History VideoGame / MonkeyIsland

Originally conceived as a ''Literature/TreasureIsland''-like {{pirate}} adventure by Creator/RonGilbert and heavily inspired by the pirate adventure novel ''Literature/OnStrangerTides'' [[note]](no, not [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides that one]][[/note]]), co-creators Creator/TimSchafer and Dave Grossman (of Creator/TelltaleGames) began using their own [[NoFourthWall meta-fictional]] jokes as placeholders. As [=LucasArts=] was actually somewhat clever and still had a sense of humor in those days, they told Schafer and his gang to write the rest of the dialogue. Presto changeo.

* AerithAndBob: Plain common names are mixed with punny or ludicrous ones. Take the main duo; Elaine Marley and Guybrush Threepwood.

Originally conceived as a ''Literature/TreasureIsland''-like {{pirate}} adventure by Creator/RonGilbert and heavily inspired by the pirate adventure novel ''Literature/OnStrangerTides'' [[note]](no, not [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides that one]][[/note]], co-creators Creator/TimSchafer and Dave Grossman (of Creator/TelltaleGames) began using their own [[NoFourthWall meta-fictional]] jokes as placeholders. As [=LucasArts=] was actually somewhat clever and still had a sense of humor in those days, they told Schafer and his gang to write the rest of the dialogue. Presto changeo.

Originally conceived as a ''Literature/TreasureIsland''-like {{pirate}} adventure by Creator/RonGilbert, co-creators Creator/TimSchafer and Dave Grossman (of Creator/TelltaleGames) began using their own [[NoFourthWall meta-fictional]] jokes as placeholders. As [=LucasArts=] was actually somewhat clever and still had a sense of humor in those days, they told Schafer and his gang write the rest of the dialogue. Presto changeo.

* AdventureGame

** In ''VideoGame/EscapeFromMonkeyIsland'', the machine still doesn't dispense any grog, but if you kick it enough, some empty cans eventually tumble out.

-->'''Guybrush''' (''in song''): You say you're nasty pirates,
--->Scheming, thieving, bad bushwhackers?\\
From what I've seen I tell you,\\
You're not pirates! You're just slackers!

* AdaptationDyeJob: Elaine has black hair in the original 16-color version of ''Secret''. In the older 256-color upgrade of ''Secret'' and in ''[=LeChuck=]'s Revenge'' it's brown. In ''Curse'', she has [[FieryRedhead red hair]] and blue eyes. In ''Tales'' she has red hair and {{green eyes}}. In [[VideogameRemake the MI1 Special Edition remake]] Elaine now has brown hair and green eyes; however, in the [=MI2=] SE she has red hair instead (but still has green eyes).

** In Revenge, Guybrush can ask virtually every character "Wanna hear about how I defeated the ghost pirate LeChuck?" and "Wanna see my scar?", to which the answer is pretty much always no.

** The sheer amount of library books programmed into [[VideoGame/MonkeyIsland2LeChucksRevenge LeChuck's Revenge]], when you only need three of them, was revolutionary at the time. It took the ability to play the game at your own pace and ran with it.

* MeanwhileBackAtThe Lechuck's headquarters.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Most of the games have Guybrush's spending four chapters undoing his own actions. In ''Revenge'' he gives away Lechuck's beard, enabling his resurrection, in ''Curse'' he turns Elaine into a golden statue and in ''Tales'' he unleashes a Voodoo Pox.

* AdaptationDyeJob: Elaine has black hair in the original 16-color version of ''Secret'', as well as in ''[=LeChuck=]'s Revenge''. In the older 256-color upgrade of ''Secret'', and in ''Curse'', she has [[FieryRedhead red hair]] and blue eyes. In ''Tales'' she has red hair and {{green eyes}}. In [[VideogameRemake the MI1 Special Edition remake]] Elaine now has brown hair and green eyes; however, in the [=MI2=] SE she has red hair instead (but still has green eyes).

* YouFightLikeACow: The {{Trope Namer|s}}. The literal phrase becomes the standard LameComeback in many normal dialogues.

** Of course, pretty much every item Guybrush picks up gets sent into hammerspace, including a live monkey, a very large fruit picker, and a 60-pound block of tofu. His coat and pants seem to double as [[BagOfHolding Bags of Holding]]. In the second, a manilla envelope acting as hammerspace for all of Guybrush's confiscated items "tickles" when it is opened and dumps its entire contents into his inventory.

