Tales of Monkey Island

Like its predecessors, Tales of Monkey Island is a graphic adventure game; the player assumes the role of the protagonist in an interactive story, which is driven by the exploration of the game's three-dimensional (3D) environments and by solving puzzles. These puzzles are traditional adventure game conundrums that require the player to use the environment, or items that have been found and stored inside the game's inventory, to accomplish goals. In keeping with previous Monkey Island games, Tales of Monkey Island allows players to combine certain items to create new items;{{cite web|url=http://e3.gamespot.com/story/6210602/tales-of-monkey-island-first-look |title=Tales of Monkey Island First Look |publisher=GameSpot |date=2009-06-01 |first=Sophia |last=Tong |access-date=2009-06-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605093309/http://e3.gamespot.com/story/6210602/tales-of-monkey-island-first-look |archive-date=2009-06-05}} for instance, the player can combine a number of voodoo ingredients with a cutlass to produce a magical cutlass.

The game world is explored with a PC keyboard and mouse, or the Wii Nunchuk's analog stick. Contrary to previous Telltale adventure games, the player holds and drags the mouse to move Guybrush, rather than point and clicking.{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2009/07/07/review-tales-of-monkey-island-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal/ |title=Review: Tales of Monkey Island (Launch of the Screaming Narwhal) |last=Kietzmann |first=Ludwig |date=2009-07-07 |publisher=Engadget (Joystiq) |access-date=2015-04-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104125723/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/07/review-tales-of-monkey-island-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal/ |archive-date=2015-11-04}} The WASD keys or the arrow keys may instead be used to move Guybrush. Like other Monkey Island games, Tales of Monkey Island is designed to prevent the player from meeting a dead-end, such as the death of the player character.{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/wiiware/tales_of_monkey_island_history_14302.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912172132/http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/wiiware/tales_of_monkey_island_history_14302.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-12|title=Tales of Monkey Island: History|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|access-date=2009-12-18}} Each of the game's chapters is an estimated two to four hours in length, depending on the player's ability to solve the puzzles. A hint system can assist struggling players.

The first chapter of the game includes a "treasure hunt" mode,{{cite web|title=Q: What's another word for pirate treasure? |url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-477 |date=2009-07-21 |publisher=Telltale Games |access-date=29 August 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826192204/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-477 |archive-date=26 August 2009}} where the player directs Guybrush through a maze-like jungle in pursuit of hidden treasure. Found treasures translate into prizes and discounts on Telltale's website. To access this mode, the player must locate maps on the Internet, hidden on the official Telltale website and three participating Monkey Island fansites.{{cite web|title=Treasure Huntin' with us and Telltale |url=http://talesofmi.net/?p=462 |date=2009-08-14 |work=The Tales of Monkey Island Blog |publisher=LF Network, LLC |access-date=2009-08-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724091343/http://talesofmi.net/?p=462 |archive-date=2011-07-24}}

Tales of Monkey Island is set several years after the events of Escape from Monkey Island. The designers discarded the Tri-Island Area—the setting of the game's predecessors—in favor of a new locale: the Gulf of Melange. The game follows Guybrush Threepwood (Dominic Armato), a pirate who is naïve and hapless, yet successful. Before the game's beginning, Guybrush spends years locating the elements needed to create the Cursed Cutlass of Kaflu, a voodoo weapon capable of destroying his nemesis, the demon pirate LeChuck (Adam Harrington, Kevin Blackton and later Earl Boen). As with other Monkey Island games, LeChuck vies for the love of Elaine Marley-Threepwood (Alexandra Boyd), the wife of Guybrush Threepwood and former governor of the Tri-Island Area. In the events immediately before the game, LeChuck kidnaps Elaine, and Guybrush pursues him with the voodoo cutlass.

Several ancillary characters from earlier games in the series return in Tales of Monkey Island, including the Voodoo Lady (Alison Ewing),{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal/credits |title=Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 1 – "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal" |publisher=MobyGames |year=2009 |access-date=2010-02-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114175502/http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal/credits |archive-date=2010-01-14}} an enigmatic voodoo priestess who advises Guybrush in his quests; Stan (Gavin Hammon),{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-4-the-trial-and-execution-of-guyb/credits |title=Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 4 – "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" |publisher=MobyGames |first=Patrick |last=Bregger |year=2009 |access-date=2010-02-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605113120/http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-4-the-trial-and-execution-of-guyb/credits |archive-date=2011-06-05}} a stereotypical salesman and business opportunist; and Murray (Denny Delk), a talking skull with delusions of grandeur. The game introduces new characters to the series, such as Morgan LeFlay (Nicki Rapp),{{cite web|url=http://talesofmi.net/?p=745 |title=Nicki Rapp Interview |first=Andrei |last=Constantinescu |work=The Tales of Monkey Island Blog |publisher=LF Network, LLC |date=2009-11-30 |access-date=2010-02-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110005858/http://talesofmi.net/?p=745 |archive-date=2011-01-10}} a competent and athletic female bounty hunter who idolizes Guybrush, and Reginald Van Winslow (Roger L. Jackson), the former captain of the Screaming Narwhal who becomes Guybrush's first mate. Other additions to the cast include Coronado DeCava (Andrew Chaikin), an explorer and former lover of the Voodoo Lady, and the Marquis de Singe (Jared Emerson-Johnson), an antagonistic French nobleman and doctor.{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan/credits |title=Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3 – "Lair of the Leviathan" |publisher=MobyGames |first=Patrick |last=Bregger |year=2009 |access-date=2010-02-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119020156/http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan/credits |archive-date=2010-01-19}}

