The Secret of Monkey Island, Part 1: The Three Trials
In the 17th-century Caribbean (sort of), an ambitious but none-too-bright young man named Guybrush Threepwood arrives on Mêlée Island™, with the intent of becoming a pirate. The local Pirate Council is reluctant to induct him into their ranks, but they're also in need of some new blood; it seems the old guard all scared of the notorious pirate LeChuck who, rumor has it, has come back as a ghost after disappearing in his quest to discover the secret of Monkey Island.
As such, the Pirate Council challenges Guybrush with three tasks to test his ability in the art of sword-fighting, thieving, and treasure-hunting. The test of swordsmanship involves learning the fine art of mixing sword-fighting with witty banter and testing his skills against Carla, the reclusive Sword Master of Mêlée Island™. The test of thievery involves breaking into the governor's mansion and stealing the Idol of Many Hands. Finally, the test of treasure-hunting involves tracking down the legendary "Treasure of Mêlée Island™": a t-shirt reading "I found the Treasure of Mêlée Island™ and all I got was this lousy T-shirt".
Along the way, Guybrush meets a number of eccentric characters, including the mysterious Voodoo Lady, three Men of Ill Repute, and the bickering circus performers the Fettucini Brothers. He also catches the eye of the beautiful and quick-witted governor, Elaine Marley, and runs afoul of the scheming sheriff Fester Shinetop (who turns out to be a disguised LeChuck trying to keep Guybrush from becoming a Spanner in the Works).
Much to Guybrush's dismay, no sooner does he complete his trials than Governor Marley is kidnapped by LeChuck and his ghostly crew. He quickly sets about gathering a crew and getting a ship, but the only ship he can get his hands on is a half-sunk wreck from Stan's Previously-Owned Vessels, and the only crew he can find are Carla, a petty thief named Otis, and a hook handed lug named Meathook. Rallying himself and his crew as best he can, Guybrush sets sail for LeChuck's secret lair on Monkey Island.
Tropes:
- And Your Reward Is Clothes: The reward for the treasure-hunting test is a T-shirt reading "I found the Treasure of Mêlée Island™, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt". Guybrush gets a similar shirt for besting the Sword Master.
- Angry Guard Dog: Governor Marley's mansion is guarded by a pack of vicious "piranha poodles".
- Anti-Climax: There's a lot of build-up to the "monster" that you must face to get Meathook to join your crew, but it turns out to be an ordinary green parrot.
- Blind Mistake: The incredibly near-sighted lookout keeps facing the wrong way when talking to Guybrush.
- Bizarre Beverage Use: Guybrush uses the incredibly corrosive grog served at the SCUMM Bar to melt the lock on Otis' cell.
- Bring the Anchor Along: Fester Shinetop tries to drown Guybrush in the bay by tying him to the Idol of Many Hands. Guybrush sees several Conveniently Placed Sharp Things just out of reach, so how do you get him out of this mess? Just have him pick up the idol and put it in his inventory, which allows him to walk to a nearby ladder and climb back onto the dock.
- Buffy Speak: Guybrush is tasked with proving his prowess in "swordsmanship, thievery, and... treasure-huntery".
- Dope Slap: One of the Men of Ill Repute never says anything, he just laughs at his companions' bad jokes until one of them bops him on the head to shut him up.
- Gibberish of Love: During his first encounter with Elaine Marley, Guybrush is so smitten he's eventually reduced to speaking in nonsense.
- Honest John's Dealership: Stan's Previously-Owned Vessels is run by "Smilin'" Stan, a shady fast talker in a big hat and ugly coat of Unmoving Plaid who wildly waves his hands about whenever he talks.
- Hook Hand: Meathook, as the name implies, has both his hands replaced with hooks.
- Hypocritical Humor: A pirate at the Scumm Bar who makes fun of Guybrush Threepwood's name is called "Mancomb Seepgood".
- Instant Sedation: After eating the drugged meat, the piranha-poodles are out like a light within seconds.
- Jail Bake: Otis got a cake with a file in it from his Aunt Tillie, but he never found it because his aunt apparently forgot Otis doesn't like carrot cake. You can get Otis to give Guybrush the cake, so Guybrush can use the file for himself.
- Long List: When Guybrush asks the Important-Looking Pirates what's in the grog they're drinking, they rattle off a list of ingredients, including "Kerosene, propylene glycol, artificial sweeteners, sulphuric acid, rum, acetone, red dye #2, scumm, axle grease, battery acid, and/or pepperoni."
- Malicious Misnaming: Sheriff Shinetop keeps calling Guybrush things like "Thripweed" and "Droopface".
- No Animals Were Harmed: After you drug the guard dogs, a disclaimer pops up assuring the audience "These dogs are not dead, they are only SLEEPING. No animals were harmed during the production of this game."
- Pirate Booty: The test of Treasure-Hunting involving finding a treasure map and following it to the "Treasure of Mêlée Island™". When you find it, it's even marked by a big "X" on the ground.
- Stalking Mission: Guybrush has to follow the shopkeeper to the Sword Master's secret hide-out, which involves following him through the maze-like forests of Mêlée Island™.
- Stereo Fibbing: If Guybrush asks the Men of Ill Repute what's in the keg, one answers "rum" and the other "jam". After switching it around, they settle on claiming it's rum and jam.
- The Three Trials: The Trope Namer; Guybrush must prove himself to the pirate leaders through tests of swordsmanship, treasure-hunting, and thieving.
- Timed Mission: Guybrush has to use some grog to melt the bars of Otis' jail cell. The problem is, the stuff is strong enough to eat through the cheap pewter mugs at the Scumm Bar, and Guybrush will need to use several of them to carry some grog to the jailhouse before it spills.
- You Fight Like a Cow: The Trope Namer. Part of Guybrush's sword-training is coming up with witty banter and retorts.Opponent: I once owned a dog that was smarter than you!
Guybrush: He must have taught you everything you know. - You Need a Breath Mint: Otis has such awful breath that Guybrush won't even talk to him unless he gives Otis a mint.
- Waking Non Sequitur: After hitting his head trying to be a human cannonball, Guybrush can say "I'm Bobbin, are you my mother?"
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Meathook apparently lost his hands to an angry parrot, and he's been terrified of parrots ever since.
