Game: Monkey Island II (1991, 2010)

Platform Played: PC

Purchased on GOG.com

Developer: LucasArts

Publisher: LucasArts

Background: I first played the Monkey Island games at age twelve. I’ve always had a big fascination with pirates ever since I read Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Stevenson’s work about a treasure seeking expedition and motley pirates is a good parable about human character. Monkey Island II is a game about a pirate society and the humor between pirates and non pirates who live in the tri-island area. Good humor and an interesting story provide for an immersive adventure game. This is a fifteen-year-old game, but the special edition brings the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood to a new light.

Good Humor: Jokes are commonplace throughout the series, but the jokes in Monkey Island II, are hard-hitting and punchy. Check this video out here. Although there’s no insult sword-fighting like the first installment these jokes and gags are as funny as an SNL or MadTV sketch see more here. This comedic adventure is still funny after all of these years.

Interesting Story: Trappings of the modern world appear in compact ‘packets’ similar to TV tropes in this game. References to glass-bottom boats, the concept of ‘deep sea diving’, identification cards, and other talismans of our world are present in this excellent comedy-adventure game. Guybrush Threepwood will scour the tri-island area to find the legendary treasure of big whoop!

Final Analysis: Go to GOG.com to purchase this now. While this is not my favorite Monkey Island game, GOG.com did a wonderful service of offering this gem. Hopefully, they will release The Curse of Monkey Island which is the third installment in the series.