Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed is a party game for up to four players using the multitap accessory.
The game has a story mode and a VS mode. The story mode features several intermissions with videos advancing the storyline. In either mode, the gameplay consists of a series of multiplayer games with four characters battling for points to win the first place, with CPU controlled characters filling in for missing players.
The rounds have various gameplay modes: arena fighting (sometimes with tanks, slingshots, RC-cars etc.), platforming and coin collecting, underwater fights, car racing, boat racing etc.