A sad, sad case of branding without substance, Ape Escape Academy has almost nothing in common with the acclaimed Ape Escape games as seen on PSX and PS2 - except for the name, the cartoony trappings and the cheeky little avatar that happens to resemble a monkey aspiring to professional mischievousness, that is.

It's a sloppy collection of mini-games that shrieks "Warioware Wannabe" with gameplay that locks you into a series of trite little interactives that are each either confusing, boring or stupid.

Academy totally sullies the franchise's reputation for great ape escapism by blatantly suckering you into thinking you're getting another portable knock-off of a good console game for your personal bus-riding pleasure, except you're so not.

TIP: Don't bother.