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Curse of Monkey Island, The

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9.4 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 9 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 31 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: LucasArts

Developer: LucasArts

Genre(s): Adventure

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: November 1, 1997

Summary

Quick - what has dozens of monkeys, ghost pirates galore and more insults than a cranky parrot? Why, The Curse of Monkey Island, of course! In this highly anticipated third installment to LucasArts' popular Monkey Island series of graphic adventures, Guybrush Threepwood once again takes up dull blade and rapier wit against the nefarious demon-pirate LeChuck. In Curse, Guybrush must save his one true love, Elaine Marley, from being turned into the evil pirate's zombie bride. But, hoping to marry Elaine himself, Guybrush unknowingly slips a cursed ring onto her finger that transforms her into a gold statue. He must then find a way to change Elaine back to her beautiful self and stop LeChuck from carrying out his sinister plans. Aye, 'tis a rollicking piratey adventure that's sure to challenge the mind and shiver a few timbers! [LucasArts]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Escape From Monkey Island

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Just Adventure

After playing, and enjoying this game for so long, you really need an ending that gives you a sense of completion and satisfaction. Unfortunately, CMI fails to deliver it. The ending is extremely brief and anticlimatic. With the ending aside, The Curse of Monkey Island is a wonderful game that no adventure gamer should be without. Period. I can safely say that no other game has given me this degree of enjoyment.

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PC Gamer

If this isn't destined to be a classic, I'll swallow a cutlass. [Feb 1998, p.95]

Gamezilla!

Whether you're looking for a good adventure, or just a good laugh, beautiful animation, or great sound, there's something for everyone in this game. It is an excellent value, and will certainly become a gaming classic.

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Computer Games Magazine

In essence, what adds real finesse to Curse of Monkey Island is that no one element screams above the rest for recognition. It possesses that "unity of style" across the board for which everyone strives but so few achieve.

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GameSpot

Like its predecessors, Curse has all the makings of a classic: great gameplay, fantastic graphics and music, challenging puzzles, a complex plot, and hilarious dialogue.

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Just RPG

This is one of the few games that actually perks one’s spirits up when they are a bit on the lower side. I simply cannot recommend it enough.

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Adrenaline Vault

As with a good book, this game demands attention and you won'twant to stop playing it. It's a lot of fun to laugh, especially atthis signature brand of humor. With its cartoonish artwork, crisp soundeffects, and brilliant character acting, Monkey will draw you inand have you laughing for a long time.

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All Game Guide

The only downfall of Curse is that it seems to end abruptly...That aside, The Curse of Monkey Island is a magnificent game that almost any adventure game fan should be able to enjoy. Its great fun and humorous attitude should appeal to most gamers.

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Adventure Gamers

However good the game is, it must be said that it is far too short, and the ending is a little rushed. Two days of gameplay is simply not enough for a modern adventure game.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.4 (out of 10) based on 31 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

A C gave it a7:
There is little else to be said about the quality of the remake, graphically and audibly. It is superb. Character animations, voice acting, and backdrops look terrific. The most significant problem with the game is little of the game play was changed. The obscure non-sensical puzzles are all still there. Pixel hunting, interactable environmental objects that do not light up when mouse-overed, annoying 9 action verb selection, and some eye rolling solutions make this an unfortunately poor adventure game that pales in comparison to The Longest Journey, Grim Fandango, and other staples of the series. Maybe nostalgics would complain heresy if the above annoyances were fixed. Which is sad, as a new generation of gamers will miss out on a genre that is begging for a revival.

Daniel M. gave it a10:
One of the best adventures ever made! The music is great. The humor is hilarious. The puzzles a sometimes hard, but you can solve them, if you think a little crazy...just like in every other Monkey island game. The Graphics are beutiful. I wish a modern adventure would be as great as this, but there are none.

Will T gave it a10:
If you are an adventure game lover, I would recommend this as one of the shining examples of how great they can be. The art direction is simply spectacular, with so much fine detail that it is impossible to take in in one sitting. The music, composed by Michael Land, is some of the least-instrusive I have ever heard. It fits the game so perfectly and I often find myself humming 'A pirate I was meant to be'. The puzzles can be a little difficult at some points on hard, but the payoff jokes are always worth it.

David D gave it a0:
This is by far the worst game of all time. Anyone who likes to play this game needs to get a life and grow up, unless your a kid and then I can see that you would like this. It has the worst music of anything I have ever heard and the characters are so freaking retarded they make me want to hurt someone. If I could I would flat out slap the creator in the face.

Dan T. gave it a10:
A piece of gaming history. The Curse of Monkey Island (CMI) featured a pionary graphics engine that redefined the benchmarks of the period with its unique, cartoon-like, yet extrenely appealing style. Hillarity and replayability are a given; even in 2008, 11 years after it's release, this is still a fantastic game that can stand proudly alongside many of the latest releases in the collection of any hardcore and casual gamers alike.

Paul W. gave it a10:
A 9.9 rating (surely 10 really) won't be surprising to those, like me, who find the level of animation and voice work in Curse of Monkey Island to be unsurpassed but Ron Gilbert, who was behind the first 2 games, didn't want anything to do with this one and still won't speak in its praise. Sure, it's easier than the first 2 games but I'd prefer to see the whole of a game anyway. It essentially delivers on all the the promises laid down and only slightly delivered by 'Dragon's Lair'- it's a game that gives you the opportunity to wallow in a superb cartoon. A particular highlight to me was the island in the shape of a duck. This game was nearly made into a film orginally. It's film's loss and a truly unique addition to gaming that remains overlooked by most dullard PC gamers obsessed with games with stats or FPS.

Tom R. gave it a10:
I'm in love with Monkey Island. Seriously. We're getting married.

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Curse of Monkey Island, The

Game Info

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