Like the first two games in the franchise, Ape Escape 3 is both fresh and familiar. Familiar in its standard, multi-stage platform-hopping / baddie-bopping gameplay -- in this case with a catch-the-cheeky-monkey mandate and various TV show motifs -- fresh in that every button on the controller is utilized to great and practically counter-intuitive effect.

The left thumbstick is for movement (as usual) but right-sticking is the aim/swat/fire control, with uncommonly heavy use of the shoulder triggers to jump or special-attack, among other things. The normally-predominant face buttons are used only to select your weapons/gadgets. It's back-assward and takes a wee while to get a handle on, after which is feels so natural that you'll wonder why more games don't think to interface this way.

There's also surprising diversity to the otherwise cookie-cutter gameplay.

You mainly play as a guy with a mean stun club and a net, but you can also swap guises at certain points to suit the TV setting in play and become a quick flitting ninja, a trigger happy cowboy or an Aladdin-like kid with a genie in his pocket. Some tools of the simian snatching trade let you fly or drive or hula-hoop your way through various stages that happen to require such flying, driving or hoopa-huling.

There's also some hilarious unlockable mini-games, like a discuss style monkey toss and a "Metal Gear Solid" spoof, all good for a chuckle or three at least.

Overall, Ape Escape 3 is decidedly Nintendo-esque; excessively cute, cartoony and primary-colorful, though the humor is a bit edgier than Mario-fair, verging on grating.

It won't blow your socks off with originality and it will bog down in moments of excessive frenzy, but there's lots of game here, long playing, addictively goofy and, at the very least, refreshing in the way it's played.

TIP: If you've finished about 25 - 50% of Ape Escape 3, you'll have unlocked the Monkey Throw Stadium mini game (will cost you money, though). 75% nets you the Ultim-ape Fighter and finishing the game will unlock "Mesal Gear Solid."

Also, if you go back and capture all the leftover apes and Specter a second time, you'll have unlocked "Survial" mode.