Tales of Monkey Island Episode 5 Review

Those of you who have yet to sample the delights of the fourth episode in the Tales of Monkey Island series are advised not to read any further, since this review contains information which could spoil some of the stand out moments from that previous chapter. For those who have and have been excitedly waiting for the finale, read on as you’re in for a real treat.

With Guybrush’s unexpected demise at the end of the fourth chapter (you see, I told you not to read on!) he finds himself wandering around the afterlife, desperately trying to find a way back to the land of the living to save Elaine from Lechuck. Being the last chapter in this series, Guybrush revisits a lot of characters and past locations from other episodes using rips in space that act as gates between the land of the living and the dead. These locations offer up slight changes from their first appearances but also act as a great reminder of the places seen over the course of the game, and it’s pleasing that the characters they’ve chosen to revisit are the more notable and funny ones.

After the frustration experienced with some of the puzzles in the previous chapter, its reassuring that the ones here have had more thought put into them. While still presenting a challenge which prevents the player breezing through, it successfully captures that sense of achievement when solving a puzzle, something which is just as important as the story in this type of game. Without wanting to sound too much like a broken record, the humour is again top notch and with the increase in characters the amount of high quality dialogue is very impressive.

In the past Monkey Island games have always had a different and interesting final ‘boss fight’ and Rise of the Pirate God doesn’t fail to deliver that quintessential finale between Guybrush and Lechuck. This typically involves a few set locations with the zombie pirate chasing Guybrush away to the next, only allowing him a few minutes in each locale. In this time it is possible to alter or collect something which can eventually be used to deliver the final blow. It seems a fitting way to bring the adventure to a conclusion and its success is an acknowledgement as to why the mechanic is used so regularly.

The return of Monkey Island was a dream for many and one which some people thought would never come true. After the disappointment of previous games in the series (we’re looking at you Escape from Monkey Island!) and the decline in point and click adventure games, it seemed even more unlikely. However, thanks to Telltale Games, the Tales of Monkey Island is a tremendous chapter in the saga of Guybrushs’ toil against Lechuck. Throughout the chapter there are nods for fans which makes the whole thing feel much more special and it shows that Telltale know what they are doing, understanding the significant history which makes it such a beloved franchise.

It’s both encouraging and exciting that with the ending scene clearly leaves it open for a sequel and Telltale’s history means it shouldn’t be too long before a new story can be told. With them at the helm, it’s clear that Guybrush, Lechuck and the entire Monkey Island cast are in extremely safe and capable hands.