Skullmonkeys brings the quirky universe of *The Neverhood* to a single-player platforming adventure, once again starring Klaymen. Following the events of the first game, the evil Klogg winds up on the planet Idznak and becomes the leader of the Skullmonkeys. From there, he plans to build "Evil Engine Number 9" to destroy The Neverhood. Klaymen must traverse this strange world and thwart his plans before it is too late.
Unlike the point-and-click adventure style of its predecessor, this installment features side-scrolling action. Klaymen can jump, crouch, and look up—simple moves that shape a journey filled with platforms, enemies, and obstacles. He can also collect items and projectile weapons that are as unusual as the world he inhabits. Some foes and bosses can be defeated by shooting them or, if the situation allows, by jumping on them.
Exploration rewards those who do not simply rush forward. Clay balls scattered throughout the levels add to your sc...
Skullmonkeys brings the quirky universe of *The Neverhood* to a single-player platforming adventure, once again starring Klaymen. Following the events of the first game, the evil Klogg winds up on the planet Idznak and becomes the leader of the Skullmonkeys. From there, he plans to build "Evil Engine Number 9" to destroy The Neverhood. Klaymen must traverse this strange world and thwart his plans before it is too late.
Unlike the point-and-click adventure style of its predecessor, this installment features side-scrolling action. Klaymen can jump, crouch, and look up—simple moves that shape a journey filled with platforms, enemies, and obstacles. He can also collect items and projectile weapons that are as unusual as the world he inhabits. Some foes and bosses can be defeated by shooting them or, if the situation allows, by jumping on them.
Exploration rewards those who do not simply rush forward. Clay balls scattered throughout the levels add to your score; collecting one hundred grants an extra life. Other items, such as a protective halo, allow you to withstand more than one hit and can make the difference in the most challenging sections. There are also secret levels where you can earn extra points and lives, accompanied by easy-listening, 70s-style ambient music—a deliberately quirky contrast to the action.
Battles against various bosses serve as milestones in the adventure, testing your mastery of jumping, weaponry, and the rhythm of each level. To resume play, the game includes a password system—a practical feature for an experience spanning numerous levels. Its structure will be familiar to fans of classic platformers, but the clay-style visual design and quirky humor give it a truly distinctive identity.
Released for PlayStation in 1998, Skullmonkeys combines straightforward controls and traditional action with the handcrafted imagination of *The Neverhood*. The result is a colorful, eccentric, and richly detailed adventure where every screen feels like part of a hand-modeled world, and even the hazards maintain the series' playful tone.
