Editing The Curse of Monkey Island

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{{Short description|1997 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = The Curse of Monkey Island
| image = The Curse of Monkey Island artwork.jpg
| developer = [[LucasArts]]
| publisher = LucasArts
| director = [[Larry Ahern]]<br />[[Jonathan Ackley]]
| producer = 
| designer = Larry Ahern<br />Jonathan Ackley
| programmer = Jonathan Ackley<br />Aric Wilmunder
| artist = Larry Ahern<br />[[Bill Tiller]]
| writer = Jonathan Ackley<br />[[Chuck Jordan (game designer)|Chuck Jordan]]<br />Chris Purvis<br />Larry Ahern
| composer = [[Michael Land]]
| series = ''[[Monkey Island (series)|Monkey Island]]''
| engine = [[SCUMM]]<br />[[iMUSE]]
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]]<br />[[macOS|OS X]]
| released = '''Windows'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|November 11, 1997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ogr.com/news/news1197.html|title=News for November 11, 1997|date=November 1997|website=Online Gaming Review|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980207214936/http://ogr.com/news/news1197.html|archive-date=February 7, 1998|url-status=dead|access-date=December 5, 2019}}<br>"'''November 11, 1997:''' [The] Curse of Monkey Island from LucasArts ha[s] been released."</ref>|UK|November 14, 1997<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 14, 1997 |title=Multimedia Software: ''Monkey Island'' - Out Today |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/719937831 |access-date=October 19, 2024 |website=[[The Independent]]}}</ref>}}'''OS X'''<br/>{{vgrelease|WW|March 22, 2018}}
| genre = [[Graphic adventure game|Graphic adventure]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
}}

'''''The Curse of Monkey Island''''' is an [[adventure game|adventure]] [[PC game]] developed and published by [[LucasArts]] in 1997. A sequel to 1991's ''[[Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge]],'' it is the third game in the [[Monkey Island (series)|''Monkey Island'' series]].

It follows protagonist [[Guybrush Threepwood]] as he seeks to lift a curse from his love [[Elaine Marley]], while once again being menaced by [[undead]] pirate [[LeChuck]]. It was made by a different creative team than the prior games, and took new directions in graphics and gameplay: The art has a [[cartoon]]-like [[Traditional animation|cel animation]] style, and the previous games' verb command and inventory menus are replaced by a pop-up action menu and inventory chest. ''The Curse of Monkey Island'' was the twelfth and final LucasArts game to use the [[SCUMM]] engine, which was extensively upgraded for the game. It was the first game in the series to be released on [[CD-ROM]], allowing for a full musical score, fully animated [[cutscene]]s, and the introduction of [[voice acting]] for the characters. [[Dominic Armato]], [[Alexandra Boyd]], and [[Earl Boen]] respectively voiced Guybrush, Elaine, and LeChuck, and would reprise these roles in later installments.

The game sold well, particularly in Germany; lead background artist [[Bill Tiller]] estimated that it sold half a million units worldwide over the next several years. It was nominated for several gaming awards, and was named the best adventure game of the year by several gaming publications. It was followed in 2000 by ''[[Escape from Monkey Island]]'', which again took the series' graphics and gameplay in new directions.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Curse of Monkey Island screenshot.png|thumb|left|A scene from ''The Curse of Monkey Island'' shows Guybrush Threepwood and Wally below decks in LeChuck's ship, with the coin-shaped pop-up menu indicating possible actions.]]
''The Curse of Monkey Island'' is a [[point-and-click adventure game]]. The [[SCUMM]] engine used to create the interface in the previous ''Monkey Island'' games was also used for this installment, but the verb command and inventory menus which previously took up the lower portion of the screen are replaced by a pop-up action menu and inventory chest, allowing the game's scenes to occupy the entire screen. This was modeled on a similar system used for 1995's ''[[Full Throttle (1995 video game)|Full Throttle]]''.

The player controls Guybrush's actions using a [[computer mouse]] and optional [[keyboard shortcut]]s. An on-screen cursor changes color to indicate objects or people with which Guybrush may interact. The player can then bring up the action menu, which resembles a gold coin and has three icons: a hand, a skull, and a parrot, respectively corresponding to actions related to the hands, eyes and mouth. The hand typically corresponds to physical actions such as picking something up, using an item, or operating a mechanism; the skull is usually used to look at something; and the parrot to talk to someone or eat something. Alternatively, clicking the right mouse button acts as shortcut to perform the most obvious action; right clicking on a person, for example, will cause Guybrush to talk to them.

