What is the saga about and how is it played
video game series Monkey Island belongs to the genre of adventure game. It was created by Ron Gilbert, Tim Schafer, and Dave Grossman, and published by LucasArts since 1990, when the first title came out, until 2009 when the last one was published until now.
Initially for PC, Amiga and Atari, the different games have come out for many more formats over time, including some versions for mobile phones.
the games go on the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood in his quest to become a pirate on the island of Mêlée (also known as Monkey Island). Besides that, Guybrush will also try to win the heart of the governor, Elaine Marley, while facing his great enemy, the mighty pirate LeChuck.
The game is about solve puzzle with objects found in the environment, fight monsters and interact with characters.
All this is done with the classical mechanics point and click, point the mouse and click on an object, person or element of the environment. We will be able to choose the action that is carried out when clicking, from a list that is offered to us on the screen.
Why Monkey Island Became a Huge Hit
These types of graphic adventures were all the rage in the 90s and LucasArts had enormous success with them, making a multitude of titles based on their SCUMM game engine. How is it possible that he became a legend?
Because, although the game mechanics are extremely simple, that’s not important.
Both the way of playing and the puzzles are the perfect complement for what is important: an elaborate story, very well written, with large doses of humor and wit, both in the plot, and in the puzzles that you must solve.
And besides that, unforgettable and charismatic characters, with whom you become emotionally involved.
That is, just the opposite of what 90% of video games do. In them, the plot is an excuse, the characters are interchangeable, you don’t get involved in them and you don’t care what happens to them. Or whatever happens to the story itself. This is just an excuse to shoot, race, or destroy things.
Of course, in addition to the story and the characters, the saga Monkey Island has a very personal and elaborate style, based on caricatures and cartoons. That also makes it unforgettable, even after such a long time.
What games make up the saga
For the moment, There are 5 games that make up the franchise of Monkey Island. Let’s take a more detailed look at each.
The Secret of Monkey Island
The one who started the legend. Released in 1990 and remastered over the years for different formats, tells us about the beginnings of its protagonist, the endearing Guybrush Threepwood, who wants to be a pirate.
For that, you have to overcome three challenges and he will meet two characters who will accompany him in the saga. Governor Elaine Marley, with whom he will fall in love, and the spectral pirate LeChuck, who will be his great enemy.
The sense of humor and ingenuity of the plot and puzzles made it a video game classic, which has been remastered in special version, with new graphics.
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge
Thanks to the success, a year later the second part of the franchise would arrive, although in Spain we had to wait until 1992. Guybrush confronts Largo LaGrande, LeChuck’s henchman. and that he wants to revive the pirate in the form of a zombie.
Both sales and reviews were spectacular again and this title it was the last one that had its original creators in charge of the game. However, the saga would not end there, since money is money.
The Curse of Monkey Island
We would have to wait 6 years for, in 1997, LucasArts gave birth to the third part. They got a little complicated and again Guybrush, Elaine and LeChuck are the protagonists of an adventure where our favorite pirate must annul the curse that LeChuck has invoked on his beloved.
The change of authors results in a change of mechanics and graphic style, being also the last time the SCUMM engine will be used.
Despite that, the game captures the spirit of the series well and is a lot of fun, once again being a bestseller.
Escape from Monkey Island
They are the arrival of the year 2000, come back again Monkey Island Y now with 3D graphics. The mechanics also change and we forget about the point and click.
Back on Mêlée Island, after their honeymoon, Guybrush and Elaine find that she is no longer governor, her house is going to be demolished and they will have to face the evil Charles L. Charles, which is none other than LeChuck with the changed appearance.
Our leading couple will win again, leaving Grandpa Marley as governor and going back to do what they do best, being pirates.
The Tales of Monkey Island
we would take almost 10 years to see a new game from Monkey Island, when in 2009 Guybrush must, again, save his wife from the clutches of LeChuck.
We find ourselves once again with a 3D puzzle game, where, as always, we can use objects, create new ones and interact with the environment.
Although it is made by TellTale Games, under LucasArts license, former members of the original company worked on the game and, once again, this title received positive reviews and was nominated for several awards.
Over time, there have been various rumors of some other title in the saga, but the truth is that, for the moment, nothing has materialized and there seems to be no real intention to continue the franchise.
Asked on more than one occasion, its original creator, Ron Gilbert, is clear that, for his part, he has not the slightest intention of making another game and that, for him, everything ended in the second part.
How to play the original games
If you are curious, you can still play the original games Monkey Island in different ways.
In addition to being able to get the second-hand title, for some compatible old computer or console, you have more options, such as the official games on Steam or the iOS or Android stores.
However, if you want the original flavor on your PC, you can too.
How to play Monkey Island with emulators
One of the simplest and most direct ways is use the ScummVM emulator.
This allows you to imitate the original LucasArts SCUMM engine and play its legendary graphic adventures from point and click. Among them, you will find the first two parts, which the most staunch fans of the saga, like its creator, consider the only true ones.
However, it is not the only way, but you can also emulate the old MS-DOS on your PC with DOSBox, for example, a project that is still active and allows you to recreate the fun of the 90’s on your PC.
How to play Monkey Island in your browser
However, if you want it even easier, someone has put that MS-DOS emulation online, and you can play Monkey Island original, and in Spanish, on this web page.
Directly in the browser, without downloading anything and being the original game.
In the same way, you also have the second part of LeChuck’s Revenge, but yes, this time only in English.
As you can see, The secret of Monkey Island is a true legend of the world of video games. And that sounds like the lament of an old man (because it is), but it is true that games like these are no longer made and trends have changed a lot. Of course, the memory remains and there are still those who hope that it will not be the last time we see Guybrush Threepwood on our screens.
