Beautiful story, beautiful graphics, beautiful characters, beauty, beauty beauty...
Gameplay is smooth. The controls are fairly intuitive, although they seem a little under utilized. Special moves are achieved through a combination of timing and button combinations. There is a mix of just about everything. Shooting, puzzle-solving, platforming; the only thing missing is rpg. More rpg would have rocked this game! The story is the star here though and it is lyrically sad and bittersweet. I only wish it could have been flushed out more. The game is a little short as I finished it in about 12 or 14 hours, I'd say. I wish it could have been much longer as I am thoroughly attached to the characters. I love the way the main character, Monkey moves. It feels fluid and strong and dynamic and addictive. It is fun to be a monkey! The dragonfly which is a type of automated camera's eye scout is a nice touch. I was hoping to control it more directly and maybe even upgrade it to combat capabilities, though.
Combat is engaging. The camera is a problem many times as it always seems in too tight, so close that you cannot see the action or get a good look at the enticing visuals. It took me a little while to get used to the combat as there is no lock on function (as far as I can tell), which often left me swinging at empty air. The special moves do a good job of mixing it up and the occasional finishing moves are viscerally gratifying.
The platforming is fun. Falls are rare and almost never fatal. I like that because it save me the time of looking around endlessly to see if I am jumping in the right direction. I like the whole Tarzan feel to it. The puzzles are never too complex, but difficult enough to give you pause and make you think.
So, I highly recommend this game. It is a fun and pretty and wistful way to spend a few afternoons. I hope there is a sequel but the game wraps nicely at the end, so there may not be.