The player can also bring up their inventory, which appears as an open [[chest (furniture)|chest]] taking up most of the screen and containing all of the items which Guybrush has collected. By clicking and dragging items around the screen, the player can attempt to use them with other objects in the inventory (for example, combining a diamond with an engagement band to make a diamond ring), or with objects or people in the current scene.

At the start of the game, the player may choose between two difficulty levels: a normal mode, or a "Mega-Monkey" mode with more puzzles to solve. Similarly, during the game's third chapter, a choice is offered to either have Guybrush's crew assist with ship-to-ship sea combat, or for the player to have full control during these battles.

==Plot==
Following the events of ''[[Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge|Monkey Island 2]]'', [[Guybrush Threepwood]] has regained his adult form and escaped from the [[zombie]] pirate [[LeChuck]]'s "Carnival of the Damned". Drifting to Plunder Island, he finds his love interest [[Elaine Marley]] under siege by LeChuck. Guybrush is captured and encounters Wally, the diminutive cartographer from the previous game. His actions in escaping cause LeChuck to drop a "voodoo cannonball" which explodes, seemingly obliterating the villain. Guybrush proposes to Elaine using a diamond ring he found in LeChuck's treasure hold, but Wally reveals that it carries a curse. Elaine is transformed into a gold statue and soon stolen by pirates. Guybrush receives guidance from the Voodoo Lady, who assisted him in his prior adventures. She tells him that to save Elaine, he must replace the ring with a non-cursed one of greater value which can be found on Blood Island.

Through actions involving a chicken restaurant, a barber shop, a theater performance, [[caber toss]]ing, a [[banjo]] duel, [[ventriloquism]] and an exclusive beach club, Guybrush recovers Elaine, obtains a map to Blood Island, commandeers a ship and assembles a crew of three pirate barbers. However, the map is soon stolen by the vain Captain Rottingham. By engaging in sea battles with other pirates, Guybrush acquires treasure to upgrade his ship's cannons, and learns enough barbs and retorts to defeat Rottingham in rhyming insult sword fighting. Guybrush's ship is caught in a storm and crashes on Blood Island. Meanwhile, LeChuck returns as a fiery demon still bent on eliminating Guybrush and forcing Elaine to become his bride.

On Blood Island, Guybrush encounters the cannibals from Monkey Island, now volcano-worshipping vegetarians. He also finds Stan, a salesman from the previous games, who sets up an insurance business. Guybrush's quests on the island involve a hotel, nacho cheese, a [[hangover]] cure, [[tofu]], [[crypt]]s, a talking skull named Murray, a broken lighthouse, and a makeshift compass. He meets the ghost of a [[debutante]] who was seduced by LeChuck, who stole the diamond from her heirloom engagement ring and sold it to smugglers on nearby Skull Island. Guybrush acquires her engagement band by reuniting her with another lost love, and cheats at [[poker]] to win the diamond from the smugglers. Putting the two together, he places the ring on Elaine's finger and breaks the curse, restoring her to normal. However, Guybrush and Elaine are swiftly captured by LeChuck's minions and taken to his Carnival of the Damned on Monkey Island.

LeChuck reveals that Big Whoop, the treasure Guybrush sought in the prior game, is actually a portal to hell which turns those who pass through it into immortal [[undead]]. When Elaine first spurned him, LeChuck set out to impress her by finding the secret of Monkey Island. His ship was caught in a [[typhoon]], and he was marooned on Blood Island until a ship captained by Elaine's grandfather arrived. Learning that Captain Marley and his crew had a map to Big Whoop, Lechuck stole the debutante's diamond, sold it to the smugglers, bought a ship, and beat them to its location on Monkey Island, where he passed through the portal and gained supernatural powers. Marley and his crew divided up the map to keep anyone else from finding Big Whoop. LeChuck arranged the crew members' deaths, and sent Marley and his ship into a [[whirlpool]]. Dinky Island, where the map pieces led Guybrush, is an [[atoll]] off the coast of Monkey Island, connected to it by underground tunnels. LeChuck built the Big Whoop Carnival to lure sailors onto a roller coaster which carries them into a river of lava, turning them into his skeletal army.