** Guybrush asking people what the Secret of Monkey Island? is, since it's not revealed in the first game. No one has given a straight answer yet. (''VideoGame/FlightOfTheAmazonQueen'', a [=LucasArts=] adventure pastiche, gave a humorous joke answer to this: ''"Elaine is really a guy."'')\\

The gag continues still, only flipped. Twenty years after Secret's release, series creator Ron Gilbert released a game called VideoGame/DeathSpank, containing an old adventurer named Eubrick who claims to know the Secret of Monkey Island. Unfortunately, the game's titular hero isn't at all interested in what it might be.

* HoldYourHippogriffs: Loads of them.

** "I'm selling these fine leather jackets," a ShoutOut to ''VideoGame/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade: The Graphic Adventure'', also pops up from time to to time. In the demo, he can pick up a chalice and become [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v7C4L98ibbo/VZii98-jH2I/AAAAAAAA3CE/XZHuMlB2ca8/s640/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island_%2528DOS%2529_15.gif Indy himself for a moment]]

** Averted in the fourth game, where [=LeChuck=]appears, but is quickly supplanted by the games new villain who dominates [=LeChuck=].

** Of course, pretty much every item Guybrush picks up gets sent into hammerspace, including a live monkey, a very large fruit picker, and a 60-pound block of tofu. His coat and pants seem to double as [[BagOfHolding Bags of Holding]]. In the second, a manilla envelope acting as hammerspace for all of Guybrush's confiscated items "tickles" when it is opened and dumps it's entire contents into his inventory.

** ''Secret'' shows Guybrush exploring Monkey Island with a group. In the game he goes alone.

* DemBones: [=LeChuck's=] crew, Murray, and Guybrush's hallucinations of his parents.

* CoversAlwaysLie: Every game's box art has a scene that does not appear ingame.

** There's actually a way to die in each of the five games, but only the first and fourth ones count: In ''Secret'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMq762wbQS8 Guybrush drowns]] if he stays underwater for too long after ten minutes (the rest of the games, excepting ''Escape'', perhaps, he automatically surfaces after the ten minutes are up). ''Revenge'' [[HowWeGotHere is being told after the fact]], so if Guybrush dies, Elaine tells him to stop screwing around and tell the real story, and in ''Curse'', you need to fake your death to progress. The ''Curse'' example actually comes with not one, but two [[BreakTheFourthWall fourth-wall breaking]] {{lampshade|Hanging}}s; one from Guybrush, telling the kids not to try this at home, and one from the barkeep and the gravedigger, wondering how Guybrush managed to die in a LucasArts game. ''Escape'' sums up two ways to die: 1. by drowning in the second dive underwater after surfacing upon Guybrush's running out of breath in the first dive; and 2. having him kill his future self in the Mysts of Tyme and then going around and having himself get killed by his past self. ''Tales'' has one way to die, [[spoiler:and surprisingly, it's not an Easter egg, but rather a part of a story to progress on from Chapter 4 to Chapter 5.]]

* {{Unwinnable}}: Generally averted, according to LucasArts' policy, but it is possible to make the first game unwinnable if you really try, such as by using up all your money in the vending machine. Later releases of the game will simply cause Guybrush to refuse wasting any more money on the vending machine after the first time you try it.

** "I'm selling these fine leather jackets," a ShoutOut to ''VideoGame/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade: The Graphic Adventure'', also pops up from time to to time. In the demo, he can pick a chalice and become [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v7C4L98ibbo/VZii98-jH2I/AAAAAAAA3CE/XZHuMlB2ca8/s640/The_Secret_of_Monkey_Island_%2528DOS%2529_15.gif Indy himself for a moment]]

** "I'm selling these fine leather jackets," a ShoutOut to ''VideoGame/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade: The Graphic Adventure'', also pops up from time to to time.

* [[WeNamedTheMonkeyJack We Named the Dog Guybrush]]
* [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes Why Did It Have to Be Porcelain?]]

* {{Foil}}: Elaine is TheAce who's plans are doomed to fail, while Guybrush is TheMillstone, who's bumbling and cunning eventually save the day (generally after [[NiceJobBreakingItHero ruining Elaine's plan in the first place]]).

* {{Foil}}: Elaine is TheAce , while Guybrush is TheMillstone.