NicheWords-The Secret of Monkey Island

Pirates of the Caribbean.  But, not.

Undead pirates, a bumbling hero and a voyage across the Caribbean.  Sound familiar?  There's a reason Guybrush Threepwood and Captain Jack Sparrow seem to have so much in common, as both Pirates of the Caribbean and The Secret of Monkey Island were based off the same Disneyland ride.

Now, we don't go to Disneyholm, but the very fact that one ride can inspire two such fascinating creative works is almost enough to make me brave the predations of Mr. Mouse in order to encounter it.

You see, although it's a little older than the adventure games previously covered here, The Secret of Monkey Island still retains a certain charm.  And unlike many, I never played it during childhood, so hopefully I'm a little less affected by nostalgia.

Graphically, Monkey Island hasn't much going for it, although a revamped version has been released.  However, while I may have drooled all over the graphics of Myst IV, it's the script that's the impressive thing about Monkey Island.

Created by the good people at LucasArts, before they came the underpaid, overworked, franchise-milking people at LucasArts, The Secret of Monkey Island is a traditional adventure game.  By which I mean it has puzzles that are at once completely illogical, slightly fun, and ever so slightly baffling.  Usually however, playing with your inventory does the trick.

And some puzzles haven't been seen much since - I've only ever noticed the verbal sparring replicated in the indie game Dangerous High School Girls in Trouble.  That remains one of my favourite puzzles to date - for while it wasn't especially hard, it showcases the game's special sense of humour.  Essentially, when insulted, you pick the response, and discover some epic burns along the way.

It's the humour that makes Monkey Island great, which is one reason why Telltale Games episodic sequels are stuffed to the brim with visual jokes.  And, speaking of visual jokes, meet Guybrush Threepwood.  He wants to be a pirate, and find treasure and love.  He looks hopeless, and sadly, you're playing as him.

Fortunately he has Governor Marley on his side.  Unfortunately, the ghostly pirate LeChuck is on the other.  And it's up to Threepwood to find LeChuck and slay him.

Now, two of the main developers for The Secret of Monkey Island went on to join DoubleFine, one of the few studios still creating quality adventure games.  Think of Monkey Island then as the ancestor of the modern classic that is Psychonauts.  It's the same humour too, so if you tried one, you're likely to appreciate the other.