Ape Escape is a great game for the PSOne. Released in 1999, it was the first game in which you needed Dual Shock Controllers to play. You are Spike, a early-teen who needs to capture monkeys. Seems that your professor friend has created a helmet that will allow monkeys to act like humans. One monkey, named Specter, got his hands on the helmet, and uses his new powers to create more helmets and give them to his friends. Then he goes out and uses the Professor's time machine to send his monkeys out with the goal to alter history so that primate and not man rule the world. Spike must go out in time and capture all the monkeys (and save his friend Jake, who has been brainwashed by Specter).
The graphics are a bit primitive, but the control is good, although a bit cumbersome. You'll travel to prehistoric lands, glacial areas, Feudal Japan, and others. You'll use various gadgets that you'll acquire over time. You can even collect coins that will allow you to play mini-games. Every monkey has a name and a quirk that is saved for your reading. The monkeys steal the show, they can be so cute and so cruel at times.
Bottom line: a good game and cheap in price, too. I hope the sequel (out in Japan) comes to North America. **** out of *****