Monkey Island - The Story So Far (What You Need to Know to Play Return to Monkey Island)

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This month we #ReturnToMonkeyIsland so what better time than now to re-visit Guybrush Threepwood's previous adventures?
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Video Chapters
(Years shown are the years the games were released)
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - The Secret of Monkey Island
11:39 - Monkey Island 2 - LeChuck’s Revenge
20:19 - The Curse of Monkey Island
28:58 - Escape from Monkey Island
37:42 - Tales of Monkey Island
56:14 - Outro
All game footage captured and edited by Suggestive Gaming; please do not use without expressed permission.
#monkeyisland
Suggest a game/series for me to cover on What You Need to Know!
End card music by The Bagel Gang:
/ hey-suzy

[@SuggestiveGaming]

What series would you like to see me cover next?

[@ghostsstarwars1929]

call of duty ghosts and battlefield

[@abkb8i3es65]

Dragon quest

[@Late30sDude]

Sam and Max

[@eRasedXem]

@@Late30sDude THIS

[@eRasedXem]

Sam And Max! Praying the nw Monkey Island art style doesnt artificially spoil the game for me cos im a moany old bastard who hates change... I started on Monkey 2 (Born 1991 haha) didnt play 1/2 until a few years ago when remasters came. Grim Fandango prob one of the best games ever (not just adventures) but its not a series so hmmmm...

[@odog3638]

Man I've gotta say, Guybrush is probably one of my favorite video game protagonists. He was the perfect mix between goofy, charming, charismatic and compassionate. He knew when to be funny but also when to be serious. Another great video suggestive gaming.

[@davecross4493]

He isn't very compassionate. He steals from people all the time. 😆

[@odog3638]

@@davecross4493 Sometimes compassionate.

[@hlibushok]

He's like a mix between Jack Sparrow and Will Turner.

[@odog3638]

@@hlibushok That's a perfect description, you read my mind.👍🏼

[@LonelyPandora]

Bet you'll see a lot of Sea of Thieves players coming here to get a summary of the story with the cross-over coming soon.

[@davidd.5524]

Reporting for duty!

[@da_figaro8723]

@@davidd.5524did the cross over happen ?

[@davidd.5524]

@@da_figaro8723 it did and I liked it

[@ShonenXIV]

@@da_figaro8723 It's still in the game.

[@jfussy4726]

😅

[@pilouuuu]

Curse, Escape, and Tales did a surprisingly good job of continuing Ron's saga. It's great that Ron included them in the canon.

[@surgicalglitch3265]

The Curse of Monkey Island was/is one of the best games of my childhood. I remember playing a demo of it on a CD and my dad got me the full game that week! Now that I look back on it, I really did have an amazing childhood and father. Thanks dad.

[@SuggestiveGaming]

Wholesome comment right there

[@boburrides]

The same cd I had the demo on had the Little Big Adventure 2 demo on it. I played that CD to shreds that summer. Some of my most beloved gaming memories.

[@KnightMD]

Same here. Curse of Monkey Island was the absolute best, in terms of story, art, everything. If he's going to ignore it, I'd rather find the writer of curse and follow a game he's planning to make.

[@JohnMcClane23]

My parents bought me Monkey Island 1 + 2 for the 1992 Christmas. Best Xmas present EVER!

[@ElPolloDiabloCH]

This is the second biggest story summary I've ever seen!

[@traal]

This reference is amazing. 😆👍🏻🥳

[@ininja32]

What was the biggest?

[@kevincairo8917]

@@ininja32 i- uh... look behind you! A three-headed monkey!

[@CrazyDlamond]

@@ininja32 .

[@FMGaming]

Is there a shorter version to this lol

[@andrewbaker3576]

I played Secret in 1993 when I was 12 on my uncle's amiga 600 which at the time was the best version of the game. I never got to monkey island but I played the game for dozens of hours. I then spent the next three years fantasizing about Monkey Island 2 which was in the Amiga magazine my uncle gave me before I went back to South Africa. In 1997 my friends got Secret of Monkey Island on 1.44 floppies and I was able to beat the game finally. In 1999, a year after moving to Canada I finally got me a copy of Monkey Island 2 and beat following a walkthrough lol, and then I beat Curse a year or so later legitimately. Loved the series. It defined my early years in gaming and I am glad Ron came back to entertain us with another.

