Thursday, 24 Oct 2024

Ape Out Review: A Delightful and Creative Gaming Experience

Some games take their time to introduce you to their worlds, while others prefer to dive right in and show you what they’re all about. Ape Out falls into the latter category. From the moment you break out of your cell, you’re thrust into a thrilling and fast-paced adventure that is an absolute delight to play.

Ape Out is a perfect example of how a simple concept can be fleshed out and transformed into an engaging experience. As an ape, you have multiple ways to defend yourself. You can push enemies into walls, creating a messy splatter, or use them as human shields. The latter strategy opens up various possibilities as you navigate through corridors filled with soldiers. Each prisoner you take has a weapon that they will fire a few seconds after you grab them. You can either let them take a shot from an enemy directly in front of you, giving you the opportunity to rush and attack, or you can allow your prisoner to eliminate the foe for you. Furthermore, enemies that explode upon death leave behind body parts that can be used to stun other enemies. Ape Out offers a deceptively simple gameplay, but it allows for a great deal of creativity and strategic thinking.

As you progress through the game, you will encounter different types of enemies with their own unique abilities and challenges. For example, attacking a grenadier head-on will result in an explosion that kills both of you. However, you can use their explosive nature to your advantage by throwing them into a group of foes, eliminating all of them at once. The game’s various collections of levels, presented as albums with each level as a track, take place in different locations that introduce new obstacles and advantages. For instance, the second collection is set in a high rise where you can quickly dispose of enemies by throwing them out of windows, but snipers across the street pose a threat if you linger in one spot for too long.

Ape Out’s constant introduction of new dangers and tools for creating havoc keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting. I found myself constantly amused by the changing scenes and the challenges that came my way. While I did die a fair amount of times, the game is generous, allowing you three hits from an enemy before you go down. This gives you ample opportunity to learn enemy AI patterns and develop strategies to overcome them. The only drawback is that there are a few moments where deaths feel unfair, especially when an off-screen enemy kills you. Nevertheless, these moments are rare. The stunning stylized art and the soundtrack that syncs with your actions in the game, such as banging a drum when you defeat foes or blaring a horn when you break down doors, make restarting levels after death enjoyable. The sound design is particularly satisfying, with a user-created soundtrack that adds liveliness to the action.

I completed Ape Out in a single sitting, which took me about two and a half hours. I felt that it was the perfect length for this type of experience. In addition to the campaign levels, there are also arcade-mode and hard-mode variants for those who want to test their skills as a fragile gorilla. There’s plenty of ape-smashing content for those who can’t get enough. Ape Out beautifully celebrates its simple yet captivating premise with creative gameplay that will leave you eagerly wanting to return for more.

FAQs

  • Q: How long does it take to complete Ape Out?

  • A: It takes about two and a half hours to complete the game in a single sitting.

  • Q: Are there additional gameplay modes in Ape Out?

  • A: Yes, apart from the campaign levels, there are arcade-mode and hard-mode variants for those seeking a greater challenge.

  • Q: Is there replay value in Ape Out?

  • A: Absolutely! The game’s creative gameplay and engaging mechanics make it highly replayable, ensuring you’ll want to revisit it time and time again.

Conclusion

Ape Out is a fantastic game that takes a simple premise and turns it into an exhilarating experience. With its intuitive gameplay mechanics, stunning art style, and captivating soundtrack, it’s a game that will keep you entertained from start to finish. Whether you’re a fan of action games or just looking for a unique and enjoyable gaming experience, Ape Out is definitely worth checking out. So grab your controller and get ready to unleash your inner gorilla!