Game Details
| Size | 173 MB |
| Region | Japan |
| Genre | Racing |
| Format | 7z / ISO |
| Year | December 7, 2006 |
| Console | PSP |
Saru Get You: Piposaru Racer (2006)—known in Japan as Piposaru Racer—is the first and only dedicated racing spin-off in the Ape Escape series. Instead of Spike chasing the monkeys, the monkeys have taken the wheel in a high-speed, gadget-filled kart racer that feels like a simian version of Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing.
The Plot / Premise: The Great Ape Grand Prix
Specter has decided that the best way to prove monkey superiority isn’t just through time travel, but through motorized domination.
-
The Setup: Specter organizes a massive racing tournament across various worlds (Jungle, City, Ice, etc.). He invites all the Pipo Monkeys to compete for the title of “Fastest Ape.”
-
The Twist: Unlike other kart racers where you drive standard vehicles, the monkeys in Piposaru Racer drive custom-built machines that look like high-tech versions of their famous “Pipo Helmets” or gadget-inspired hovercrafts.
-
The Goal: You play as various monkeys, each with different stats (Speed, Acceleration, Handling), racing to win trophies and unlock new parts to customize your “Monkey Mobile.”
The Big Change: Gadgets as Weapons
The iconic “Gotcha Gadgets” from the main series (like the Stun Club and Sky Flyer) are repurposed here as offensive and defensive weapons:
-
Weaponized Gadgets: You pick up boxes on the track that grant you items. You might get a Stun Club to bash nearby racers, a Super Hoop for a massive speed boost, or a Slingshot to snipe leaders from afar.
-
Vehicle Customization: A deep feature for a 2006 handheld game. You can swap out engines, tires, and bodies. This isn’t just cosmetic; it changes how the car drifts and how fast it recovers from being hit by a banana or a missile.
Key Features
-
Monkey Roster: Features a huge cast of playable monkeys, including special themed monkeys like the Ninja Monkey, the Knight Monkey, and even Specter himself.
-
Drift Mechanic: The game features a “Power Slide” system. Timing your drifts correctly fills a boost meter, allowing for “Blue Fire” style speed bursts.
-
Diverse Tracks: The courses are based on famous locations from the Ape Escape trilogy, filled with shortcuts, jumps, and environmental hazards (like giant rolling snowballs or swinging axes).
-
Ad-Hoc Multiplayer: Supports up to 4-player local wireless racing, which was a major selling point for PSP owners in Japan.
Short Review: A Chaotic Simian Speedster
The Good
-
Fan Service: For Ape Escape fans, the game is a goldmine of references. The music is bouncy and energetic, and the monkey animations are full of the series’ signature humor.
-
Deep Customization: Finding the perfect balance of parts to make a “Heavyweight” monkey handle like a “Lightweight” adds a layer of strategy that most handheld racers lack.
-
Smooth Performance: The game runs at a very stable frame rate, which is crucial for the high speeds and chaotic item usage on screen.
The Bad
-
Language Barrier: While racing is universal, the “Parts Shop” and “Mission Mode” text is entirely in Japanese, which can make it hard to know exactly what a new engine upgrade does without trial and error.
-
Difficulty Spikes: The AI can be notoriously aggressive, often hitting you with a barrage of items right before the finish line (the classic “Blue Shell” frustration).
-
PSP Nub Fatigue: Constant drifting and steering with the PSP’s small analog nub can be physically tiring during longer play sessions.
Screenshots