[@cowpokesolo]

I had never heard of this game before Sea of Thieves. My God, did SoT make a damn good recreation of Melee Island. Can't wait to see what they do with Monkey Island itself!

[@thembill8246]

I had forgotten just how weird Monkey Island 4 was, and honestly how surprisingly good Tales was. It's been probably at least 10 years since I've played any of the games, so thank you for this before I start the new one.

[@HadynsTVdoc]

MI4 was my first playthrough and I love it. It is kinda weird after playing the first 3 though.

[@fightingkitchen7960]

I wonder how many people who are under the age of 20 excited for this. I'm 12 and have played all the Monkey Islands games except Escape to Monkey Island, and I had pretty much the same reaction as all the other fans who were excited by this. Monkey Island is my favorite Point and Click Adventure Game series.

[@themrgrunt2276]

Ive never played these before but love that i was able to see this before the new Monkey Island SoT update!

[@Nikioko]

5:42: If you don't do the theft as the last task, you get a romantic conversation with Elaine at this point instead.

[@Memememe-is1yn]

Wow, I never realized how much the Pirates of the Caribbean movies got from the plot lines and imagery in these games. Especially the first two.

[@SuggestiveGaming]

It was really a give and take. Monkey Island was inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, but the PotC movies are said to be birthed from a failed Monkey Island film adaptation. Either way they’re both based on the same source material, which is a cool little relation.

[@NTWoo95]

Ron Gilbert has said that he took most inspiration from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and the Tim Powers book from the 80s On Stranger Tides, which was the basis of the fourth Pirates movie 😁

[@JJW410]

I mean, it's about as piratey as any pirate media that's been around for a couple of hundred years now. I don't see what's so PotC about it?

[@jirisykora2104]

Watchind this before the new SoT crossover comes out! Thank You for making this!

[@blackshirt5004]

Who’s here from the Sea of Thieves trailer that just dropped? Excited for the collab!!!

[@crisdude1722]

Me lmao never knew much about monkey island until now

[@shadia2000]

My mom and I just took our time running errands and listening to this, WE LOVED IT!!! You did a great job and we were on the edge of our seats- I'd have been giving too many details too early and spoiling the story!!! I can't WAIT to play the new switch version!!

Curse of Monkey Island is one of my all time favorite games. Hope the new ones don't contradict it too much.

[@kainedakillerv2704]

I played the first 4 monkey island games but I never played tales from monkey island, so it was good to see that game and story been covered. Thank you for covering this amazing series! Congrats. You earned a sub here :)

[@monkeydevinebb]

Oh this series had such a big role in my childhood. Thanks for helping me relive some fond memories. Curse of MI and Escape From MI especially were big parts of my life growing up.

[@raechelgrantham8134]

Man, I've loved this series for so long! Thanks for covering it!

[@raphaelcandello1632]

I just want to say thank you... this was amazing! It really took me back and refreshed my memory of the story :)

[@Teflora]

thank you! Especially Tales of the Monkey Island was such a rollercoaster, this summary helped me greatly to remember everything!

[@Kerdack]

This is my favorite game series, glad to see a really good recap that I can send friends! Also, despite it's hate, Escape from Monkey Island's story and humor is really well done. The kaiju steampunk monkey robot still makes me smile.

[@skylynx8326]

Who’s here because of sea of thieves next cross over?

[@GeekMasterGames]

I really hope Morgan returns. She was the best addition from Tales.

[@SuggestiveGaming]

Morgan was great. I was always sad we never got to see what she did as a "Ghost Pirate Hunter"

[@ThePreciseClimber]

The best character post-MI2, honestly.

[@UnderTheBridge96]

No Morgan in Return :/ I was hoping she’d return as well

[@RealKatLikeme23]

Thank you SO MUCH! for this video I loved this series so much and can’t wait for the new one on Monday! Yaaaar!

[@Its_Mel_D]

20:34 This is by far my favourite out of all the monkey island games. The art style is so athletically pleasing.

