Of course, we can’t talk about Ape Out without mentioning that thumping, jazz-infused drum score. This doesn’t happen all the time in Ape Out, but it occurs frequently enough to become its most noticeable point of contention. I spent a good 20 minutes trying to beat a particularly tough mission, for instance, before one randomised iteration of the map allowed me to effortlessly run along a straight corridor without encountering a single foe. That procedural generation doesn’t always work to Ape Out’s benefit, however, as the algorithm’s inconsistent ability to disperse enemies evenly across the terrain means a level’s difficulty can vary wildly between nigh impossible and hopelessly easy. Thus, while the mission layout is randomly combobulated at the start of every new attempt, the levels all have their own thematic hallmarks that distinguish them from one another and contribute to Ape Out’s overall snappy pace. What’s more, each subsequent level in Ape Out introduces a fresh spin on the baseline foundation, which can come in the form of a new enemy type or an unexpected environmental twist. The game will even pause midway through each “album” to turn over the hypothetical disc on the record player, and that comforting scratchy sound effect of the tonearm pressing against the vinyl briefly respites the action before you’re back to thumping humans into bloody pulps.

Monkey businessĮach of Ape Out’s four chapters (all separate stories in which the titular “Ape” gets “Out”) are depicted as vinyl albums with their own cover art, set list, and musical style, representing their simple narrative setup, level structure, and soundtracks respectively. Ape Out, which releases on Nintendo Switch and PC today, is exactly that, so successful in delivering a musical catharsis of simian simulation that its already become one of my favourite games of the year so far.

But then I learn that this angry gorilla game features ultra-stylised, Saul Bass-inspired visuals, a dynamic score set to procedurally generated levels, and Hotline Miami-style, hyper-violent gameplay? Now you have my undivided attention.

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