The player takes the role of "Monkey" in a third-person perspective, using a variety of combat moves and platforming skills to overcome obstacles. In combat, Monkey uses a staff that doubles as a close-combat and long-range projectile weapon.[1] The staff has two types of long-range ammunition: orange power cylinders used for blast damage and blue cylinders for stunning foes.[2] Monkey can also remain stationary and charge his staff to use the same stun attack.[3] In the game, players encounter numerous mechs as enemies. Certain mechs can be used as weapons. Monkey can perform a finishing move on them when they are low on health, such as tearing the gun off a turret or throwing an explosive foe at other combat mechs.[4] Monkey's other abilities include a force shield that can block a certain amount of damage before requiring a recharge, and the "Cloud" device that manifests as a hover board for gliding across water and land at great speeds.[2] When enemies are defeated, they drop tech orbs used to upgrade Monkey's abilities.[5] They allow the player to learn new moves and abilities for combat and devices, increase overall health and shields, and the damage that can be inflicted on enemies.[6] Orbs can be found littered across levels, sometimes hidden out of sight, requiring extra exploration.[2] Another type of collectible players can amass is masks, which are also scattered across different levels.[7]
During the game Tripitaka ("Trip") who must be escorted and protected as they travel, accompanies Monkey. He has a device attached to his head linked to Trip. This device, called a slave headband in the game, requires Monkey to keep Trip alive. Should she die he will as well. In some instances just going too far away from her can result in the same fate.[8] Trip can help Monkey overcome obstacles at times by performing technical skills like hacking into a computer.[6] Players can command Trip to use her different skills like scanning the surrounding area revealing land mines or mechs on standby, and project a temporary hologram as a decoy to draw the enemy's attention. Players can also order Trip to hide behind covers or regroup with Monkey.[9][10] Having no combat ability of her own, Trip is vulnerable to attacking enemies. Her only defense is an EMP blast, which she can use to temporarily stun enemies threatening her.[3]
Other than combat, the gameplay focuses heavily on platforming where Monkey scales and leaps across the ruins throughout the world. Some areas and platforms will collapse shortly after use, requiring faster scaling before Monkey potentially falls to his death.[11] Trip plays a part in the platforming sections of the gameplay, making them akin to puzzle-styled events.[8] In other instances where Monkey makes jumps/climbs, Trip needs to be thrown to the other side or ride on his back. At times, Monkey and Trip are separated so the player cannot use her abilities.[11]