AE2/general
Version/Region Differences
There are three region versions of Ape 2: PAL (Europe), NTSC-U (USA) and NTSC-J (Japan).
The PAL version runs at 50Hz, so 5/6th the speed of the NTSC versions. It is literally in slight slow motion. It is the most accessible version though, as the Ape Escape 2 you can buy on PS4/5 is the PAL version.
The NTSC-U version has the unique difference that the monkeys have better eyesight, meaning that they will notice Hikaru from furhter away making the run harder.
The NTSC-J version is the best one as it has the easy monkeys like PAL and the unique feature of the quick gadget swap. Instead of having to pause the game, you can press a face button multiple times to cycle through gadgets.
Generally PAL version should be avoided for the slower Hz rate, but it is the most accessible and NTSC-U is a harder game. It is a good version to start with and later on invest in a japanese copy if you feel you want to get serious.
Platform Differences
Ape Escape 2 can be played on the following platforms:
- PS2
- Backwards Compatible PS3
- PS4
- PS5
EMULATOR
Emulator
Running on emulator IS NOT allowed on the leaderboards. However you may play and run on it as you wish, you just won't get those runs on the leaderboard.
PS2 emulation just isn't accurate enough to be comparable to official releases.
PS2
The second fastest platform to play on assuming you play on Japanese as playing PAL on PS2 is slower than PS4/5.
BCPS3
The fastest way to play. The older models of the PS3 can natively play PS2 games on disc and they will load slightly faster.
The problem is acquiring a BCPS3. You need a Japanese PS3 to play the Japanese version and I hear that the old PS3 models are fragile and prone to issues, such as not being able to read discs...
This website has a listing of the different PS3 models.
PS4/5
The fastest way you can play the PAL version. Ideal for getting in and trying out the game if you already own a PS4/5.
The PS5 version however, has horrible graphical glitches.
3 hour video from Riekelt on PS5: