Planet of the apes.

Over the years, Devolver Digital has acquired significant cultural cache by providing independent creators the freedom to develop games for the sake of indulging their wild creativity, rather than pure profit motive. Previous titles of note from the publisher include Hotline Miami, Luftrausers, OlliOlli, Broforce and The Talos Principle.

Developed by Gabe Cuzzillo, Matt Boch and Bennett Foddy, Ape Out is the latest title to emerge from the Devolver stable. Fortunately, it ticks all the boxes gamers have come to associate with the publisher’s unique brand.

Fight or flight.

Ape Out is beautifully simplistic. The game is a top down jail break escapade, in which the player controls an ape and must guide him to freedom through various levels. Stages are comprised of settings such as high rise buildings and laboratories. Players must navigate corridors and get across the level to the exit, evading or massacring guards along the way. Killing enemies is achieved by shoving them hard; an act which is accompanied by a satisfying splat and a pool of blood around the unlucky guard.

MSRP: $14.99
Platforms: PC, Switch

The enemies have guns and can inflict varying degrees of damage – I found the best approach was to go on the offensive, as the ape is pretty powerful. However, the ape can only survive a couple of shots before dying and then it’s back to the start – but not before the death screen traces the path you took through the level and shows just how close you might have been to freedom. Angles are important – when surrounded the ape has no chance, but lining a charge up just right will let you plough through multiple enemies by smashing them into each other. There’s a rhythm to Ape Out’s version of running and gunning through a level; a perfect symphony of percussive carnage that propels the ape’s flight to freedom.

All about that bass.

The tempo and frenetic action of Ape Out’s gameplay is flawlessly attuned with the reverberation of its soundtrack. Rarely has a game achieved such a seamless fusion of the two – whilst it is a completely different experience, the WipeOut franchise is an immediate comparator for similar execution this feat.

Whilst the gameplay is simple it shouldn’t be understated. It’s a rush, and incredibly addictive. Smashing enemies feels liberating. The chase for each level’s exit is imbued with an urgency which permeates the entire game, punctuated by the constant thrumming jazz riffs that comprise Ape Out’s soundtrack. The presentation is simple but stylish – it doesn’t need to be any more, because the real star is the thundering drumline and clashing symbols which serenade the ape’s escape.

Levels are set out across ‘discs,’ keeping with the audiophile vibe. There are four albums to play through and they are ultimately quite formulaic, which may partly explain why Ape Out is a very short game. Whilst it would have been nice to see a bit more variety in this area, the game never outstays its welcome.

Treble threat.

Ape Out is a game that is entirely the sum of its parts. Whilst many indie games look stylish, or sound cool, or have a solid gameplay mechanic, rarely do all three coalesce into something so memorably original. Ape Out will surely be one of the most unique games of 2019 and whilst it’s short, it packs a knockout punch.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.