This is an excellent game for those long trips, rainy days, or just a to pass time every now and then. It has over 25 individual games that test your memory, reflexes, and perception in games such as: Mon Quixote where you protect yourself with a shield from flying arrows, to monkey karate, RoShambo where you shoot rock paper scissors out of a gun to attack another monkey, monkey foosball, etc. The game also has an academy mode where a teacher gives you several test games, and if you pass you will get a mark on a game of tic-tac-toe. The furhter you go into your "studies" the more challenging the games will get, and the more lines you will have to complete in order to pass.

Lots of different types of games all in one. Entertaining for young and older alike.

But not the worst. This is my first venture into the world of Ape Escape, and I can't say it was horrible, but not particularly interesting. This is a bunch of mini-games where you're at an academy trying to advance on to the next grade level. Each "Grade Level" consists of nine mini games you'll have to play through. The games are randomly generated.

I suppose what I had trouble with with this game was getting the required lines to graduate. If there's a moment where you just know you're not going to do it, you can't just start over. Which annoyed the hell out of me.

The mini games are simple puzzles. Memory games and reflexes mostly. They're predictable and rather stale. You'll also find games like soccer, hockey and the like. Most games are self explanatory, but when you come across a game that you just don't know what to do, the game does a really bad job of explaining what you need to do.

You're invited to play through grades and such again for statues, but that's really it. Which is also pretty annoying. What? No unlockable secrets? Just a statue that's not really worth anything other than bragging rights? Likewise, single player mode is incredibly short, and that's bad. It wouldn't be as grueling if the load times weren't bad as well. These load times can take up to a minute. Most of these puzzles and mini games probably won't take you nearly as long as it takes the game to load.

Visually it looks alright. It's very vibrant and colorful and it's probably the only good thing about the game. Well, that and you can play with three other friends off one UMD. However, the music is annoying, and the game just all out isn't fun. A kid might get some enjoyment out of it, but not someone who is actually expecting a decent game. I hear the platform Ape Escapes are pretty good, and I'll try those out as well. However, I can't help but admit that this game is just not all that great.

So save your money. If you must have this game, wait for a price drop or something. Forty dollars for a game that you'll probably only spend an hour playing (and maybe forty of those minutes will be load times) isn't worthwhile. After completing these mini-games there's nothing that makes you want to play it again. That's a problem. So don't waste your hard earned cash on this thing.