Skull Caverns

Lore & Background

The Skull Caverns are a subterranean network beneath Skull Island. In the game, players control Jack Driscoll from a first-person perspective as he navigates these dangerous environments. The game de-emphasizes the role of a heads-up display (HUD), lacking a life bar, aiming reticle, and ammunition readout by default, encouraging the player to find alternate weapons and techniques. Within the caverns, Jack battles vicious predators such as giant megapedes and scorpio-pedes. The caverns are part of the larger journey where Jack eventually finds Ann, but she is kidnapped by a Terapusmordax. Kong eventually saves Ann. Jack continues on into the canyon, sees a migrating herd of Brontosaurus, and battles Megapedes and Scorpio-pedes in the surrounding caverns. Jack navigates around the Brontosaurus herd to acquire a fire to clear their path forward, being chased by Venatosaurs the whole way through.

In Their Own Story

The beam of the flashlight flickered and died, plunging the team into absolute blackness. A low rumble vibrated through the soles of their boots, echoing off walls coated in dripping slime. In the distance, a faint blue glow pulsed rhythmically from the cavern ceiling like a heartbeat. Suddenly, the sound of heavy claws scraping against rock echoed from above. They were not alone down here.

Reader's Guide

The Skull Caverns are a location in the game where players control Jack Driscoll from a first-person perspective. The game de-emphasizes the HUD, lacking a life bar, aiming reticle, and ammunition readout by default (though these can be turned on in settings). Players use firearms and spears as Jack to defend against and fight creatures. In the caverns, Jack battles giant megapedes and scorpio-pedes. He also navigates around a migrating herd of Brontosaurus to acquire a fire to clear their path forward, being chased by Venatosaurs the whole way through. The caverns are part of the larger journey where Jack eventually finds Ann, but she is kidnapped by a Terapusmordax. Kong eventually saves Ann. The game features an alternate ending where Kong can survive the Empire State Building battle, approved by Peter Jackson, unlocked by completing the entire game and earning 250,000 points or using cheat codes.

Did You Know?

• The game was developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft, based on the 2005 film King Kong.
• The film's cast members reprise their roles in the game, including Adrien Brody as Jack Driscoll and Naomi Watts as Ann Darrow.
• The game was released in November 2005 for multiple platforms including Microsoft Windows, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and the Nintendo DS.
• The Xbox 360 release features improved graphics and audio over the sixth-generation console releases.
• An alternate ending where Kong survives the Empire State Building battle was approved by Peter Jackson and can be unlocked by earning 250,000 points or using cheat codes.