"I'm going for it!"
— Spike
Spike, known in Japan as Kakeru (カケル), is the main protagonist of the first game in the Ape Escape series and is a playable character in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. Spike's in-game rival is PaRappa.
Biography[]
NO MORE MONKEY BUSINESS!
A young and energetic fourth-grader, Spike is accidentally sucked into a time machine by the hands of Specter, an ape granted uncanny intelligence through the use of an experimental cap. Spike embarks on a quest to stop Specter and his ape army, thwarting them using a variety of weapons, tools, and gadgets provided by his friend the Professor, including clubs, slingshots, an RC Satellite Laser, and Bananarang.
THE LEGACY OF SPIKE:
- Ape Escape
- Ape Escape: On the Loose (Remake on PSP)
- Ape Escape 2001
- Ape Escape 2
- Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed
- Ape Escape 3 (cameo)
- Ape Escape: -On Air-
- Ape Escape: Million Monkeys
- Ape Escape: -On Air- 2nd
- Ape Escape: SaruSaru Big Mission
Arcade[]
Opening[]
After returning from a monkey capturing mission for the Professor, Charu informs the two that she is picking up extraterrestrial energy. The Professor equips Spike with the Monkey Net, Stun Clubs, and other gadgets and sends him out to investigate.
Transcript[]
Professor: Spike, you've done a remarkable job catching those monkeys. I think that may be the last of them.
Spike: Thanks, Professor. They seem to be getting smarter and smarter.
Charu: Alert! Alert! We've detected a series of events unlike any in our database. By all indications this could be an alien invasion.
Professor: Aliens? Invading?
Charu: There seems to be some force at work causing this. Without further data, it may be safe to assume this is the work of Specter.
Spike: Specter?!
Professor: There's no time to wait for more information, Spike. If this is Specter's doing, the entire planet could be threatened! You know what to do.
Spike: I'm ready, Professor.
Professor: I'm afraid these monkey-catching weapons are all I have to give you.
Spike: That's okay, Professor. They're all I need.
Rival[]
Name: PaRappa
Reason: As he is chasing a monkey, Spike was stopped by PaRappa, who assumed that Spike was harassing the monkey. Spike tries to explain the monkey's allegiance to Specter; however, PaRappa ignores Spike's words and assumes that the monkey is having innocent fun. Because of this, Spike misunderstands and suspects that PaRappa is allegiance with Specter. PaRappa indicates his allegiance with Chop Chop Master Onion, jokingly claiming that Chop Chop Master Onion was planning to take over the world soon. Spike, not understanding PaRappa's sarcasm, threatens PaRappa, leading into the fight.
Transcript[]
(Spike is chasing a monkey, then PaRappa appears and stops him.)
Spike: What are you doing? I almost had him!
Parappa: Lay off him, Spike. He's just a little monkey.
Spike: Those little monkeys are trying to take over the planet!
Parappa: It looks like he's just having fun to me. Don't you like having fun?
Spike: I like saving the world. And what about you? Are you working with Specter?
Parappa: Specter? Who's that? I'm working with Chop Chop Master Onion. I don't think he's trying to take over the world, yet...
Spike: Well, I'm not going to wait around to find out!
Ending[]
Spike returns to the lab safely, relieving the Professor. The Professor then shows Spike that alien warships are invading major capitals around the world, all of which being led by Specter. Spike assures the Professor that he'll take care of the aliens, monkeys, and whatever gets thrown at him using the power he recieved after defeating the Polygon Man.
Transcript[]
Spike returns to the lab to see the professor. He proudly tells about his adventure, when the professor interrupts him, warning Spike that Specter and his monkeys are attacking the capital. Glowing with energy, Spike steps forward to save the day.
Professor: Spike! You're back! I'd begun to worry we'd never see you again.
Spike: It's good to be back, Professor. You won't believe the things I saw.
Professor: I'm sure I won't, Spike. We've got some news here-
Spike: I do, too. I fought everyone up to the big guy controlling them all. But it wasn't-
Professor: Specter, I know. Charu and I still aren't sure where you were, but we've since detected a true alien invasion. Warships are heading toward all the major capitals of the world.
Spike: So Specter really is back! Well, I'm more prepared for him and his aliens, monkeys... or whatever else he's got than I've ever been before. Where to first, Professor?
Quotes and Taunts[]
Taunts[]
Slap: Spike shouts, "You'll never win!" then swats the air.