[@ramchickedy9570]

Agreed! The cartoon style was fantastic. They should have stuck to it in part 4.

[@EyesArePlanets]

Thank you - this massively helps my anticipation for the new game, which was relatively low. Great work.

[@xkxxxx]

Amazing video, thanks for taking me down memory lane!

[@Transfixed]

Great summary! Curse was my first and favourite game of the series, so many fond memories. ☺

[@DGNG-dd3to]

Why does nostalgia hurt so much? I can't wait to play this!

[@pandaayi6394]

Even though Ron Gilbert wasn't a part of it Curse is still my favorite. But I can't wait to play the new game. I already preordered it :)

[@SuggestiveGaming]

Curse is definitely my favorite as well. There’s just something about the art, the music, and the overall atmosphere that gets me every time. Enjoy the horse armor!

[@arnefogge8502]

True fans will favor mi2. Plasticfans loves curse

[@ElimGarakSpoonHead]

@@arnefogge8502 Can I like all of the monkey island games? Or will that not be “Monkey island og” enough??

[@SuggestiveGaming]

@@arnefogge8502 you don’t have to gatekeep Monkey Island bro 😂

[@Powered1Buttercup]

Enjoy your useless horse armor 🤣🤣 I really thought it was a joke lmao

[@recall2880]

One of my fondest memories as a kid was getting on the bus to go into the city and what did I come across! The Monkey Island big box bounty pack! I held that game so right and couldn’t take my eyes off the artwork on the box on the whole journey back on the bus. That was so magical for me. It’s sad that the internet destroyed memories like that. Something arriving in the post just doesn’t cut it

[@Ocarina_87]

Awesome summery! I started on a demo of Curse as a kid but never got the full game, so Escape was the first Monkey Island game I actually played when that came out. Now that everything’s on Steam Ive played the first 3, currently playing Tales and will start Return when I’m finished :) Such classic and fun games to play (and really hard as 30+, I can’t play without some walkthrough!), I always loved Monkey Island

[@brucelee7782]

I love love love monkey island. I remember walking into a store one day as a kid and randomly discovering monkey island 4 in a cd pack, read the description, thought it was interesting and went why not? So I bought it and it was the best purchase of my life.

[@sarakennedy1592]

Never played this series but after watching this video, I can see why people like it. Really fun and entertaining.

[@dvncvn_4984]

Great video as always

[@jamiehav0k62]

Why do the idol trial last. You miss the whole guybrush/elaine falling in love on the docks cut scene that way!

[@azalea_k]

Just bought Return. I had 1 and 2 on the Amiga (I think 2 was something like 10 disks!!) and am already loving it, despite being a few minutes in.

[@pusmaster]

Great Recap!

[@User-pu3lc]

Picked up Return to Monkey Island to play over holiday break. It’s been great so far! I watched this video to get me up to speed on anything I might have missed since I only played the first game back in the day. Your recap really took me down memory lane 😊 Honestly, it feels like nothing meaningful was added since the first game and the narrative after the second game felt really uninspired. There’s a few off handed references from characters I felt out of the loop on, but other than that the new game really feels like “coming back”.

[@jaylu7021]

Love this series, went back to play money island the remaster and it was still fun.

[@moxbroker]

I got the first 2 for free so I’m gonna have to replay them before I dive into the Return.

[@dimnimrod2978]

Half an hour now!! Dominic Armato just dropped a video of him playing the theme on accordion in commemoration!!

[@raafmaat]

thanks! i played MI 1,2 and 3 so many times! but i completely forget about the story pretty much as soon as the games are over lolll

[@katiemartin487]

I've heard about this series, but never actually played it. I can't wait for the new one to come out, this series is so interesting.❤️😯

[@evilmiera]

We always love seeing new players!

[@casereddeath2553]

Tales was the monkey island’s game I started with and I still love to this day

[@troublewithweebles]

Just an interesting note(AND SPOILERS) for Uncharted 4: There are 11 pirate lords that unite under Capt. Henry Avery's leadership, but the main characters cannot remember the name of one of them. Though they say he became a fearsome swordsman, and his flag is a monkey, his name is never mentioned. From a development perspective, this is supposed to be Guybrush Threepwood, and he dies poisoned at a dinner table with the other pirate lords.

