Skullmonkeys

• Release Date: 1997
• Genre: Action
• Style: Side-Scrolling Platform
• Similar Games: Earthworm Jim (IBM PC Compatible), Earthworm Jim (Sega Genesis), Earthworm Jim (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), Earthworm Jim (Game Boy), Earthworm Jim (Sega Game Gear)

Game Description

Fresh from his adventures in The Neverhood studio's first platforming title (The Neverhood), Klayman is back for an all-new adventure. The original featured a traditional 2D side-scrolling adventure filled with free roaming platforms and lots of clay animation -- this pseudo-sequel offers the same sort of action with certain modifications.

Something has gone seriously wrong in Klayman's homeland -- Kogg, an evil megalomaniac, wants to destroy the land and basically rule over anything and everyone. Because the task can get difficult at times, he has enlisted the service of fearsome ape-like creatures, Skullmonkeys, to aid in the destruction of planet Idznak. Needless to say, it is up to the player to stop Kogg and his devious plans.

Much like The Neverhood, Skullmonkeys is a 2D platformer built entirely of Claymation characters, enemies, and environments. Throughout the game's seven worlds spanning ninety levels, the basic objective of each is to destroy as many Skullmonkeys as possible. Destroying the simians can be done one of two ways: firing projectile weapons or butt-bouncing off their heads.

Like all titles in the genre, the main focus is on the platforming element. Each level is chock full of free-roaming platforms, instant death traps and pits, and the requirement of precision jumping. One false move can halt Klayman's mission forever, so be careful!

There are also various pickup items to utilize. When one hundred Orange Balls are collected, Klayman will earn an extra life. Ma Birds can be utilized as checkpoints, the Halo will protect the protagonist from any damage, and the Super Willie will collect every pickup item on the screen.

The planet of Idznak is counting on you -- will you be able to overcome the beastly Skullmonkeys and destroy Kogg before it's too late?

Roots & Influences

Skullmonkeys is the spiritual sequel to The Neverhood. Both games, developed by The Neverhood feature a Claymation based world with fully realized clay figures, settings, and designs. The gameplay can be traced throughout the 2D platforming genre, but it was most noticably influenced by the Earthworm Jim series (in terms of overall humor).

Review: Overall

If it had been released when the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis dominated the 16-bit console market, Skullmonkeys would have been an incredible 2D platform game. But in the 32-bit era of videogaming, many platform gamers have grown accustomed to the genre's 3D titles that feature roaming cameras, unique and special moves, plenty of objectives, etc. The industry standard was set following the release of Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64.

That's not to say, however, that there is no more room for 2D games on the market; many old-school gamers prefer the second dimension over 3D. Only thing is, when a game like Skullmonkeys hits the market nowadays, it had better have unprecedented control, a fabulous presentation, and inspired levels, creatures, and objectives. A prime example of this is Konami's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Frankly, Skullmonkeys falls way short of these requirements.

While the above statement is true, Skullmonkeys isn't a terrible platformer; it's just average and leans towards the unoriginal. Fans of Claymation will be instantly mesmerized by the game's visuals -- each world, character, setting, and critter is built entirely out of clay. But in all honestly, there's only so much you can do with the substance. Because there's over ninety different levels, many settings and enemies look reused, bland, and repetitive.

More importantly, the gameplay suffers from an extreme lack of inspiration. The basic objective of each level is to reach the end while killing Skullmonkeys and picking up Orange Balls and other miscellaneous items. To accomplish this, one must traverse between still and roaming platforms while practicing precision jumping and timing; not the most original concept in the world. Repeat until the game is either finished or the player has been rendered bored beyond repair.

Skullmonkeys is not without some merits. Important to any platforming title, the controls are silky-smooth with responsive jumping and action movements. There are also some humorous bonus levels and computer/clay generated movie sequences. Bonus levels come in the form of 1970s flashback segments while the movies do a good job handling the story aspects.

But these things alone cannot save Skullmonkeys from mediocrity. Had The Neverhood thought up actual mission objectives, lowered the quantity of levels and increased the quality, and pumped some more detail into each Skullmonkey, then it could have been an excellent 2D side-scroller. Unfortunately, they didn't and the game is far too dull and repetitive for most platforming fans.

Review: Enjoyment

The main problem with Skullmonkeys is that there's not enough things to do. Gameplay consists of going through each level, collecting items, fighting the same creatures over and over again, reaching the end, and moving onto the next level. Repeat this process over ninety times and you've got a very boring game on your hands.

Review: Graphics

Upon first glance, Skullmonkeys looks very good -- the clay figures and settings seem to be detailed nicely. But after extended play, everything begins to look the same; many of the simians look exactly the same and the backgrounds are a bit on the sparse side. Fortunately, the motion-capturing/animation of each character is very fluid.

Review: Sound

Like the visuals, the soundtrack is on the repetitive side. Some of the sound effects (such as flatulence) are both rude and humorous.

Review: Replay Value

The sheer amount of levels doesn't extend the replay value, but hurt it. Because there is almost zero excitement found within this title, many players will become bored after only an hour of gameplay.

Review: Documentation

The 25-page manual is an average one that explains controls, pickup items, and a little about each enemy {%Klayman} will meet.

Production Credits

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)