The game features the popular, pant-wearing Pipo Monkeys from Ape Escape .

It utilizes the EyeToy's motion detection and gesture recognition to allow players to use their arms, legs, and body to control the action, setting it apart from standard controller-based games.

As part of the Ape Escape franchise , this title is sometimes associated with or confused with the similarly themed Ape Academy for the PSP, though Monkey Mania is specifically designed for the EyeToy camera on PS2.