[@Blackout5871]

I played the first Monkey Island when I was a kid, but never got around to the following entries. Now I've gotta download them all n play it from the start.

[@salmakesthings]

This was fantastic, thank you.

[@crosscottonwood5984]

I do not know about Monkey Island, but now I have the means to learn at my disposal. Thank you, SuggestiveGaming!

[@Shangori]

Never played these games and surprised by the story itself. Its good.

[@philipmyers4481]

Growing up playing all the games an seeing my dad had a computer built with windows 95 an another one with windows 98 an I've still have them till this day an one still works lol. But played alot of the old games an love your video.

[@Moosy89]

the end with the 3 headed Money was insance..... !!!!! greetings from Germany im exided to hit the 19.september to play it !!!!! Moosy ♥

[@SirBenji]

I don't need the recap, just came to drop a like cause I played this as a kid and more people need to be aware of its existence and you doing this sure helps this new ones accessibility

[@mchepen]

i only played the curse when i was a kid, but by hearing this video i can tell peter mcconnell worked on escape from monkey island and im gonna have to play it now.

[@samvarghese7731]

Thank you making this video!

[@SRGIProductions]

I had no idea that Guybrush and Le Chuck were brothers. Makes me want to know the story of their childhood prior to the events of the first Monkey Island. UPDATE: I just had a theory. Maybe Guybrush and Chucky were both super close when they were kids, but at some point there was a misunderstanding or some sort of conflict between the two, causing resentment between the two brothers and eventually both of them going their separate ways once they reached adulthood. LeChuck became a pirate first while Guybrush aspired to be a pirate during the events of the first Monkey Island. When both met Governor Elaine Marley on Melée Island, they both unwittingly crossed paths again, and set themselves out to win the governor's affection. OBVIOUSLY, Guybrush won Elaine's heart, which makes me believe that lechuck was probably the least favorite child of the Threepwood brothers. It would make sense, seeing as how Guybrush is younger than LeChuck. Perhaps he was the spoiled younger sibling who had everything handed to him on a silver platter, with LeChuck being cast to the wayside.

[@MasterKeith]

How good was escape from monkey islands art direction and music! Good memories

[@big_trout4766]

Anyone here cause of the new Sea Of Thieves Crossover?

[@PolterkittyOfficial]

I love Monkey Island. Grew up with it. I have all of them. On Steam and the Switch.

[@Mediados]

I always like story drive games, I always like pirate stories. Problem is, I have only remotely heard about Monkey Island, so this is very much appreciated.

[@LordOfClarkness]

Funny thing is that the game has its own „previously on“ section. You did the better job honestly.

[@Dreadjaws]

Thank you for this. I've played these games numerous times (particularly the first two), but it's been a while. I wanted to replay the whole series to keep it fresh in my mind in preparation for Return, but for one reason or another I couldn't make the time. I'm still in the middle of Escape and there's no way I can finish it (let alone play Tales) before the game releases tomorrow. Now I don't have to.

[@kingvincentpo9695]

Tales of Monkey Island is still a must play game. You should try it if you have the time.

[@Dreadjaws]

@@kingvincentpo9695 But I have played it before. I have played them all. I just didn't get the chance to replay it before this one's launch.

[@DogandWolfGaming]

Somehow, LeChuck returned... Gotta love it everytime lol.

[@Theycallmetomu]

Jojo in a giant metal monkey, that's quite the bizarre adventure.

[@King_10087]

Good video keep it up.

[@renerivera9715]

Never heard of this game but looks good 👍

[@happicheshirecat]

Same here

[@ruquang89]

the secret of monkey island is one of my first gaming memories and what i blame for getting me into gaming

[@Monkeelious]

okay, this is definitely a sea of thieves reference

[@Dumpstermuffin1]

LOL the buried treasure is a tshirt and his power is he can hold his breath for 10 minutes, phatt booty. Love the comedy in these old school games

[@Oddballkane]

I guess the secret could be how a landlines phone gets a connection to a tree, and the call handler is of no use on answering questions.

