Tales of Monkey Island
Guybrush Threepwood accidentally unleashes a voodoo pox across the Gulf of Melange.
Tales of Monkey Island is a graphic adventure game from 2009, developed by Telltale Games under a license from LucasArts. It marks the fifth entry in the Monkey Island series, arriving nearly ten years after the previous game, Escape from Monkey Island. The title was released for Windows and the Wii console across five episodic chapters from July to December 2009. Unlike earlier episodic adventures from Telltale, whose chapters told self-contained stories, each installment here contributes to a single, continuous narrative. Digital distribution occurred through WiiWare and Telltale’s own website, later expanding to Steam and Amazon.com. Ports for OS X, the PlayStation Network, and iOS followed several months after the series concluded.
Players control the pirate Guybrush Threepwood, who, while trying to destroy his undead nemesis LeChuck, accidentally unleashes a voodoo pox across the Gulf of Melange. With help from his wife, Elaine, Guybrush searches for a cure. The game was conceived in late 2008, spurred by renewed interest in adventure game development at LucasArts. It was developed alongside LucasArts’ special edition of the 1990 game The Secret of Monkey Island; LucasArts oversaw production and ensured consistency in areas like art direction. Production began in early 2009. Series creator Ron Gilbert contributed to project planning, while development was led by Dave Grossman, co-designer of the first two Monkey Island games. Music was composed by Michael Land, and the core voice cast from The Curse of Monkey Island reprised their roles.
Tales of Monkey Island received generally positive reviews. Critics praised its story, writing, humor, voice acting, and characterization; 1UP.com called Guybrush Telltale’s strongest and most expressive character to date. The music and graphics were also commended. Complaints centered on the perceived uneven quality of puzzle design, a weak supporting cast in early chapters, and the control system. The game earned several industry awards and was Telltale’s most commercially successful project until Back to the Future: The Game. A sixth franchise entry, Return to Monkey Island, was released on September 19, 2022, by publisher Devolver Digital, Lucasfilm Games, and Terrible Toybox.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Tales of Monkey Island
- Developer
- Telltale Games
- Director
- Mike Stemmle / Mark Darin / Joe Pinney / Jake Rodkin
- Producer
- Matt Hansen
- Designer
- Mark Darin / Mike Stemmle / Chuck Jordan / Brendan Ferguson / Jake Rodkin / Will Armstrong / Joe Pinney / Sean Vanaman / Dave Grossman
- Programmer
- Randy Tudor
- Artist
- Derek Sakai
- Writer
- Mike Stemmle / Mark Darin / Sean Vanaman
- Composer
- Michael Land / John Marsden
- Series
- Monkey Island
- Engine
- Telltale Tool
- Platforms
- Windows, Wii, OS X, PlayStation 3, iOS
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Tales of Monkey Island was conceived in late 2008 due to renewed interest in adventure game development within LucasArts. It was developed concurrently with LucasArts' special edition of The Secret of Monkey Island; LucasArts oversaw production and ensured consistency in areas such as art direction. Franchise creator Ron Gilbert was involved in project planning, while development was led by Dave Grossman, co-designer of the first two Monkey Island games. Music was composed by Michael Land, and the core cast from The Curse of Monkey Island reprised their voice roles.
The game follows pirate Guybrush Threepwood as he attempts to destroy his nemesis, the undead pirate LeChuck, but accidentally releases a voodoo pox across the Gulf of Melange. With the help of his wife Elaine, Guybrush seeks a cure. The game world is explored using a PC keyboard and mouse or the Wii Nunchuk's analog stick; unlike previous Telltale adventures, the player holds and drags the mouse to move Guybrush. Each chapter is estimated at two to four hours in length, and a hint system assists struggling players. The first chapter includes a treasure hunt mode where players find hidden maps on the official Telltale website and three participating fansites.
Reader's Guide
Tales of Monkey Island received generally positive reviews, with critics praising its story, writing, humor, voice acting, and characterization. 1UP.com described Guybrush as Telltale's strongest and most expressive character yet. The game's music and graphics were also lauded. Complaints focused on the perceived erratic quality of puzzle design, a weak supporting cast in early chapters, and the control system. The game garnered several industry awards and was Telltale's most commercially successful project until Back to the Future: The Game. A sixth entry in the franchise, Return to Monkey Island, was released on September 19, 2022 by publisher Devolver Digital, Lucasfilm Games, and Terrible Toybox.
Did You Know?
- The game was released in five episodic segments between July and December 2009.
- A hint system is included to assist struggling players.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tales of Monkey Island?
Tales of Monkey Island is the fifth game in the Monkey Island adventure series, crafted by Telltale Games under a LucasArts license and released in 2009. It came roughly a decade after Escape from Monkey Island, reviving the franchise with a new development team.
Who do you play as in Tales of Monkey Island?
You control Guybrush Threepwood, the same lovable, luck-driven pirate captain who has headlined the series since its 1997 debut. He is the sole playable character across all five episodes.
What is the main plot of Tales of Monkey Island?
The story begins when Guybrush inadvertently sets loose a voodoo pox that spreads across the Gulf of Melange. He then has to track down the source of the curse and deal with the escalating chaos his mistake has caused.
How is Tales of Monkey Island structured?
The game was delivered as five episodic chapters between July and December 2009 on Windows and Wii. Unlike Telltale's other episodic adventures, where each chapter told a self-contained story, every episode here pushes forward one continuous narrative.
Why is Tales of Monkey Island significant to the series?
It closed a nearly ten-year gap between Monkey Island titles and kept the franchise alive after LucasArts had moved away from direct development. Its serialized, single-arc structure also offered a fresh storytelling approach that distinguished it from both the classic LucasArts entries and Telltale's other episodic games.
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