For the past few years, the Ape Escape franchise has quietly built itself up to be one of the more original and entertaining platformers around. While it hasn’t received the same recognition as Jak & Daxter or Ratchet & Clank, the series has still managed to hold onto a sizeable cult following. Ape Escape 3 is the latest game in the series and once again puts together an offering that is the series’ strongest yet.

Ape Escape has always been known for its unique visuals. While other series have tried to push the graphical envelope this generation, Ape Escape has managed to stick with a style that is consistent with the game’s first outing on the PlayStation. It may not impress, but it certainly gets the job done.

Movie buffs will really dig the game’s look after seeing the numerous movie references in both character designs and environments. Nearly every major movie is referenced somewhere in the game, from The Ring to Star Wars to even Planet of the Apes. Sometimes the references are instantly obvious, like Darth Vader or Charlie Chaplin, while others are a little more obscure, such as Samara.

Sound is as… well, let’s just say unique as the visuals. Music helps to set the mood of each level and will even change depending on if you’re wearing a particular costume. Voice work is presented in the hyper-Japanese style and definitely fits the game’s atmosphere and presentation, though some of the translation is a little spotty and comes off corny.

The premise behind Ape Escape 3 is just as bizarre as past games. Specter has once again let his apes loose on the world. This time his plot involves producing mindless TV shows meant to turn anyone who watches them into mush-minded zombies (similar to what UPN and MTV do every season). Even Spike and Jimmy, the heroes from previous games, have been taken out of action, leaving the monkey-wrangling duties up to two newcomers, Kei and Yumi.

Ape Escape 3 doesn’t tinker with the series’ gameplay too much. You begin armed only with a stun rod and net, and are then given the daunting task of capturing the game’s 400 loose monkeys. Yes, you heard right: 400 monkeys, though don’t let the number scare you off since you only have to capture half that number to complete the game. So while a level may have 20 monkeys hidden in it, you’re only required to snag 12 to move on. The location of monkeys is usually obvious, though you’ll always have one or two that require some puzzle-solving or platforming skills to nab.

Though the stun rod and net are likely to be your two most used gadgets, you’ll also unlock new ones. These include handheld helicopter blades, RC cars, and an ape radar – all of which come in handy during the game’s many platform and puzzle segments. On top of that, Kei and Yumi can also pull off costume changes that grant them new abilities. Some, like the cowboy and ninja, are extremely useful while others, like the knight and Arabian dancer, are limited in their uses. The catch with costume changes is that they are timed usages and require you to collect green power-ups to keep the timer going. You can, however, purchase gems at the shop that allow you to store up multiple charges.

Gamplay doesn’t differ too drastically depending on who you choose to play as. Both have access to the same gadgets and costumes, though the look will change to reflect either a “boy” or “girl” version. Playing as Yumi does, however, come with a slight bonus. Given her status as a pop star, some monkeys will actually become star-struck at the sight of her and become easier to capture.

Keeping up with the series’ tradition, mini-games can be purchased and played. Compared to past games, I was a little disappointed with the initial offering of games, though things quickly turned around after unlocking one of the strangest industry crossovers yet – Mesal Gear Solid. Without going into too much detail, imagine playing Metal Gear Solid, only with monkeys. I was actually rather surprised by how complete the mini-game really was and never expected to end up playing it as long as I did.

One of the great things about the Ape Escape series is how accessible it is to anyone. Though some later areas do get complicated, the gameplay is still something anyone can pick up and play. This is due in large part to the game’s easy to use dual-analog control scheme and the fact that you don’t have to capture every monkey to proceed. This helps to the keep the game enjoyable for those just looking for fun or those wanting the challenge of finding every ape.

Even after all these years, Ape Escape is still one of the better uses of the controller’s dual analog sticks. Tilting the left stick moves your character while rotating the right one allows you to use your currently equipped gadget. For example, rotating the stick around will cause your net (or stun rod) to swing, while a quick flick will produce a quick strike. Other gadgets feature their own unique uses of the right stick, such as giving you control of an RC car or quickly rotating the stick to turn on your helicopter. Certain costume changes also feature their own uses, like aiming.

Ape Escape 3 is one of those titles you can’t help but enjoy if given half a chance. While everything about the game is uniquely Japanese in nature, it’s still a fun title for gamers of all ages who are willing to give it a try.