You play Monkey, who's "performed" (via motion capture) by Andy Serkis, aka Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. Monkey's movements feel nuanced and even natural, compared to the rigid animations of the past, and it's a joy to control him. Plotwise, you get to trip from a post-apocalyptic Manhattan to the fabled west coast. A blown out skyscraper that's overrun by fauna is one of many unforgettable images.