Two analog sticks on DualShock for two years — and every game still ran without them. Ape Escape ended that.
The DualShock controller arrived in 1997 with two analog sticks, but for nearly two years it remained an optional upgrade. Every game released in that period was designed to work with the standard digital controller — the analog sticks were a convenience, not a requirement. Players could choose whether to use them. Ape Escape removed that choice.
SCE Japan Studio designed Ape Escape from the ground up around both sticks simultaneously: the left stick moved the player character; the right stick controlled the gadgets used to capture monkeys, each with its own motion logic that made sense with an analog input and was nearly impossible to implement on a digital D-pad. The game could not be launched at all using a standard PlayStation controller. It was the first PlayStation game released that could not function without a specific controller.
About this game
In the late 1990s Soichi Terada was running a small Tokyo label, Far East Recording, and had never written a note for a game in his life. “A game director liked the Sumo Jungle album I released under Far East Recording, and he asked me if I wanted to make the music for the Ape Escape game,” Terada told the interview series toco toco. The job he had been handed was as untested as he was: a game that would not start at all unless the player was holding Sony’s DualShock and working both of its analog sticks at once — the left hand walking a boy named Spike, the right hand swinging a net at monkeys who had been scattered across time.
Key Features
You catch each monkey by swinging the net with the right stick — not by pressing a button, but by turning. Every monkey wears a helmet that has made it clever, and each one behaves differently: some walk into the net, some need a plan. Time travel carries you through varied historical and fantastical periods. The other gadgets — a water cannon, an RC car, a slingshot — all run off the right stick too, and there are coin hunts and challenge modes once the main chase is done.
Gallery
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Released in Japan and North America in June 1999, and Europe in October 1999. Widely available due to strong sales and multiple print runs. The game was also published in Japan under the title Saru Getchu, which became the standard Japanese franchise name.
Maintenance Tips
The PS1's optical drive is the system's most vulnerable component after thirty years. Dust accumulation on the laser lens causes read errors before the laser itself fails; cleaning with a cotton swab lightly dampened with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol restores performance in many cases. The sled rails that carry the lens assembly need periodic lubrication—original factory grease hardens with age and increases friction, leading to tracking failures. White lithium grease on the rails (not WD-40) is the correct approach. Disc condition matters as much as the hardware: deep radial scratches near the data area cannot be read regardless of laser health, so always inspect the playing surface before diagnosing the console.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Ape Escape copies regularly.
Will this Japanese PlayStation disc work on a North American or European PlayStation?
No. The PlayStation enforces regional lockout through the disc region code and the console BIOS. Japanese discs (NTSC-J) will not play on North American (NTSC-U/C) or European (PAL) consoles without modification such as a mod chip or swap method. Playing Japanese PlayStation software requires a Japanese console or a modified unit. The disc format itself is standard CD-ROM — the incompatibility is entirely software-enforced.
Do I need a memory card to save progress?
Yes. The PlayStation has no internal save storage. A PlayStation Memory Card must be inserted into the console's memory card slot to save game data. Without a memory card, all progress is lost when the console powers off. Each memory card holds 15 blocks; check the game manual for how many blocks this title requires. Official Sony memory cards are recommended for reliability over third-party alternatives.
How should I inspect and care for a PlayStation disc?
Examine the data side (shiny underside) under light. Light surface scratches are generally readable; deep scratches running radially from the center outward are more damaging than circular ones. To clean, wipe from the center outward in straight radial strokes with a soft lint-free cloth — never in a circular motion. If the console struggles to read an otherwise intact disc, the PlayStation laser may need cleaning or adjustment, which is common in aging PS1 hardware.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Ape Escape
A short checklist for buying a used PlayStation disc wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Check the disc for scratches
Deep scratches on the playing surface cause freezes and read errors. Light surface marks are usually fine.
Ask for a clear photo of the disc's underside. A seller who tested it will confirm it loads and plays through.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese PlayStation disc. The PS1 is region-locked, so a Japanese disc needs a Japanese console or a region-free setup.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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Saves use a memory card — no battery to worry about
PlayStation games save to a separate memory card, so there is no in-cartridge battery to fail.
Just make sure you have a memory card with free blocks for your saves.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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Rooms this game lives in
Wander deeper — explore the themed rooms where Ape Escape sits alongside its kin.
Memories from around the world
This is a young museum, and this page is still waiting for its first voices. The memories people send reach Taisei personally, and the ones that move him find a home here over time — always with the writer's blessing. Yours could be the very first for this game.
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