Henry the Ape Review A Wild Primal Surge
Some games claw their way into your brain with quiet puzzles. Others barrel through the wall with a chest-thumping roar. Henry the Ape belongs squarely to the second camp. It is a chaotic, pixel-soaked platformer that thrusts you into a jungle overrun by mechanical invaders, and it does not care if you stumble. If you have ever wondered what it feels like to be a furious primate with a jetpack and a grudge, this title delivers that sensation in heaping doses. For a closer look at the game’s wild initial levels and the developer’s background, you can check out the official site at henrytheape.hair.
At its heart, this is a side-scrolling action game that wears its retro inspiration on its sleeve. The sprites are chunky, the colors are loud, and the soundtrack hits a driving beat that makes your thumb twitch. You control Henry, a gorilla who has watched his home get torn apart by robot scorpions and laser-toting drones. He is not pleased. The narrative is thin — really just a few text cards between worlds — but it serves its purpose: give you an excuse to smash everything in sight.
The gameplay loop snaps into place almost immediately. You run, jump, grab ledges, and punch. But the real hook is the primal rage meter. As you take damage or defeat enemies, a bar fills at the bottom of the screen. When it maxes out, Henry enters a frenzied state where his attacks deal double damage, his jump height increases, and the screen gets a red vignette. It feels like a power-up, but it also introduces a clever risk-reward dynamic — staying in the fight to keep the meter high versus retreating to heal.
The Mechanics That Make or Break the Swing
Let’s talk about the feel of the controls. Henry has weight. When he jumps, there is a slight wind-up before he leaves the ground, and his descent carries momentum. This is not a floaty experience. Early on, I missed platforms because I expected snappier response. But after a dozen deaths, the rhythm clicked. The game demands you commit to your movements — hesitation gets you impaled on a spike pit.
The level design reinforces this. Stages are built around verticality and environmental hazards. One moment you are swinging across vines, the next you are dodging crushers while climbing a crumbling tower. The difficulty curve is steep but fair. I died more than I expected in the first three worlds, but each death taught me something — the pattern of a turret, the timing of a moving platform, the exact range of Henry’s lunge attack.
However, not everything feels polished. Some enemy hitboxes are slightly wider than their sprites suggest, which leads to frustrating moments. And the checkpoint system is sparse — sometimes you have to replay a whole mini-section after a single mistake. That can sting, especially in later stages where instant-death traps are common.
Visuals, Audio, and Atmosphere
The art style is a deliberate throwback to 16-bit era platformers, but with modern flourishes. Backgrounds have parallax layers that depict glowing mushrooms, ancient temples, and acid rivers. Each world has a distinct palette — the first is lush green and blue, the second is a burning factory with orange and black, the third is a dark cave lit only by bioluminescent plants. The character sprites are expressive in limited animation frames, and Henry’s idle animation — scratching his head then beating his chest — is a charming touch.
The audio is a mixed bag. The music tracks are energetic and loop well, with a heavy bassline that matches the game’s intensity. Sound effects for punches and explosions are crunchy and satisfying. But some voice clips (grunts, roars) are repeated too often and become grating after extended sessions. I ended up lowering the SFX volume slightly to keep my sanity during long boss fights.
| Aspect | What Works Well | What Needs Improvement |
|---|---|---|
| Core Gameplay | Primal rage meter adds tension; weighty feeling | Unresponsive ledge grab detection at times |
| Level Design | Creative vertical sections; obstacle variety | Checkpoints too far apart in later worlds |
| Visual Style | Rich pixel art; distinct world themes | Some enemy sprites blend into backgrounds |
| Audio | Energetic soundtrack; punchy effects | Repetitive voice clips during combat |
Key Features That Define the Experience
Several elements set Henry the Ape apart from other retro-style platformers. Here are the standout components:
- Primal Rage System: Build a meter by fighting aggressively, then unleash enhanced abilities for a limited time. It rewards offensive play without making defensive strategies obsolete.
- Weapon Pickups: Scattered throughout levels, these include a homing boomerang, a spread shot, and a explosive banana launcher. Each has limited ammo, forcing strategic use.
- Hidden Rooms: Breakable walls and secret ledges lead to bonus areas with extra lives, currency for the in-game shop, and lore notes about the robot invasion.
- Boss Encounters: Each world ends with a giant mechanized beast. These fights are multi-stage and require pattern memorization — they are challenging but fair after a few attempts.
- Unlockable Modes: Completing the main campaign unlocks a speedrun mode and a hard mode with permadeath for a single life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the main campaign?
The main story spans five worlds with roughly four stages each. A first playthrough typically takes between four and six hours, depending on your skill with platformers.
Is there any multiplayer support?
No. Henry the Ape is a strictly single-player experience. There is no cooperative or versus mode currently announced.
Can I remap the controls?
Yes, the game offers full control remapping on all platforms. You can bind jump, attack, and special abilities to any buttons.
How does the difficulty compare to other games in the genre?
It sits between a moderately challenging title like Shovel Knight and a punishing one like Super Meat Boy. Expect to die often, but rarely from unfair surprises.
Are there any microtransactions?
No. The game contains no microtransactions, loot boxes, or in-app purchases. Everything is unlocked through gameplay.
Will there be DLC or additional content?
The developer has hinted at a free update that adds a new world and a boss rush mode, but no official release date has been confirmed.
Henry the Ape does not try to reinvent the platformer wheel — it just grips it with massive, hairy hands and refuses to let go. If you crave a challenge that respects your time while still demanding your full attention, this primate delivers.