Neener Neener: Spike does a "neener neener" gesture with his hands and says, "I'm still better than you."
You Make Me Sleepy: Spike stretches out his arms and yawns.
Quotes[]
- Character Selection
- "I'm ready, Professor!"
- "Let's clean this place up!"
- "Round them up!"
- Pre-match
- "Hey hey!"
- Item Pick-Up
- "A new gadget!"
- "Oh wow! This is great!"
- "Here it comes!"
- "Alright!"
- "Mine!"
- "I can use this gadget!"
- "Gotcha!"
- "Aww yeah!"
- "Yyyes!"
- Taunts
- "You'll never win!"
- "I'm still better than you!"
- Successful KOs
- "You're through!"
- "This is a piece of cake compared to Specter."
- "Aww yeah, keep talking!"
- "You don't scare me!"
- "You're mine!"
- "Yeah, come on!"
- "See ya!"
- "Easier than capturing monkeys!"
- "Yes!"
- "I got you!"
- "Got you!"
- "Alright!"
- Respawns
- "Yes! I'm back!"
- "I'm going for it!"
- "Here I come!"
- "Let's try this again!"
- "Let's try this one more time!"
- "Let's do this!"
- "Let's go!"
- "Back and better than ever!"
- "No more monkeying around!"
- "No more Mr. Nice Spike!"
- "No more monkey business!"
- "Yyyes!"
- "I'm back!"
- Using Monkey Net:
- "Gotcha!"
- Using Sword Frenzy:
- "This is true power!"
- Using Super Laser Cannon:
- "Time to bring in the big guns!"
- "Yeah!"
Intros and Outros[]
Introduction[]
- Cheeky Monkey: Spike looks to his right, and then a red Pipo Monkey lands on his head. He gets a bit irritated, but then gets ready to fight.
- No More Mr. Nice Spike: Runs in and looks to his right.
- #1 Stunna': Looks up and slashes his sword around.
- Hey Hey: Spike jumps down and lands, then puts his fist into the air while saying, "Hey hey!"
Winning Screen[]
- Yes: Spin jumps and smiles while fist pumps.
- Told Ya': Spike turns and puts his hands on his hips.
- That Will Teach You: Spike stands triumphant with net in hand as a Pipo Monkey suddenly appears and runs off-screen as Spike jumps after him.
- I Win: Spikes jumps with his arms reaching upward.
Losing Screen[]
- If using Yes: Looks down in a sad manner as a red Pipo Monkey prances around him, similiar to the 'Game Over' screen in Ape Escape 2.
- If using Told Ya': Spike kicks the ground with a sad expression.
- If using That Will Teach You: Spike yells "Oomf" whilst clutching his side.
- If using I Win: Spike groans whilst putting his hands on his cheeks.
Result Screen[]
Win: Stands with a happy face, with his left eyebrow raised up, and his arms to his sides in a triumpant pose.
Lose: Looks down with a sad face, and occassionally sniffling.
Victory Music[]
Slingshot Wizard (unlocked at rank 4)
Net Master (unlocked at rank 45)
Costumes[]
Million Monkeys[]
Spike's default costume, based on his design from Ape Escape: Million Monkeys.
- Orange hair, red and white jacket, blue jeans and white shoes.
- Yellow hair, lime green and black jacket, black jeans and lime shoes.
- Brown hair, dark orange and white jacket, black jeans and dark orange shoes.
- Red hair, blue and white jacket, dark blue jeans and blue shoes. Resembles Natalie, one of Spike's allies in the Ape Escape series.
Special Event Suit[]
Spike's battle gear from both Ape Escape: Million Monkeys and the Ape Escape anime "Saru Get You ~On Air~". The costume is part of the preorder costume pack.
- Orange hair, navy blue armor and shoes, black and white jacket.
- Yellow hair, dark green armor, green and yellow jacket and shoes.
- Red hair, brown armor, brown and red jacket and shoes. Resembles Jimmy, The protagonist of Ape Escape 2.
- White hair, black armor, black and white jacket, grey shoes. Resembles Specter, the main villain of the Ape Escape series.
Classic Throwback Suit[]
Spike's default costume that he wore in Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed.
- Red shirt, sock pattern, and shoe laces.
- Yellow shirt, sock pattern, and shoe laces.
- Light blue shirt, sock pattern, and shoe laces.