[@RinzlerWraith]

Love that monkey islands legendary status and influence made it all the way into uncharted 4.

[@rinthewolf]

I didn't know they were making another monkey island!

[@paulb17110]

this game always ended at number 2 for me, i'm really enjoying return to monkey island now so much nostalgia haha

[@xlAdvancedlx]

The names in this series are fun

[@TheAceWolfe01]

I still wish we'd gotten a season 2 of Tales

[@Bloodshade]

Scumbar on YT has full playthroughs of all the games. I legit have spent at least 200 hours watching and rewatching his gameplay in the background while I’m at work lmao. You can see my comments in most of his MI vids

[@ericbond2590]

Thanks!

[@lystic9392]

Wait so this is a NEW game? I thought this was a remake :o I'm getting this for sure then.

[@scottishmau5]

Spent many hours back in the day playing monkey island

[@hasnainsoofi8088]

Great video as always, can you please do a prince of Persia sands of time series for your next video, your videos are always great and I would love to see you do a video on it, you would also be the first one to do a video on it on KZbin. Also the remake has been delayed and we don’t know how long for, I would love to see you do a video on this heavily underrated series

[@paulsmith9192]

@Hasnain Soofi not true.there are retrospective of prince on KZbin

[@lgwkevin1]

I am rubber, you are glue!

[@silkytrack8091]

God I love the monkey island games - particularly the first two and the third also good. They have all stood up even today - although Escape looks terrible now! 😱😂

[@Sandata64RD]

Thank you.

[@commentingpausedtoprotectus]

Monkey Island 2 , Amiga - 11 disks! As if RSI for me in my teenage years wasn’t a risk already 😂

[@MrZombieUK]

Mi 1 and 2 are my absolute favourites!!

[@3D_Zaga]

i would love to see a film about this game

[@thr3pwood362]

I'm pretty sure that guybrush wanted to be a fireman

[@hpdftba]

I absolutely loved escape from monkey island! My brothers and I played it all the time

[@SuggestiveGaming]

My only problem with Escape is Monkey Kombat. The insult sword fighting of the other games was a bit tedious, but it was at least easier to get through. Whenever I play Escape and reach Monkey Island it just slows to a crawl.

[@hpdftba]

@@SuggestiveGaming I can remember all of us kids sitting around our mac and trying to figure out monkey kombat. It was annoying but I really love those memories. I even bought my brothers the “tales” games years later. We also quote many things from the game all the time (“but it’s pink!” And “cushy government jobs” are two that I still use)

[@SuggestiveGaming]

Cushy government jobs is one of my favorites too! I had to include it in this video lol

[@Theycallmetomu]

Man, Tales was great.

[@noelprez2895]

Gotta see what Monkey island is about because it's coming to Sea of Thieves.

[@tjsmith5276]

I kinda hoped that this series would be made into a movie or an animated show.

[@Greenhooves]

Tales was underrated. I hope Gilbert doesn't ignore it completely...

[@BennieBrunink]

Wow .. This really brings back memories .. Come on millennials .. Play this !! .. It's fun !! ..

[@b1akn3ss93]

I have … And my other 3siblings too Wish I could play again too (but I don’t have a pc anymore Only the Game on CD-Rom) (It is a 90s game after all )

[@gamestoryblox]

Lovely game. good game to enjoy 🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@adamvancleave9200]

I was expecting a "not a t-shirt" when speaking of the idol of many hands.

[@HillcrestGames]

I wish they would have continued on from the 3rd game rather than the 2nd. There's almost a 0% chance that any Monkey Island game is going to be better than Curse, it's my favorite adventure game ever by far.

[@danb6118]

Agreed, both gameplay and story imo

[@ThePreciseClimber]

But nothing important happened in Curse. And Elaine's role in the story after getting un-cursed was very disappointing, too.

[@thefunkdroid2777]

Monkey Island 2's ending is something.

[@firstlast9595]

I got the original in a box set With Indiana Jones, Loom, and Maniac Mansion.

[@user-uh3vw1fz1r]

Scooby-Doo was a majectic logical thing even in it's absurdity. Omg this story line is twisted... in every possible way