I really loved this game until two things happened. One was when my (young) kids were playing and I was reading one of the comics that you can "win" to them and the punchline was a fart joke. The comic didn't even make much sense - they were banking on the inherent "humor" in the word. It's disappointing as a lot of the humor in the game is fun and funny for both kids *and* adults. Still, it isn't a big deal and I would let it slide as an aberration if it didn't show up again (maybe it doesn't - I don't know).

Then the second thing happened, which was that I watched my kids play the 2nd boss and this monkey opponent is depicted as a huge, wobbly sumo wrestler with a massive outie belly button. He's clearly intended to be grotesque, and that to be "funny". He also happens to be depicted as flamboyantly homosexual, with a high pitched voice, ballerina moves and even sporting stars on his nipples. Now, don't take this comment wrong - I have no problem with homosexual, even flamboyantly gay characters in a game, in fact there should be more of them. What I have a problem with is the negative depiction of such a character for supposed "comic" effect, especially in a game so otherwise appealing for kids. Sure, have funny gay monkeys, perhaps dressed as Zorro. That would be great. It's a matter of how this character is depicted, and why it is suppose to be funny. It seems wholly out of place compared to fun stuff such as monkeys dressed as disco dancers and bull fighters, monkeys attempting to hide behind a leaf they are holding, etc. There's a lot of really fun and playful humor in the game, and then there is this idiotic stuff. Why?

The game itself - it is fun, no doubt about it, and if you're an adult without kids you will probably enjoy the game and probably wouldn't even give that boss a second thought, but for me it was very disappointing. It colored my experience of the game and my outlook for any other Ape Escape games, knowing the type of humor the developers are going for. I realize that not everyone is going to be as put off by this as much as me, but for those who might be, for those who want there kids to laugh at other, better things instead, this review is here so you can make your own informed decision.
I really loved this game until two things happened. One was when my (young) kids were playing and I was reading one of the comics that you can "win" to them and the punchline was a fart joke. The comic didn't even make much sense - they were banking on the inherent "humor" in the word. It's disappointing as a lot of the humor in the game is fun and funny for both kids *and* adults. Still, it isn't a big deal and I would let it slide as an aberration if it didn't show up again (maybe it doesn't - I don't know). Then the second thing happened, which was that I watched my kids play the 2nd boss and this monkey opponent is depicted as a huge, wobbly sumo wrestler with a massive outie belly button. He's clearly intended to be grotesque, and that to be "funny". He also happens to be depicted as flamboyantly homosexual, with a high pitched voice, ballerina moves and even sporting stars on his nipples. Now, don't take this comment wrong - I have no problem with homosexual, even flamboyantly gay characters in a game, in fact there should be more of them. What I have a problem with is the negative depiction of such a character for supposed "comic" effect, especially in a game so otherwise appealing for kids. Sure, have funny gay monkeys, perhaps dressed as Zorro. That would be great. It's a matter of how this character is depicted, and why it is suppose to be funny. It seems wholly out of place compared to fun stuff such as monkeys dressed as disco dancers and bull fighters, monkeys attempting to hide behind a leaf they are holding, etc. There's a lot of really fun and playful humor in the game, and then there is this idiotic stuff. Why? The game itself - it is fun, no doubt about it, and if you're an adult without kids you will probably enjoy the game and probably wouldn't even give that boss a second thought, but for me it was very disappointing. It colored my experience of the game and my outlook for any other Ape Escape games, knowing the type of humor the developers are going for. I realize that not everyone is going to be as put off by this as much as me, but for those who might be, for those who want there kids to laugh at other, better things instead, this review is here so you can make your own informed decision.