Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge

"They don't make 'em like this any more."

Let's be clear about this from the outset: There are people who like point 'n' click adventure games, and people who don't. If you're the kind of person who gets all his gaming thrills from blood, boobs and big ****ing guns, go check out the reviews for Generic FPS #61. If, on the other hand, you like games that require a little bit more than an itchy trigger finger and repressed homicidal tendencies, keep reading. Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge is possibly the best point 'n' clicker ever. And given the quality of LucasArts' other graphic adventures, that's a hell of an achievement.

Presentation
I've lumped together graphics and sound in this review to emphasise how totally unimportant they are to this game. I've only mentioned them at all because lots of gamers today worry far too much about how games look and sound. The visuals, while pretty colourful, are made up entirely of not-particularly-detailed pixelly sprites, and the sound is largely non-existent, except for a little background music that'll come out of your computer's internal speaker. It was probably the best that LucasArts could reasonably do at the time, and it doesn't harm the game in the slightest. In fact, the relative unimportance of the presentation compared to the story and puzzles is probably why the game has stood the test of time so well.

Gameplay
OK, this is what it's all about. If you've played a LucasArts point 'n' clicker before, you'll probably know the SCUMM interface inside out already. If not, here's a brief explanation: You play Guybrush Threepwood, a totally un-fearsome pirate who gets mugged in the first five minutes of the game. The basic gameplay mechanic is solving puzzles by manipulating objects via the range of actions listed at the bottom of the screen (Push, Pick Up, Talk To etc), and talking to the people who inhabit the piratey, voodoo-ey world that Monkey Island 2 is set in. For example, Guybrush needs to get rid of the thug who's intimidating all the local businesses, and the local Voodoo Lady (every neighbourhood should have one) tells him to make a voodoo doll of the thug. Guybrush needs to find the ingredients for the doll, one of which is the the thug's shirt. He's staying at an inn, but the innkeeper won't let Guybrush into the room. However, the innkeeper does have a pet lizard. If Guybrush can free the lizard, the innkeeper will chase after it, and Guybrush can get into the thug's room. But how to free the lizard?

If that sounds too difficult, LucasArts have also included an easy version of the game, for you graphic adventure newbies.

Story
Monkey Island 2 follows Guybrush's search for the legendary treasure Big Whoop, or at least it starts out that way. Before long, Guybrush's arch-nemesis, the undead Ghost Pirate LeChuck, makes an appearance, and things start to go wrong for our hero.

The main story of the game is little more than a way to cram as many puzzles into the game as possible. Where the game shines is in the mini-stories and dialogue that accompany the puzzles. The characters in the game are all brilliant (fans of the original will be pleased to hear that the likes of Stan the salesman have returned), and the conversations hilarious. There's a lot of fun to be had by trying all Guybrush's actions with everyone and everything, just to see what response the developers have programmed in.

Verdict
So how come this game didn't get a 10/10? There are a couple of reasons. Firstly, while it's lots of fun in its own right, Monkey Island 2 is less funny than its predecessor. Secondly, some of the puzzles are a bit obscure. Use Surgical Gloves with Helium Tank? What the hell is that?

Despite those two flaws, Monkey Island 2 is a classic, and an essential title for any self-respecting graphic adventure fan, and if you're new to the genre, there's probably no better game to cut your teeth on.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/12/04