Hopes were high that the Ape Escape franchise might be returning in a big way in 2020, but those hopes have seemingly been dashed by the closure of the Ape Escape 20th Anniversary Twitter account. The original Ape Escape released on the PlayStation back in 1999. The 3D platforming adventure was notable for being one of the only PlayStation games that required a controller with dual analog sticks to function properly. Players used the left stick to move, and the right stick to control various gadgets, like a stun club, an RC car, and a kinetically charged hula hoop to fight enemies and capture a horde of escaped monkeys.
Ape Escape spawned an entire franchise of PlayStation-exclusive titles, from direct PS2 sequels to bizarre spin-off titles, many of which never officially left Japan. Unfortunately, the series unexpectedly stalled out after Ape Escape 3, and the brand has been mostly dormant for over a decade, save for the occasional cameo, like a monkey's surprise guest appearance in the PlayStation 4 version of Super Bomberman R.
In June 2019, a Twitter account celebrating the 20th anniversary of the original game was created, leading many to speculate that Sony had plans to bring the series back in some capacity. Unfortunately, after some teases, the account has announced its own closure with a touching farewell message. As reported by Press Start, one of the account's final Tweets reads, "there are things that I could and couldn’t do in the last year, but I have some regrets." Press Start suggests this indicates that a new title may have been in the works, but was cancelled before being officially revealed to the public.
The Ape Escape franchise is an important piece of PlayStation console history. The title's innovative use of the dual analog sticks was unlike anything else seen at the time, and helps the title feel fresh and unique, even today. In addition to their platforming action and gadget-based gameplay, Ape Escape was also noteworthy for its wacky sense of humor. The franchise recognized and owned its absurdity. Each of the apes in all of the games had their own brief biographies filled with simian-based humor and pop culture references.
No new Ape Escape game is forthcoming, and the franchise's glory days are roughly two decades in the past. Younger PlayStation fans are probably more familiar with the franchise due to its representation in the underrated PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale crossover than its original games. In 2020, the only game in the franchise that's easily accessible through legal means is Ape Escape 2, which was released as a PS2 port on PS4 in 2016. For anyone who missed out on the franchise back when it first came around, this entry in the Ape Escape franchise is a decent place to start.
Source: Press Start