Skullmonkeys

Skullmonkeys
Also known as: Klaymen Klaymen 2: Skullmonkey no Gyakushuu (JP) Developer: The Neverhood, Inc. Publishers: Electronic Arts (US/EU), Riverhillsoft (JP) Platform: PlayStation Released in JP: August 13, 1998 Released in US: January 28, 1998 Released in EU: February 20, 1998 This game has unused areas. This game has unused music. This game has unused text. This game has regional differences. This game has a prototype article

In this platformer sequel to The Neverhood, Klaymen must prevent Klogg and his dimwitted minions, the Skullmonkeys, from launching a doomsday weapon upon the Neverhood. Along the way, he'll make sure to chow down on some beans as well.

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Prototype Info

Unused Levels

"Skullmonkey Gate" was intended to be the first world of the game, but it was replaced with "Science Center" instead. These levels are only playable through a cheat code. To access them, input X, Triangle, Triangle on the password menu.

Unused Music

An instrumental version of "The Incredible Drivy Runn" With there being only one level of Drivy Runn (not counting the bonus room), and it using the full composition, this goes unused.

Unused Text

Dummy Text

The file ZZZ.PAD is a dummy file containing the letters "EA" copied over and over.

Regional Differences

Like its predecessor, the Japanese release introduces several changes.

Cutscenes

• In the international version, the intro is split between two movie files, while the Japanese version splices them together into one video. This was likely done to fix a bug that inadvertently triggers the credits before playing the next movie.

International	Japan

• Klaymen makes frequent vocalizations during cutscenes, as opposed to the international version where he is usually mute. An example is shown above. Interestingly, his voice actor is Kōsuke Okano, best known as the voice of Kenta Nakamura from Initial D.

(Source: Klaymen Klaymen 2 credits)

• "Klogg is Dead!" has subtitles.

Menus

International	Japan

The title screen has some slight differences:

• The skull's position was moved to the left of the logo.
• The menu items got slimmer to make room for a copyright.
• The clock hands underneath the door were removed to make the copyright legible.
• The dot on the "Sound" button was centered.

International	Japan

• An extra slider was added to the control setup. The slider allows you to turn vibration on or off.
• The "Exit" option was removed from menus due to redundancy. "X to select" was removed as well since the selection key is Circle, as standard for Japan.

International	Japan

The background art for the sound option menu was moved downward, along with the options themselves.

International	Japan

Progress is saved to the Memory Card rather than relying on passwords.

Starting a new game displays this option menu before the first level begins. The slider adjusts the difficulty between easy or hard. Easy starts the game with 10 lives, Hard (set by default) starts the game with 5 lives like in the international version. The difficulty option was added to make the game more accommodating for younger players, since Klaymen was marketed as a children's character in Japan.

(Source: Riverhillsoft webEXpress)

Miscellaneous

• The Universe Enema had its strobe lights removed to reduce the risk of seizures, something that had become a hot topic in Japan following the infamous Dennō Senshi Porygon seizure incident.
• Cheat codes were disabled.
• None of the in-game audio was altered. Klaymen, Willie and Klogg all use their English voices during gameplay, despite all three of them being dubbed with Japanese actors in the cutscenes.