Genre: Action
Developer: Philips
Publisher: Philips
Year: 1982
Platform: Philips Videopac
“Monkeyshines” is an action video game for the Philips Videopac G7000 console where one or two players try to tag monkeys while avoiding being tagged themselves. Players move and jump over platforms where monkeys hang and move. The core gameplay involves catching monkeys and pressing an action button to tag and throw them in any direction, turning the monkey red temporarily. Once tagged, monkeys attempt to tag back the players, with the game ending when all player characters are tagged.
The game introduces escalating challenges by tracking the number of monkeys tagged; surpassing ten tagged monkeys causes them to stay red longer, increasing difficulty. Players can also skip difficulty levels via keyboard commands, and there are multiple gameplay variations activated through specific keyboard inputs, such as randomized platform positions (“Tailspin!”), invisible platforms (“Shuteye!”), editable playfields (“Monkey Chess!”), and a mode combining all these elements (“Bananas!”).
“Monkeyshines” provides an engaging multiplayer experience that combines platforming and strategic action with simple but effective controls. The inclusion of various gameplay modifiers adds depth and replayability, enhancing the challenge beyond the standard tagging mechanics.
