Difference between revisions of "The Secret of Monkey Island"

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'''''The Secret of Monkey Island''''' is an adventure game using the popular SCUMM engine. It is the first in a long series of Monkey Island games.
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = The Secret of Monkey Island
 +
| SortTitle        = Secret of Monkey Island, The
 +
| Image            = Secret of Monkey Island - DOS - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = MS-DOS - USA - 1st edition.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|Lucasfilm Games}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Lucasfilm Games}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1990
 +
| PublishedMonth  = 10
 +
| PublishedDay    = ??
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|Amiga}}, {{Platform|Atari ST}}, {{Platform|DOS}}, {{Platform|FM Towns}}, {{Platform|Macintosh Classic}}, {{Platform|Sega CD}}, {{Platform|Windows}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Adventure video game|Adventure}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Comedy video game|Adventure}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Graphic adventure|Graphic adventure}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Passive puzzle video game|Passive puzzle}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Puzzle video game|Puzzle}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Adventure}}, {{MediaTheme|Cartoon}}, {{MediaTheme|Comedy}}, {{MediaTheme|Pirates}}, {{MediaTheme|Wilderness}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Monkey Island (universe)|Monkey Island]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}
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}}
  
==Status==
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'''''The Secret of Monkey Island''''' is a humorous [[graphic adventure]] [[puzzle video game]] created by [[Lucasfilm Games]] and released for [[MS-DOS]] in October 1990. It is the first game in the [[Monkey Island (universe)|''Monkey Island'' series]], and uses the popular [[SCUMM]] engine. The original was released in two versions, EGA or VGA graphics. The Amiga, FM-Towns, Macintosh, and Sega CD ports are based on the VGA graphics while the Atari ST was based on the EGA graphics. A CD-ROM "talkie" version was released in 1992 and a Windows special edition was released on 2009-07-15.
I have beaten the game, but required occasional hints.
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 +
In the game, you play as Guybrush Threepwood, a naive young man who wishes to become a pirate but lacks the necessary skills. After traveling to Mêlée Island, he meets some real pirates who tell him, to become a pirate, he must complete three difficult tasks. Very quickly learns he's in over his head as he falls for the lovely sword master and Governor who is being stalked by ghost pirates!
 +
 
 +
==Personal==
 +
{{VideoGameStatus
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| Own      =  
 +
| CantOwn  =  
 +
| Won      = Yes. Used a couple hints.
 +
| CantWin  =  
 +
| Finished = 2014‎-04-22.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
I first saw this game at a friend's house. He had the LucasArts adventure box set ([[Enhanced Graphics Adapter|EGA]] version) and showed me his saved game locations from various points in the game, including the ending. I never got a chance to play it then, but the game looked pretty cool. Hearing more and more about the series over the years, I finally decided to play it around 2015 and beat it.
 +
 
 +
I do not own the game, but I have beaten it, though I required a couple hints.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
* '''Overall:''' 5/10
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{{Video Game Review|5|5|8|5|6|DOS VGA Remake}}
* '''Best Version:''' DOS remake?
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 +
{{Spoilers}}
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
 
* The script is pretty hilarious, lots of funny dialog options.
 
* The script is pretty hilarious, lots of funny dialog options.
* The graphics are quite beautiful, even in the EGA version.
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* The graphics are quite beautiful, especially in the [[Video Graphics Array|VGA]] version, but even in the [[Enhanced Graphics Adapter|EGA]] version.
 +
* It was funny seeing Cobb as a pirate shilling for ''[[Loom]]''.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
* You're unable to choose a lot of the dialog options because the game cuts-short a lot of conversations. The only way to read these options is to keep reloading the game.
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* You're unable to choose a lot of the dialog options because the game cuts-short many conversation trees. The only way to read these options is to keep reloading the game (or replay it entirely), which is a pain.
* Like many adventure games, some of the puzzles are particularly difficult to solve and don't make much sense. I can attribute this to trying to pad the length of the game, trying to sell hint books, or laziness from the developers. Either case is annoying.
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* Like many adventure games, some of the puzzles are particularly difficult to solve and don't make much sense. I can attribute this to trying to pad the length of the game, trying to sell hint books, or laziness from the developers. Whatever the case, it's annoying.
 
