Jake had better things to do or were away at the time (Spike reappears during the true ending to greet Natalie, the Professor, Pipotchi, and Jimmy, but oddly knows of Specter's wrongdoings throughout the game), Casi was a [[Robot Girl|PC program in the form of a human girl]] who worked at the lab. There's even a photo of Natalie and Cassie posing together. [[What Could Have Been|Unlockable sketches and concept art suggest that all of these characters were going to be included in the second game at some point, perhaps with some role in the story.]] ''Pumped & Primed'' introduces us to Helga/Haruka, heroine and [[Implied Love Interest]] of Spike. She too goes missing after the game. In ''3'', Spike, Jimmy, and the Professor are [[Brainwashed]] by Specter, rendering them inactive during the story. Luckily, all of the above characters (with the sad exception of Jimmy and Pipotchi) make a grand reappearance either in the anime or in ''Million Monkeys''.

* [[Put On a Bus]] / [[What Happened to The Mouse?]]: Roughly half of the main cast from the first game (Spike/Kakeru, Jake/Hiroki, and Casi/Charu) are missing from the events of ''Ape Escape 2''. While it can be surmised that Spike and Jake had better things to do or were away at the time (Spike reappears during the true ending to greet Natalie, the Professor, Pipotchi, and Jimmy, but oddly knows of Specter's wrongdoings throughout the game), Casi was a [[Robot Girl|PC program in the form of a human girl]] who worked at the lab. There's even a photo of Natalie and Cassie posing together. [[What Could Have Been|Unlockable sketches and concept art suggest that all of these characters were going to be included in the second game at some point, perhaps with some role in the story.]] ''Pumped & Primed'' introduces us to Helga/Haruka, heroine and [[Implied Love Interest]] of Spike. She too goes missing after the game. In ''3'', Spike, Jimmy, and the Professor are [[Brainwashed]] by Specter, rendering them inactive during the story. Luckily, all of the above characters (with the sad exception of Jimmy and Pipotchi) make a grand reappearance either in the anime or in ''Million Monkeys''.

** ''ALL'' of the characters (except Specter) might be gone now, as the Playstation Move game has a completely different storyline with new characters. We'll have to wait and see if they decide to continue this new story or not.

* [[Quirky Miniboss Squad]]: The Freaky Monkey Five.

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* [[Wham Episode]]: Crumbling Castle. Though it seems like the last level, no sooner do you reach Specter and Jake before they ditch you, leaving you to fight an armored warrior. Then you get transported back to the present day where the monkeys are already in charge of the city and The Professor and Natalie have been kidnapped.

** Also, when {{spoiler|Natsumi and the Professor are kidnapped atop TV Tower.}}

* [[White Haired Pretty Boy]]: Specter. The other monkey with white fur is decrepit and ugly, oddly enough.

* [[White-Haired Pretty Boy]]: Specter. The other monkey with white fur is decrepit and ugly, oddly enough.

* [[Womb Level]]: Dexter's Island. Argh.

* [[You Gotta Have Blue Hair]]: Jake, Kei, and the [[Play Station]] Move protagonist are standouts here. Casi has green hair instead.