The Curse of Monkey Island

Reviewed by Michael Lafferty
Published by Lucas Arts

Age Group: Age 8 and Up, Adults
Type: Thinking Games, More Fun
Price: $20

Description:

Guybrush Threepwood has a big problem. Yes, he was able to successfully escape from the clutches of the undead pirate, LeChuck and return to his beloved Elaine, but that ring he brought with him has created a major mess. It seems that it was cursed and when Elaine put it on, it turned her into a statue of gold. And, the last time Guybrush saw her, she was standing on a beach. Now she's gone and the back of a pirate ship rapidly sailing away is the only clue to her disappearance.

The Curse of Monkey Island is the third in the Monkey Island series of graphic adventures featuring a great cast of characters, amazing, seamless animation and enough puzzles to grizzle a bloodthirsty pirate fresh from the Spanish Main.

You must guide Guybrush through a series of perilous mini-adventures en route to rescuing Elaine and restoring her to her former haughty self. You will meet some interesting characters along the way - a trio of former pirates who have opened up a hair salon named, what else, the Barbary Coast; a mysterious, magical woman called the Voodoo Lady; and Bloodnose the Pirate, also known as Wally, to name but a few.

Features:

  • High-resolution graphics
  • Film-quality animation, voice, sound and music
  • 30-plus hours of gameplay in two difficulty settings

Technical Aspects:

While this requires a Pentium processor to run, the system requirements are on the low-end for the high-quality treat this program presents. It runs very smoothly and the sound quality is outstanding. This program is bright and colorful and a real treat for the eyes.

The manual and box mirror the game. While the front of the box may reflect a scene that doesn't actually occur, it is still indicative of the game graphics. The manual is a nice read, offering clues to playing the game and a history of the series. It even shows you how to solve the first puzzle.

Report and Conclusions:

A number of the jokes will sail right past younger children. For example, not many will clue in to the significance of the grassy knoll within sight of the book depository - which just happens to be a tower. Yes, the programmers had a lot of fun with this piece of software and it shows in the end result.

The age rating is for comic mischief and use of tobacco and alcohol. My 10-year-old had trouble with some of the puzzles and had to rely on Dad to help figure them out, but spending time together in a game like this is enjoyable. Nothing here was inappropriate for her age level and nothing needed to be explained.

‘Roger' probably became ‘jolly' playing this game.




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