LeChuck transforms Guybrush into a child, but he manages to break the spell and board the roller coaster. Jumping off at [[diorama]]s depicting scenes from the previous games, Guybrush improvises an explosive and sets off an avalanche, burying LeChuck under the theme park. Guybrush and Elaine marry and set sail for their honeymoon.

==Development==
''The Curse of Monkey Island'' was announced during the [[European Computer Trade Show]] in September 1996.<ref name=monkeyislandsales>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970606050347/http://www.next-generation.com/news/091196f.html | url=http://www.next-generation.com:80/news/091196f.html | title=ECTS: Lucas Monkeying Around | date=September 11, 1996 | author=Staff | archive-date=June 6, 1997 | work=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cdmag.com/news/0912961.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970101094009/http://www.cdmag.com/news/0912961.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 January 1997|title=Computer Games Online News|date=1 January 1997}}</ref> According to ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'', the game's predecessors had been "relatively minor hit[s]" in the United States, but became blockbusters on the PC and the Amiga throughout Europe.<ref name=monkeyislandsales /> ''Monkey Island'' creator [[Ron Gilbert]] had parted ways with the series after ''Monkey Island 2'', and the new project leaders were [[Jonathan Ackley]] and [[Larry Ahern]], both of whom had previously worked on ''[[Full Throttle (1995 video game)|Full Throttle]]'' (the interface of the game was adopted almost entirely). The lead background artist was [[Bill Tiller]].

During production, examples of major changes include enhancing the role of Murray, the talking skull. Originally intended only to be featured in the first chapter, he proved so popular with test players that he was written to reappear at several points later in the game.

The game was later rereleased on a CD-ROM compilation of ''Monkey Island'' games, bundled with ''The Secret of Monkey Island'' and ''Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge'' called the ''Monkey Island Bounty Pack''.

After the game shipped, a ''Monkey Island'' film was in the works. This was only brought to light when Tony Stacchi, a [[Concept design|concept artist]] for the project, sent his work to The Scumm Bar, a ''Monkey Island'' [[fansite]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Monkey Island movie art? |publisher=The Scumm Bar |url=http://www.scummbar.com/index.php?newssniffer=readcomment&news=808 |date=2005-01-09 |access-date=2008-03-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305075713/http://www.scummbar.com/index.php?newssniffer=readcomment&news=808 |archive-date=2008-03-05}}</ref> The film was cancelled in the early stages of development but Tony Stacchi published the artwork on his portfolio.<ref>{{cite web | title = Tony Stacchi's FOLIO | publisher=stacchi.com| url = http://www.stacchi.com/folio/ | access-date=2008-03-30 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090619222945/http://www.stacchi.com/folio/ | archive-date = 2009-06-19}}</ref>

===Audio===
[[Michael Land]], who provided much of the music for the first two games, composed the score. ''The Curse of Monkey Island'' was the first game in the series to feature [[voice acting]]. The primary voice cast consisted of [[Dominic Armato]] as [[Guybrush Threepwood]]; [[Alexandra Boyd]] as [[Elaine Marley]] and Son Pirate; [[Earl Boen]] as [[LeChuck]]; [[Denny Delk]] as [[Minor characters in Monkey Island#Murray the demonic talking skull|Murray]], Skully, and Father Pirate; [[Neil Ross]] as Wally B. Feed; [[Alan Young]] as Haggis McMutton; [[Michael Sorich]] as Edward Van Helgen and Charles DeGoulash (Ghost Groom); [[Gregg Berger]] as Cutthroat Bill; and [[Leilani Jones (actress)|Leilani Jones Wilmore]] as the Voodoo Lady. Other voice actors included [[Kay E. Kuter]] as Griswold Goodsoup, [[Tom Kane]] as Captain René Rottingham and the Flying Welshman, [[Patrick Pinney]] as Stan, and [[Victor Raider-Wexler]] as Slappy Cromwell and the Snowcone Guy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134599/fullcredits#cast |title=Full cast and crew for The Curse of Monkey Island |publisher=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb]] |access-date=2007-11-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727044618/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134599/fullcredits |archive-date=2009-07-27}}</ref> Notables among the remaining voices include [[Mary Kay Bergman]] as Minnie "Stronie" Goodsoup (Ghost Bride), [[Gary Coleman]] as Kenny Falmouth, and future ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]'' star [[Glenn Quinn]] as Pirate #5.