- Green shirt, sock pattern, and shoe laces.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Trivia[]
- Spike and PaRappa both have crushes.
- Spike's crush is Helga.
- PaRappa's crush is Sunny Funny.
- Spike is the only protagonist to appear in all three main Ape Escape games. He was playable in the first game, appeared in the second game's ending (though can be unlocked as a playable character by beating the game with all 300 monkeys captured and entering a code, then starting a new game), and made a cameo appearance in the third.
- Spike also appears in Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed, Ape Escape 2001, Ape Escape Million Monkeys, Ape Escape: On the Loose and Ape Escape: SaruSaru Big Mission.
- A red Pipo Monkey is primarily seen around Spike during animated cutscenes.
- Spike's clothes and some weapons are based on his appearance in Ape Escape: Million Monkeys, an Ape Escape game that was released only in Japan.
- In Spike's rival fight, it is implied that Parappa knew who Spike was, however didn't know who Specter was. This may be a reference to their creators' rivalry.
- Spike's Level 2 Super is based off the "Thunder Crack", of one of the four special moves he's able to use in Ape Escape: Pumped & Primed and in Ape Escape: Million Monkeys.
- His Level 3 Super is a reference to the ending of Ape Escape: Million Monkeys after finishing the last boss.
- Spike's losing animation is a reference to the Game Over screen in Ape Escape 2.
- Spike's winning and results animation both come from Ape Escape: Million Monkeys.
- This is the first PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita game to feature Spike.
- Spike is one of only five first-party characters who started on the Original PlayStation, the others being Sweet Tooth, PaRappa, Sir Daniel Fortesque, and Toro Inoue.
- One of Spike's alternate colors gives him a blue and white colored jacket and bright orange hair. This is very likely based on the character Natalie/Natsumi.
- His character appearance is based on Ape Escape: Million Monkeys. This means he is 13 years old, despite his supposedly mature voice.
- Spike is one of the three youngest characters in the game, the other being PaRappa and Little sister.
- In Ape Escape 2, Spike was voiced by voice actor Dan Green (well known for roles such as Knuckles the Echidna from Sonic the Hedgehog). Dan Green also voiced the Professor at some points (including Ape Escape 2 and PSASBR), but under the alias Jay Synder. However, in the end, he is voiced by Marc Silk, whom voiced him in the UK version of Ape Escape: On the Loose.
- Dan Green also does the voice of Yuugi/Yami Yuugi on Yuu-Gi-Oh! This is interesting to note, as Spike somewhat resembles Yuugi. However, the similarity in appearance and voice are most likely coincidental.
- His Japanese voice in the Ape Escape series and the Japanese version of PSASBR is Fujiko Takimoto, coincidentally well known for voicing Young Link from The Legend of Zelda series. Both Spike and Link have some similar moves (such as a boomerang attack, spinning moves, usage of swords) and in their fighting style, they revolve around a variety of weapons. Both have also been playable in a free-floor fighter at some point (Super Smash Bros. Melee for Young Link and PSASBR for Spike). However, unlike Link, Spike speaks normal dialogue even in his home series.
- Italian and Japanese versions are the only two to give Spike a kid-like voice, instead to the mature one.
- However, Italian dub doesn't feature the original voice actress in Ape Escape (Ilaria D'Elia) because she no longer voice acts. Instead, Spike's new Italian voice is Lorella De Luca.
- Spike's voice in the Latin American version (which speaks Latin Spanish) is considered the best, as he has a young voice that does not sound too mature or too child-ish.
- Spike's Arcade Mode acts as a prequel to Ape Escape: Million Monkeys.
- Spike and Toro are the only characters whose possible number of kills for each super is three.
- In the game's opening, the red parts of his jacket glow.
- Spike is the only human character that lacks a nose.
- His main menu background is stars comes to the bottom of the screen.
- IGN editor Colin Moriarty, stated that Spike is his favorite character in PSASBR.
- In his "Character Selection" portrait Spike shares the exact same pose he has in the promo image of the second season of Saru Get You -On Air-.
- Spike is the one of only four characters who are not adults, the other two being Sackboy (who has no age), PaRappa (who is supposed to be a teenager) and Little Sister (who does not age in a conventional state).
- Spike is the second Japan Studio character to be announced, the first being Toro and the third being Kat & Dusty.
- Despite being called Kakeru in the European dubs of Ape Escape 2 and Ape Escape 3, his name is back to Spike in the European version of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.