The Legend of Monkey Island

Discover the key events and releases that shaped Monkey Island over the decades in this detailed article.

Escape from Monkey Island turns 26 today. On October 27, 2000, LucasArts announced the game had gone gold. It was the first in the series to use 3D graphics, a major departure from Curse's hand painted style. Where does Escape rank for you in the series? #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts

In The Curse of Monkey Island, Guybrush's first meeting with Murray includes a hidden reference. Asking to call him Bob nods to Bob, a ghost pirate from the original Secret of Monkey Island whose head could detach. What's your favourite Murray moment? #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts

The moment Guybrush finally spots Monkey Island. Four different versions, one unforgettable scene. Do you remember the first time you saw this shot, and which version were you playing? #MonkeyIsland #RetroGames #LucasArts #LucasfilmGames

This song almost got cut from Curse of Monkey Island. The actors weren’t singers, and the raw vocal recording without music sounded terrible. Once Michael Land added the music, it became one of Jonathan Ackley’s favourite parts of the game. #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts #RetroGaming

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There’s a path to the cannibals’ village Guybrush was never meant to find. Discovered by @gamehistoryorg.bsky.social Their article including full video: gamehistory.org/monkeyisland/ Consider donating to support their work. Why do you think it got cut before release? #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts

Asked his favourite game of all time in a recent interview, Elijah Wood named Monkey Island after shouting out classic LucasArts adventure games. He’s said it before, but always good to hear. Link starts at the timestamp (or use 55:49):

The evolution of LeChuck across all major Monkey Island versions. Which one is your favourite? #MonkeyIsland #lechuck #RetroGames #Lucasarts #LucasfilmGames

Return to Monkey Island was released on Sep 19, 2022, 4 years ago, which coincides with International Talk Like a Pirate Day. It launched day one on Windows, macOS, and Nintendo Switch, with Linux, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and mobile ports following later. #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts #RetroGames

News from Mojo: Feelings get complicated as The SCUMM Bar turns 30

Phatt Island’s waterfall in Monkey Island 2 is one of those pixel art scenes that still holds up decades later, especially with the palette cycling. Sound and music here are from the Special Edition. What’s your favourite pixel art location from the first 2 games? #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts

The Curse of Monkey Island’s opening shot, Guybrush adrift in a bumper car, is still one of adventure gaming’s best intros. Bill Tiller drew every background by hand. He and fellow background artists Maria Bowen and Kathy Hsieh brought them to life in colour. #MonkeyIsland

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Happy 36th Anniversary to The Secret of Monkey Island! The gold master floppy disks were created on September 2, 1990, and the game reached stores later that September or in October. #MonkeyIsland #RetroGames #LucasArts #LucasfilmGames

The Secret of Monkey Island (1990) shipped with a cardboard code wheel: match the mismatched pirate face, find the location, then enter the date to unlock the game. Meant to stop piracy, but a photocopy usually got around it. Which one do you remember owning? #MonkeyIsland #LucasfilmGames #90s

My job for the evening...

Found a relic at my Dad’s house. My original copy of Monkey Island with everything in it. Haven’t seen this thing since like 1990?

Guybrush peeling Palido’s map off his own back has to be one of the most stomach churning moments in the series. Is this THE grossest moment in Monkey Island, or is there something worse? #MonkeyIsland #LucasArts #RetroGames #AdventureGames #90s

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The most legendary intro! The EGA version (16-colour) is the one Ron Gilbert, Tim Schafer, and Dave Grossman originally worked on. The VGA version (256-colour) only came later. Support for MT-32 music also required ordering an extra floppy disk. #MonkeyIsland #RetroGame

The evolution of Guybrush Threepwood across all major Monkey Island games. Which version is your favourite? #MonkeyIsland

This is the iconic Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge intro running via the Ultimate Talkie Edition with Roland MT32 music, which integrates the Special Edition speech audio directly into the classic 1991 version. #MonkeyIsland #RetroGaming #LucasArts

I grew up with Curse of Monkey Island. Love Guybrush Threepwood. #monkeyisland #curseofmonkeyisland #guybrushthreewood #fanart

what a rip off #monkeyisland #thecurseofmonkeyisland #guybrushthreepwood #fanart

I love how the LucasArts logo was adapted to each game. In The Curse of #MonkeyIsland, the logo is shown on a map that includes all the islands from Monkey Island 1 to 3. What is your favourite LucasArts logo variation?