===Differences in localized versions===
Non-English versions of the game omit the section at the beginning of the second CD, where Guybrush's crew sings the song "A Pirate I Was Meant To Be". In this section, the player as Guybrush has to stop the crew's singing - however, at each attempt, they just start a new stanza rhyming to the player's line, until he says a line ending with the word "[[Orange (word)#Rhyme|orange]]" making the song unable to continue. As the whole section relies on Anglophonic rhyming, it was removed from non-English versions of the game.

==Reception==
===Sales===
''The Curse of Monkey Island'' sold 52,049 copies in the United States by the end of 1997, according to market research firm [[PC Data]].<ref name=pcgsales1>{{cite journal| author=Staff| date=April 1998|volume=5|issue=4|title=How Did the ''PCG'' Award Winners Fare? |journal=[[PC Gamer US]]|page=45}}</ref> Another 40,538 copies were purchased in the country between January 1998 and July 1998, which drew revenues of $1.57 million for the period.<ref name=pcdata1998>{{cite magazine| author=Staff |title=Letters; Mys-Adventures |date=November 1998 |issue=172| magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | pages=34}}</ref> The game was a success in the German market: Heinrich Lenhardt of ''[[PC Gamer US]]'' wrote, "[I]f it wasn't for the sales figures in Germany, LucasArts probably wouldn't have bothered" to continue the franchise.<ref name=global>{{cite journal | author=Lenhardt, Heinrich | title=Gaming Goes Global | date=July 2001 | volume=8 | number=7 | journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | pages=44–47, 50–52}}</ref> In the second half of November 1997, ''Curse'' debuted at #4 on [[:de:Media Control|Media Control]]'s computer game sales charts for the German market.<ref name=nov1997>{{cite journal | author=Staff | title=Verkaufs-Charts | date=February 1998 | journal=[[PC Player (German magazine)|PC Player]] | page=68}}</ref> It held in the top 10 through January 1998, peaking in third place for the first half of December,<ref name=dec1997>{{cite journal | author=Staff | title=Spiele-Charts | journal=[[PC Player (German magazine)|PC Player]] | language=de | date=March 1998 | page=54}}</ref><ref name=jan1998>{{cite journal | author=Staff | title=Spiele-Charts | language=de | journal=[[PC Player (German magazine)|PC Player]] | date=April 1998 | page=64}}</ref> and its streak in the top 20 continued through March.<ref name=feb1998>{{cite journal | author=Staff | title=Spiele-Charts | date=May 1998 | journal=[[PC Player (German magazine)|PC Player]] | language=de | page=76}}</ref><ref name=mar1998-de>{{cite journal | author=Staff | title=Spiele-Charts | language=de | journal=[[PC Player (German magazine)|PC Player]] | date=June 1998 | page=76}}</ref> The game had spent 24 weeks in Media Control's top rankings by the end of May, when it secured 27th place.<ref name=mediacontrol>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980614022936/http://www.vud.de:80/charts/chart1.html  |url=http://www.vud.de:80/charts/chart1.html | title=Charts: CD-ROM Spiele über DM 55,-- | publisher=Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland | archive-date=June 14, 1998 | language=de | url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 1998, ''Curse'' received a "Gold" award from the [[:de:Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland|Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland]] (V.U.D.),<ref name=vud1998>{{cite press release | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000713050154/http://www.vud.de:80/infopres/cebit98.htm| url=http://www.vud.de:80/infopres/cebit98.htm | title=Uhr TCM Hannover – ein glänzender Event auf der CebitHome | date=August 26, 1998 | publisher=[[:de:Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland|Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland]] | archive-date=July 13, 2000 | language=de | url-status=dead}}</ref> indicating sales of at least 100,000 units across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.<ref name=gameprogold>{{cite magazine | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718145345/https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/vud-gold-awards-2003,1290773.html | url=https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/vud-gold-awards-2003,1290773.html | title=VUD-Gold-Awards 2003 | author=Horn, Andre | date=January 14, 2004 | magazine=[[GamePro|GamePro Germany]] | archive-date=July 18, 2018 | url-status=live}}</ref>