* Several parts of the game are just too silly and ruin the experience (but only temporarily).
 
* Several parts of the game are just too silly and ruin the experience (but only temporarily).
 +
* There are a couple ways to put the game in an [[unwinnable state]], but most of them involve having knowledge you shouldn't yet have, either from a hint book or re-playing the game.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
* Nothing really, this game is pretty solid.
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* Nothing.
 +
 
 +
==Media==
 +
===Box Art===
 +
[[Steve Purcell]] painted the game's box art, and [[Cathrine Flanders]] designed the layout. I adore it. The painting is a wonderful collage of the game's main characters and locations in the same vein of the posters made for Lucasfilm action films, and the lettering is perfect for the game. Every region uses the same art, only with slightly modified layout.
 +
 
 +
<gallery>
 +
Secret of Monkey Island - DOS - USA.jpg|MS-DOS, USA.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Documentation===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Secret of Monkey Island - DOS - Manual.pdf|Manual - MS-DOS - USA.
 +
Secret of Monkey Island, The - Ad.jpg|Advertisement.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Gallery===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Secret of Monkey Island, The - DOS - Screenshot - Island Cannon.png|EGA screenshot.
 +
Secret of Monkey Island - Fan Art.jpg|Fan art.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Videos===
 +
{{YouTube|VphDzJ-RvjI|Longplay - DOS - EGA.}}
 +
{{YouTube|QgRIXntFhww|Longplay - DOS - VGA.}}
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{{YouTube|MPcL_eScS6I|Longplay - Windows - Special edition.}}
 +
 
 +
==Play Online==
 +
{{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/macex-the-secret-of-monkey-island.html|Macintosh Classic}}, {{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/secret-of-monkey-island.html|MS-DOS (VGA)}}, {{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/secret-of-monkey-island-spanish.html|MS-DOS (VGA, Spanish)}}, {{PlayOnline|https://www.retrogames.cc/segacd-games/secret-of-monkey-island-the.html|Sega CD}}
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 +
==Representation==
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{{Representation
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| Media                      = Video games
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| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Pass
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = Carla is the great Sword Master and Elaine Marley is the Governor (though she's also a damsel in distress).
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = The women never speak to each other.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Pass
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| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = The Sword Master Carla and the Voodoo woman are form of indigenous Caribbean and Carla is pretty strong. There are also, unfortunately, "cannibals."
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==Download==
 +
This is the LucasFilm Games Passport to Adventure game sampler. It contains an MS-DOS demo version of ''The Secret of Monkey Island'', ''[[Loom]]'', and ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure]]''.
 +
 
 +
* [[Media:Passport to Adventure v1.0.zip|Download]] ([[:File:Passport to Adventure v1.0.zip|Info]]) - Passport to Adventure Demo.
 +
 
 +
==Titles==
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 +
|-
 +
| English || The Secret of Monkey Island || ||
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|-
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| Japanese || モンキー・アイランド ユーレイ海賊大騒動! || Monki Airando: Yurei Kaizoku Osodo! || Monkey Island: Ghost Pirate Turmoil!
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|}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island] - Wikipedia.
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{{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/game/secret-of-monkey-island}}
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/secret-of-monkey-island mobygames.com/game/secret-of-monkey-island] - MobyGames.
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{{Link|Wikipedia|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island}}
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/562681-the-secret-of-monkey-island gamefaqs.com/pc/562681-the-secret-of-monkey-island] - GameFAQS.
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{{Link|SegaRetro|https://segaretro.org/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island}}
 +
{{Link|StrategyWiki|https://strategywiki.org/wiki/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island}}
 +
{{Link|GameFAQs|http://www.gamefaqs.com/pc/562681-the-secret-of-monkey-island}}
 +
{{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island_(DOS)}}
 +
{{Link|TVTropes|https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/TheSecretOfMonkeyIsland}}
  
  
[[Category: Games|Secret of Monkey Island, The]]
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[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Adventure, Strategy, Action]]
[[Category: Video Games|Secret of Monkey Island, The]]
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[[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]]
[[Category: Puzzle|Secret of Monkey Island, The]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Unwinnable State]]
[[Category: Adventure|Secret of Monkey Island, The]]
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[[Category: Monochrome Graphics]]
[[Category: Games I've Beaten|Secret of Monkey Island, The]]
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[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]