A pirate I was ment to be, trim the sails and roam the sea! #guybrushthreepwood #thecurseofmonkeyisland #monkeyisland #lucasart

I took my digital copy from #gog and made it a physical version. Comment below which game I should make next. #monkeyIsland

The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition cover restored by Laserschwert (poster.mixnmojo.com) and by unknown artist.

Today, we celebrate the 17th anniversary of The Secret of #MonkeyIsland: Special Edition.

The Scumm Bar on Mêlée Island. Top: EGA (16-colour palette) Bottom: VGA (256-color palette) Both from The Secret of #MonkeyIsland (1990)

"Well, well, well." The iconic opening scene from #MonkeyIsland 2: LeChuck's Revenge

Early concept art of Blood Island by Bill Tiller. He was inspired by a volcano projected onto the back wall inside the Mexican Pavilion before he began work on #MonkeyIsland 3. Bill initially chose a green palette to give the game a distinctive look compared with MI1 and 2.

3DO display seems to have been put next to import games/obscurities (is that a NES Game Genie??) / Akihabara Messe Sanoh 1994

Alfredo and Bill Fettucini convince Guybrush to be shot from the cannon. Top: EGA (16-colour palette) Bottom: VGA (256-color palette) Both from The Secret of #MonkeyIsland (1990)

Guybrush Threepwood: Mighty Pirate I will always have a deep love of the old Lucasarts games. I’d be so happy working on a game like Monkey Island. #guybrushthreepwood #monkeyisland #lucasarts #gamecharacters

FUCK ME, THEY'RE STUNNING.

Early background art by Steve Purcell for The International House of Mojo on Scabb Island from #MonkeyIsland 2: LeChuck’s Revenge.

Escape from #MonkeyIsland advertisement. Created by Eddie del Rio and restored by @laserschwert.bsky.social.

#monkeyisland #art #videogameart

Guybrush gives a banana to a monkey in The Secret of #MonkeyIsland: 1. EGA: 16-colours with dithering. 2. Amiga: 32-colour hybrid using EGA assets and color-reduced VGA backgrounds. 3. VGA: 256-colours.

Hmmm, better or worse than Sega CD...

An early design of the Plunder Island fort by Bill Tiller, created in Painter to achieve a realistic watercolour feel. While Larry Ahern had told Bill to go really crazy with the building designs, both he and Jonathan ultimately felt this initial result was a bit too extravagant.

Early #MonkeyIsland 2 background art of Booty Island at night. It was initially going to be called Crooked Island. The first image shows Stan’s Previously Owned Coffins, and the second shows the kitchen in Elaine’s mansion.

Deleted scene from The Secret of #MonkeyIsland shared by The Video Game History Foundation during the Monkey Island 30th Anniversary. The first image is the EGA (16-colour), the second is the VGA (256-colour).

The Curse of #MonkeyIsland demo offers a rare look at the game's development. Comparing it to the final version reveals changes to the background art and characters. Check the side-by-side shots to see how it evolved. For more details, read the article on my website: legendofmi.com/articles/the...

I drew that sign as temp art, assuming a real artist would replace it. I think they left it in to punish me. Look, it’s not easy to draw a cursive F with a mouse in Enhanced Deluxe Paint II.

Guybrush takes LeChuck’s underwear to create a Voodoo Doll. From #MonkeyIsland 2: LeChuck’s Revenge.

The Tales of #MonkeyIsland Collector’s Edition and its bounty. A massive miss that we never got an English big box release featuring Steve Purcell’s legendary cover art (Germany got it though).