The game remained on shelves by 2001: that year, PC Data reported sales of another 19,552 units in North America.<ref name=randysales3>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020619111456/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/Mar-02/sales2001.shtm | url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/Mar-02/sales2001.shtm | title=State of Adventure Gaming - March 2002 - 2001 Sales Table | date=March 2002 | author=Sluganski, Randy | archive-date=June 19, 2002 | work=[[Just Adventure]] | url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Louis Castle]] of [[Westwood Studios]] estimated ''The Curse of Monkey Island''{{'}}s lifetime sales at 300,000 copies by 2002,<ref name=800k>{{cite journal | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030627220215/http://www.gamestudies.org/0202/pearce/ | url=http://www.gamestudies.org:80/0202/pearce/ | title=The Player with Many Faces | author=Pearce, Celia | date=December 2002 | volume=2 | issue=2 | journal=Game Studies | url-status=live | archive-date=June 27, 2003}}</ref> while LucasArts' [[Bill Tiller]] stated in 2003 that ''CMI'' sold over half a million units worldwide.<ref name=inventoryint>{{cite magazine | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813153740/http://www.justadventure.com:80/TheInventory/TheInventory.shtm | url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/TheInventory/TheInventory.shtm | title=The Celebrity Corner; Interview with Bill Tiller | date=March 2003 | issue=5 | magazine=The Inventory | publisher=[[Just Adventure]] | archive-date=August 13, 2006 | pages=8–19 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Tiller recalled total sales between 700,000 and 800,000 copies in 2009.<ref name=mojo4>{{cite web| author=Staff |title=LucasArts' Secret History: ''The Curse of Monkey Island'': Buried Treasures: Bills Eaken and Tiller|url=https://mixnmojo.com/features/sitefeatures/LucasArts-Secret-History-The-Curse-of-Monkey-Island/5|website=The International House of Mojo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029003120/https://mixnmojo.com/features/sitefeatures/LucasArts-Secret-History-The-Curse-of-Monkey-Island/5|archive-date=October 29, 2016 |date=May 21, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Critical reviews===
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 89/100<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-curse-of-monkey-island/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=The Cure of Monkey Island Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=2014-11-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122200918/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/the-curse-of-monkey-island |archive-date=2015-01-22}}</ref>
| AdvGamers = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="ag review"/>
| Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5432&tab=review|title=The Curse of Monkey Island - Review|website=[[AllGame]]|author=House, Michael L.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115033614/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=5432&tab=review|archive-date=2014-11-15|access-date=2014-11-15}}</ref>
| CGW = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name=cgw>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_164.pdf |title=Monkey Shines (The Curse of Monkey Island Review) |author=Green, Jeff |author-link=Jeff Green (writer) |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |issue=164 |date=March 1998 |pages=152–153 |access-date=September 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000816005005/http://www.gamespot.com/adventure/monkey3/review_cgw.html |archive-date=August 16, 2000 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| Edge = 8/10<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Curse of Monkey Island|author=Edge staff|magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]|issue=53|date=December 25, 1997}}</ref>
| GSpot = 9/10<ref name="gamespot review"/>
| NGen = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="NG"/>
| PCGUS = 95%<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/289.html|title=Curse of Monkey Island, The|journal=[[PC Gamer]]|author=Trotter, William R.|date=February 1998|page=95|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991206173715/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/289.html|archive-date=1999-12-06|url-status=dead|access-date=2014-11-15}}</ref>
| PCZone = 92%<ref name="pczone review"/>
| rev5 = ''[[GamePro#PC Games|PC Games]]''
| rev5Score = A<ref name=pcgamesrev>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990828060811/http://www.games.net/pcgames/articles/0,1034,1211,00.html?CHANNEL=pcgames&AD_SECTION=review | url=http://www.games.net:80/pcgames/articles/0,1034,1211,00.html?CHANNEL=pcgames&AD_SECTION=review | title=''The Curse of Monkey Island'' | date=January 5, 1998 | author=Brenesal, Barry | work=[[GamePro#PC Games|PC Games]] | archive-date=August 28, 1999 | url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' said that ''The Curse of the Monkey Island'' is a worthy addition in LucasArts's pantheon of the adventure games.<ref name=cgw /> [[GameSpot]] praised the cartoonish graphical style, the music, the pop culture witticisms, the characters, and the challenging but not frustrating puzzles.<ref name="gamespot review">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-curse-of-monkey-island-review/1900-2542629/|title=The Curse of Monkey Island Review|website=[[GameSpot]]|author=Ryan, Michael E.|date=1997-11-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060412163227/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/curseofmonkeyisland/review.html|archive-date=2006-04-12|url-status=live|access-date=2014-11-15}}</ref> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' remarked that the game is superficially attractive, with LucasArts's usual superlative production values showing in the music, artwork, voice acting, and animation, but suffers from uninspired puzzle design, a lack of a strong narrative pull, an absence of genuine innovation over the first two ''Monkey Island'' games, and a number of pop culture references that serve only to jerk the player out of the atmosphere. They concluded that the game is just barely fun enough to satisfy fans of the series.<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=39|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|date=March 1998|page=113}}</ref> Just Adventure praised the game's music as enjoyable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/CMI/CMI_Review.shtm|title=Review: The Curse of Monkey Island|publisher=Just Adventure|author=Rollo, Peter|date=1997-11-25|access-date=2006-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610140248/http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/CMI/CMI_Review.shtm |archive-date=2011-06-10}}</ref> Adventure Classic Gaming addressed plot criticism, saying "Some gamers may criticize the numerous farfetched plot twists in this game", while "some may just call it creative writing!",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/51/ |title=The Curse of Monkey Island Review |publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming |author=Linkola, Joonas |date=1998-01-10 |access-date=2006-01-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060321123414/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/51 |archive-date=2006-03-21}}</ref> and Adrenaline Vault likened ''The Curse of Monkey Island'' to the adventure genre as a whole: "The twin vitals of an adventure game are a good plot coupled with strong dialogue. This game has both, in spades".{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

