Ape Escape: Pumped and Primed serves its purpose as a quick, disposable party game. Fans expecting more of a traditional Ape Escape experience, however, will walk away disappointed.
Pumped and Primed largely keeps the old titles' simplistic control scheme, but steers the direction away from collecting apes to a party game style atmosphere. The cel-shaded graphics are pretty solidly designed, if a bit simplistic. Sound suffers the most in evaluating the game's production values, as the music seems to loop on a far too regular basis.
The type of games you'll play in this Ape Escape are pretty much par the course for the genre. Coin collections, fighting melees, and racing events are all present and accounted for. And since any party game worth its salt has a collection of power ups that can turn the tide of battle in a different direction, Ape Escape doesn't disappoint here (How can you not love releasing a hail of banana peels upon your foes?).
Unfortunately, the power-ups and fan-club mode (where monkeys will send you gifts, letters, and even join your team as a power-up, based upon your performance) can't do much to remedy the overly simplistic game mechanics. Pumped and Primed is a fine choice for younger gamers and non-gamers alike, but a mediocre one for just about everyone else.
-George
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