Basically the left stick controls your direction, while the right one enables you to operate your chosen tool. Interestingly, depressing the sticks enables you to crawl, dive underwater and fire off sub-aqua nets. Advancement through the game will proffer more and more gadgetry, all which requires specific button allocation, by the player, during play. All very inventive.

Beginning the game with a simple net and a glowing wand - some kind of light sabre if you will - it's a case of locating the apes, bopping their heads with the wand to stun them, then netting them hastily. Collect the requisite amount of hairballs and it's onto the next level. Other tools of the trade include a monkey radar - handy for locating the mammals when they're hiding, some flying equipment and the utterly inspired catapult. The latter is a boon, due to your immediate ability to launch pellets of pain at the grinning hirsutes. Very pleasurable.

This is not to mention the rubber raft, which demands a tricky, dual joystick rowing motion and the deeply entertaining radio-controlled car. With hidden mini-games and PocketStation compatibility, Ape Escape offers a gibbering melee of follicled fun. There is an outside chance that some may find the continual netting tiresome, but with the inherent variety of landscapes, pleasantly simple puzzles and gadgets which are genuinely a joy to use, this opinion should be minimal.

If you feel you can cope with this unrelenting race of furry fiends, smiling constantly and slapping your face before scampering out of range, without breaking into a gentle weep, net this now. You have been warned though.