Although [[Adventure Gamers]] cited the graphic style's "refusal to take itself seriously" was adding "immensely to the game's charm", they found the [[Minor characters in Monkey Island|secondary characters]] "criminally underdeveloped" and the ending as anticlimactic.<ref name="ag review">{{cite web|url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17499|title=The Curse of Monkey Island Review|publisher=[[Adventure Gamers]]|author=Schembri, Tamara|date=2002-05-20|access-date=2013-11-13}}</ref> The abrupt ending of the game received criticism from GameSpot, Just Adventure and ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'', the last of which called it "the game's only real disappointment".<ref name=cgw /> ''[[PC Zone]]'' described that due to the introduction of cartoonish graphics "for ''Monkey'' devotees of the first two titles something tiny and almost intangible has been lost", while still scoring the game a 92/100, praising the voice over work and humor of the game.<ref name="pczone review">{{cite journal|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3210|title=PC Review: Monkey Island 3: The Curse Of Monkey Island|journal=[[PC Zone]]|author=Lopez, Amaya|year=1997|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407171909/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=3210|archive-date=2008-04-07|url-status=dead|access-date=2014-11-15}}</ref>

In a retrospective review, RPGFan commented that the additions of detailed graphics and the spoken dialogue managed to take the story to a whole new level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/monkeyisland3/Monkey_Island_3.html |title=The Curse of Monkey Island Review |author=Slime |publisher=RPGFan |date=2001 |access-date=2006-01-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060521072828/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/monkeyisland3/Monkey_Island_3.html |archive-date=2006-05-21}}</ref>

