Review: Ape Out is a frantic adventure in search of animal freedom

I confess that, at first glance, Ape Out didn't catch my eye — either because of its not-so-warm reception by critics or because it seemed too mechanical for my predilection for video game storytelling. That's when a friend of mine unassumingly bought the game and invited me to share the controller.

At the end of the campaign for the four different musical albums (or “worlds”) in Ape Out, I finally felt satisfied with the experience I had. the new game of Game Designer Gabe Cuzzillo it has approximately four hours—depending on your skill as a player—enough game time for me to master its mechanics without feeling bored or frustrated.

the gorilla escape

Technically Ape Out it's an action game beat 'em up with a perspective top-down — this means that your objective is to control “from above” a character who will deliberately punch everything and everyone in front of him until he reaches his objective, the end of the level. It seems so simple and dated, see the repetitive history of this genre, but it is precisely here that the conversation starts to change course.

The combat takes place through “grabs” and punches while the primate moves in search of a safe place against the shots made by the enemies. The enemies have a fixed location on each new screen and approach the animal in different ways, almost always organizing themselves in groups of more than two individuals.

Avoiding shots through quick reactions, as well as planning your route according to the number and positioning of enemies in the later stages, is essential for the escape to be completed successfully. The act of projecting other elements present in the scenario towards enemies, such as steel doors and severed limbs, is especially encouraged when there are many enemies at different distances from the controllable character.

Spectacle of colors and shapes

The phases in Ape Out are usually filled with long hallways, spaced rooms and wide concrete pilasters, but with a good variety of scenery elements characteristic of each of its four campaigns.

Each level is generally well-constructed both for the aesthetic diversity of each room and for intentionally inducing situational mechanics — as in the case of special agents attacking the game. Empire State Building through the windows.

Because it's a game that requires fast reflexes, there were many times I failed and restarted a level. The feeling of learning from my own mistakes emerged especially when the level map was shown during the failure state, detailing every inch of the path taken and indicating how advanced I was at that stage.

As it moves, the gorilla protagonist of Ape Out can see more widely beyond the structures around them. This is really impressive when it comes to the unpredictability of what can happen after crossing a room that appears to be empty, but that hides enemies around every corner.

the artist's work bennett foddy seems simple at first glance, but it hides a feedback visual for each type of action. To be clear: there is no indicator of hit points, for example, but we can tell if we are about to fail by looking at the amount of blood shed by the gorilla as it moves through the scenario.

An authentic and minimalist visual identity in the right measure, with a constant use of silhouettes and contrasting colors.

sound savagery

Signed by composer matt boch, the soundtrack of Ape Out is unique: a dynamic jazz composed only by percussion. Its tempo accelerates and decelerates, creating unique rhythms with each new play through the soundscape attributed to the gorilla's actions. This type of procedural composition, which is closely linked to the gameplay, is one of the most interesting uses of music I've ever experienced playing video games.

The drums are the only instrument present in the soundtrack of the phases and the use of a single instrument (of a more “aggressive” nature, as is the case with percussion instruments) is also justified by the political-environmental commentary signed by the developers.

The gorilla always appears to have been subjugated and turned into an attraction at the start of each campaign and must escape man's grasp by any means necessary, even if he has to do so violently.

Ape Out shines like other games indies of action also shone in their times. Its mechanical and audiovisual originality goes far beyond a “copy of Hotline Miami with gorilla” — as some have unfairly dubbed him — making him a strong contender for best indie 2019 for the Switch.