Ape Escape

Although it has the "kiddy" look, AE is a great game that any age gamer should enjoy. The graphics are above average with a simple but distinctly anime-ish look of the Pokemon variety. The levels are well designed with several themes and 22 different environments filled with an assortment of foes to pound and monkeys to beat senseless. It really reminds me of old school 8 and 16 bit plat formers. There's a ton of gadgets to aid you in your quest, from a stun club to a remote controlled RC racer. None of the gadgets were just afterthoughts and are both necessary and effective. Using both analog sticks takes some getting used to, but there's plenty of training to help you out. Once you're accustomed to it, you'll wonder how you played with just the d-pad and one analog stick. The Gameplay is some of the best Platformer on the PSX. You use both analog sticks for a variety of uses such as when you're in a row boat, each stick controls a separate oar down to the angle, direction, and speed. AE is simple enough for younger gamers, but, challenging enough for older gamers. The learning curve is fairly progressive, so it shouldn't be to difficult for anyone to play. You also have the option to just capture the required number of monkeys to move on or to explore the expansive levels to find all of the simians. There's even some cool mini games along the way.