===Awards===
The [[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] nominated ''The Curse of Monkey Island'' for "Computer Entertainment Title of the Year", "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Adventure Game of the Year|PC Adventure Game of the Year]]", and "[[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction|Outstanding Achievement in Art/Graphics]]" at the [[1st Annual Interactive Achievement Awards|inaugural Interactive Achievement Awards]],<ref name=aias1997-2>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615090128/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardupdate.htm |url=http://www.interactive.org:80/html/award/awardupdate.htm |title=The Award; Award Updates |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |archive-date=June 15, 1998 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which were ultimately awarded to ''[[StarCraft (video game)|StarCraft]]'', ''[[Blade Runner (1997 video game)|Blade Runner]]'', and ''[[Riven: The Sequel to Myst]]'', respectively.<ref name=aias1997>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980615090115/http://www.interactive.org/html/award/awardwin98.htm |url=http://www.interactive.org:80/html/award/awardwin98.htm |title=The Award; Award Updates |publisher=[[Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences]] |archive-date=June 15, 1998 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Similarly, the [[Game Developers Conference|Computer Game Developers Conference]] nominated ''Curse'' for four [[Spotlight Awards]], including "Best Adventure/RPG", but these ultimately went to other titles.<ref name=cgdc1998>{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990429031108/http://www.ogr.com/specials/cgdc98/08spotlight.html | url=http://www.ogr.com/specials/cgdc98/08spotlight.html | title=Spotlight Award Winners | date=May 8, 1998 | author=Jensen, Chris | work=Online Gaming Review | publisher=[[Computer Games Magazine|Strategy Plus, Inc.]] | archive-date=April 29, 1999 | url-status=dead}}</ref> However, it was named the best adventure game of 1997 by ''[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]]'',<ref name=cgmawards1997>{{cite web|author=Staff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050206152953/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/009/194/1997_cgsp_awards.html |url=http://www.cdmag.com:80/articles/009/194/1997_cgsp_awards.html |title=The winners of the 1997 ''Computer Games'' Awards |date=January 19, 1998 |work=[[Computer Games Magazine|Computer Games Strategy Plus]] |archive-date=February 6, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'',<ref name=cgwpremier1997>{{cite magazine | author=Staff | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | title=''CGW'' Presents The Best & Worst of 1997 |date=March 1998 | issue=164 | pages=74–77, 80, 84, 88, 89}}</ref> [[GameSpot]] and ''[[PC Gamer US]]''.<ref name=gamespot1997>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010208121409/http://www.gamespot.com/features/awards97/cont.html |url=http://www.gamespot.com:80/features/awards97/cont.html |title=Best & Worst Awards 1997 |author=Staff |work=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=February 8, 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="pcgsales1"/> It also won GameSpot's "Best Cinematics" prize.<ref name=gamespot1997 /> The editors of ''Computer Gaming World'' wrote: "Simply everything is done right in this game: lush graphics, outstanding voice acting, strong storyline, clever puzzles, and, best of all, a script with more big laughs in it than just about anything at the movies these days. It is, easily, the most entertaining adventure in years".<ref name=cgwpremier1997 />

==Legacy==
In 1998, ''[[PC Gamer]]'' declared it the 33rd-best computer game ever released, and the editors called it "a grand, timeless adventure, sharply written and flawlessly voice-acted".<ref name=pcgtop50>{{cite journal | author=The ''PC Gamer'' Editors | title=The 50 Best Games Ever | date=October 1998 | volume=5 | number=10 | journal=[[PC Gamer US]] | pages=86, 87, 89, 90, 92, 98, 101, 102, 109, 110, 113, 114, 117, 118, 125, 126, 129, 130}}</ref>

In 2008, Ron Gilbert praised ''The Curse of Monkey Island'', calling it "great" and remarking that "they did an excellent job of capturing the humor and feel of the game".<ref name=rogue>{{cite book | author=Smith, Rob | title=[[Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts]] | date=November 26, 2008 | publisher=[[Chronicle Books]] | page=56 | isbn=978-0-8118-6184-7}}</ref>

In 2011, [[Adventure Gamers]] named ''The Curse of Monkey Island'' the 45th-best adventure game ever released.<ref name=top100>{{cite web | author=AG Staff | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604021011/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 | url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 | title=Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games | date=December 30, 2011 | archive-date=June 4, 2012 | work=[[Adventure Gamers]] | url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19990829032503/http://www.lucasarts.com/products/monkey/Default.htm Official web page] ([[Internet Archive]] link)
* {{IMDb title|0134599}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131208144017/http://miwiki.net/The_Curse_of_Monkey_Island ''The Curse of Monkey Island''] at the Monkey Island Wiki ([[Internet Archive]] link)
* {{moby game|id=/windows/curse-of-monkey-island}}

{{Monkey Island series}}
{{LucasArts adventure games}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Curse of Monkey Island, The}}
[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:Adventure games]]
[[Category:Annie Award winners]]
[[Category:LucasArts games]]
[[Category:Monkey Island games]]
[[Category:Point-and-click adventure games]]
[[Category:SCUMM games]]
[[Category:ScummVM-supported games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games about curses]]
[[Category:Video games about pirates]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Michael Land]]
[[Category:Video games set in the 17th century]]
[[Category:Video games set on fictional islands]]
[[Category:Windows games]]