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MobyRank
100 point score based on reviews from various critics.
3.9
MobyScore
5 point score based on user ratings.

Description

Deep in the Caribbean lies Melee Island, ruled by the beautiful governor Elaine Marley. The cruel pirate LeChuck is deeply in love with her - so deeply that he refuses to accept his own death! As a ghost, he dwells with his undead crew somewhere near the mysterious Monkey Island. You are Guybrush Threepwood, a young man whose only wish is to become a real pirate. At the Scumm Bar you meet three pirates who tell you'll have to complete three difficult tasks in order to be worthy of this title. Could Guybrush ever suspect that while trying to complete those tasks, he will encounter the governor Elaine Marley, fall in love with her, and face the anger of the dreadful ghost pirate LeChuck?! This is when Guybrush' adventure truly begins!

The Secret of Monkey Island is an adventure game that utilizes the command verb-based SCUMM interface first introduced in Maniac Mansion: you construct commands for Guybrush by clicking on the appropriate verb, and then clicking on the inventory item or an object in the room you want to interact with. It is the first LucasArts' adventure game in which it is impossible to get irrevocably stuck or to die. The branching dialogue system, where you choose one of the available responses while talking to people, allows you to talk to characters in different ways without fearing a wrong choice. There are plenty of inventory-based puzzles to solve, and even "insult swordfighting" to participate in, where Guybrush has to prove his wit is as sharp as his sword!

Alternate Titles

  • "猴島小英雄" -- Chinese title
  • "モンキー・アイランド ユーレイ海賊大騒動!" -- Japanese title
  • "TSOMI" -- Common abbreviation
  • "Obezjannij Ostrov" -- Russian title
  • "Monkey Island 1" -- Informal name
  • "Le Secret de L'Ile aux Singes" -- French title
  • "El secreto de Monkey Island" -- Spanish title

Part of the Following Groups


Merchant Title      
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The Secret of Monkey Island    
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The Secret of Monkey Island    
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User Reviews

Monkey Island, The Secret of phil buckley (22) 5 Stars5 Stars5 Stars5 Stars5 Stars

The Press Says

The Good Old Days Oct 07, 2002 6 out of 6 100
Amiga Format Jun, 1991 92 out of 100 92
Power Play Sep, 1991 92 out of 100 92
Amiga Action Jun, 1991 90 out of 100 90

Forums

Topic # Posts Last Post
MI, a real phoenix 3 vedder Bronze Star Contributing Member (7658)
Jun 09, 2009
Talkie 3 WildKard (11879)
Feb 20, 2008
A disturbing walkthrough for the game 4 Depeche Mike Isguder Bronze Star Contributing Member (15567)
Oct 16, 2007
Dial-a-Pirate copy protection 17 Pondo Frost
May 22, 2007

Trivia

The "FUNCTION AND COMMAND KEYS" section of the enclosed reference documentation listed a somewhat peculiar option after the more conventional game interface options:
    - Reposition Instantly (CTRL+R)
    - Quit Game (CTRL+C or ALT+X)
    - Win the Game (CTRL+W).
Enthusiastic game-players who jumped in before fully reading the manual might never have encountered that little easter egg. When the key combination was entered, the game would prompt the player: "Are you sure you want to win? (Y/N)" If the player responded Y, the screen would blank, then triumphantly flash"You Win! You scored 800 out of 800 points", regardless of how much (if any) of the game had been completed, all the while tootling the goofily festive music from the Fettucini Bros. circus tent. The regular closing credits (with more than a few joke titles there also) would follow, the entire interactive remainder of the game having been neatly bypassed. Truly here was proof that the playing of the game is far more satisfying than the mere winning of it.

Apparently some permutation of this easter egg is revisited in distant sequel Escape From Monkey Island.


This entry was contributed by POMAH (20225), Kabushi (52023), IJan (1980), Terok Nor (10803) and Unicorn Lynx Bronze Star Contributing Member (72406)
 

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