Latest revision as of 17:35, 7 March 2024

The Secret of Monkey Island

Secret of Monkey Island - DOS - USA.jpg

MS-DOS - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Lucasfilm Games
Publisher Lucasfilm Games
Published 1990-10-??
Platforms Amiga, Atari ST, DOS, FM Towns, Macintosh Classic, Sega CD, Windows
Genres Adventure, Adventure, Graphic adventure, Passive puzzle, Puzzle
Themes Adventure, Cartoon, Comedy, Pirates, Wilderness
Series Monkey Island
Distribution Commercial

The Secret of Monkey Island is a humorous graphic adventure puzzle video game created by Lucasfilm Games and released for MS-DOS in October 1990. It is the first game in the Monkey Island series, and uses the popular SCUMM engine. The original was released in two versions, EGA or VGA graphics. The Amiga, FM-Towns, Macintosh, and Sega CD ports are based on the VGA graphics while the Atari ST was based on the EGA graphics. A CD-ROM "talkie" version was released in 1992 and a Windows special edition was released on 2009-07-15.

In the game, you play as Guybrush Threepwood, a naive young man who wishes to become a pirate but lacks the necessary skills. After traveling to Mêlée Island, he meets some real pirates who tell him, to become a pirate, he must complete three difficult tasks. Very quickly learns he's in over his head as he falls for the lovely sword master and Governor who is being stalked by ghost pirates!

Personal

Own?No.
Won?Yes. Used a couple hints.
Finished2014‎-04-22.

I first saw this game at a friend's house. He had the LucasArts adventure box set (EGA version) and showed me his saved game locations from various points in the game, including the ending. I never got a chance to play it then, but the game looked pretty cool. Hearing more and more about the series over the years, I finally decided to play it around 2015 and beat it.

I do not own the game, but I have beaten it, though I required a couple hints.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
5 5 8 5 6

Best Version: DOS VGA Remake

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The script is pretty hilarious, lots of funny dialog options.
  • The graphics are quite beautiful, especially in the VGA version, but even in the EGA version.
  • It was funny seeing Cobb as a pirate shilling for Loom.

Bad

  • You're unable to choose a lot of the dialog options because the game cuts-short many conversation trees. The only way to read these options is to keep reloading the game (or replay it entirely), which is a pain.
  • Like many adventure games, some of the puzzles are particularly difficult to solve and don't make much sense. I can attribute this to trying to pad the length of the game, trying to sell hint books, or laziness from the developers. Whatever the case, it's annoying.
  • Several parts of the game are just too silly and ruin the experience (but only temporarily).
  • There are a couple ways to put the game in an unwinnable state, but most of them involve having knowledge you shouldn't yet have, either from a hint book or re-playing the game.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Box Art

Steve Purcell painted the game's box art, and Cathrine Flanders designed the layout. I adore it. The painting is a wonderful collage of the game's main characters and locations in the same vein of the posters made for Lucasfilm action films, and the lettering is perfect for the game. Every region uses the same art, only with slightly modified layout.

Documentation

Gallery

Videos

Longplay - DOS - EGA.
Longplay - DOS - VGA.
Longplay - Windows - Special edition.

Play Online

Macintosh Classic, MS-DOS (VGA), MS-DOS (VGA, Spanish), Sega CD

Representation

Strong female character?PassCarla is the great Sword Master and Elaine Marley is the Governor (though she's also a damsel in distress).
Bechdel test?FailThe women never speak to each other.
Strong person of color character?PassThe Sword Master Carla and the Voodoo woman are form of indigenous Caribbean and Carla is pretty strong. There are also, unfortunately, "cannibals."
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Download

This is the LucasFilm Games Passport to Adventure game sampler. It contains an MS-DOS demo version of The Secret of Monkey Island, Loom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure.

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English The Secret of Monkey Island
Japanese モンキー・アイランド ユーレイ海賊大騒動! Monki Airando: Yurei Kaizoku Osodo! Monkey Island: Ghost Pirate Turmoil!

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-SegaRetro.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png  Link-GameFAQs.png  Link-TCRF.png  Link-TVTropes.png