Having acquired the components of the Cutlass of Kaflu, Guybrush races to the Rock of Gelato to save his wife from LeChuck; however, he fails to properly create the sword. When Guybrush stabs LeChuck, the flawed cutlass transforms LeChuck into a human, and infects Guybrush's hand with the "Pox of LeChuck", which gives the hand a mind of its own. An explosion on the ship hurls Guybrush into the ocean, and he later washes up on Flotsam Island. There, Guybrush encounters the Voodoo Lady, who explains that the pox will ravage the Caribbean, unless it is absorbed by a voodoo sea sponge called "La Esponja Grande" (The Big Sponge). Guybrush is advised to seek Coronado DeCava, a conquistador who is on an expedition to find La Esponja Grande; to leave the island, Guybrush must neutralize a machine that is drawing the winds inward, and thereby preventing ships from leaving. It is revealed that the Marquis de Singe is using the machine to bring pirates to the island for his medical experiments. De Singe becomes obsessed with Guybrush's hand, as he believes it to be key to eternal life. Guybrush reverts the wind patterns to normal— unwittingly causing the pox to spread across the sea —and departs in his newly acquired ship, the Screaming Narwhal. De Singe hires a pirate hunter by the name of Morgan LeFlay to capture Guybrush; en route to the Jerkbait Islands, she boards the Screaming Narwhal and cuts off Guybrush's pox-infected hand in a duel. Afterwards, she returns it to de Singe.{{cite video game|title=Tales of Monkey Island: "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal" |developer=Telltale Games |date=July 2009 |platform=PC}}{{cite video game|title=Tales of Monkey Island: "The Siege of Spinner Cay" |developer=Telltale Games |date=August 2009 |platform=PC}}

On the Jerkbait Islands, Guybrush finds Elaine safe, and learns that the now-human LeChuck is trying to make up for the evil deeds of his past. The three help to defend the resident merfolk city from pox-infected pirates; in return, the merfolk summon sea creatures to assist Guybrush in locating La Esponja Grande. Elaine stays behind to monitor LeChuck's actions. As Guybrush follows the creatures on the Screaming Narwhal, Morgan again boards the ship; de Singe had informed her that Guybrush's entire body was needed. Distracted by their duel, neither can react in time when the Screaming Narwhal is swallowed whole by a giant manatee.

Inside the manatee, Guybrush and LeFlay discover the crazed DeCava and his crew; Guybrush heals the manatee's injuries, and escapes with DeCava to the location of La Esponja Grande (which turns out to be much smaller than advertised). After retrieving La Esponja Grande, Morgan knocks Guybrush unconscious and sets sail for Flotsam Island with her bounty.{{cite video game|title=Tales of Monkey Island: "Lair of the Leviathan" |developer=Telltale Games |date=September 2009 |platform=PC}}

As Morgan reluctantly delivers Guybrush to de Singe, Guybrush is seized by the townspeople and put on trial for multiple crimes—chief among them having released the pox across the Gulf of Melange. LeChuck exonerates Guybrush by implicating himself in the creation of the pox, and produces evidence that all previous confrontations between Guybrush and LeChuck had been orchestrated by the Voodoo Lady; the two are imprisoned, and Guybrush is released. As Guybrush prepares to cure the pox with La Esponja Grande, he finds Morgan murdered in de Singe's laboratory. At the wind machine, de Singe traps Guybrush and Elaine, and believes that his experiments with Guybrush's hand are on the verge of granting him immortality. However, de Singe falls into the wind machine and is disintegrated; Guybrush then uses La Esponja Grande to absorb the pox. LeChuck arrives to free the two, but as Guybrush thanks him, LeChuck impales him on the Cutlass of Kaflu, and uses La Esponja Grande to transfer the pox's potency to himself.{{cite video game|title=Tales of Monkey Island: "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" |developer=Telltale Games |date=October 2009 |platform=PC}}

Now deceased, Guybrush finds his spiritual self at the Crossroads: the place where the living and dead realms meet. With the assistance of Morgan's spirit, he finds a spell that embodies courage, anchor, direction and sacrifice, and returns to the land of the living as a ghost. LeChuck however absorbs the massive amount of energy generated by a dimensional rift Guybrush opens; the pox was engineered by LeChuck to achieve this goal. Elaine, in an apparent act of betrayal, becomes LeChuck's demon bride. Guybrush repossesses his dead body and shrinks La Esponja Grande, reversing LeChuck's hold over Elaine. LeChuck attacks Guybrush, who lures the demon pirate into the rift. There, LeChuck is simultaneously stabbed by Elaine and Morgan, which destroys his physical and spiritual forms. Stranded alone at the crossroads, Guybrush realizes that he has one more item that meets the spell's criteria for his return: Elaine's wedding ring. He uses it to restore himself to life and return to Elaine, who reveals her reason for becoming LeChuck's bride was to ensure that Guybrush would rescue her and defeat LeChuck. The spirit of Morgan delivers a jar containing the essence of LeChuck to the Voodoo Lady, in exchange for her return to the land of the living.{{cite video game|title=Tales of Monkey Island: "Rise of the Pirate God" |developer=Telltale Games |date=December 2009 |platform=PC}}

{{multiple image

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| footer = Design director Dave Grossman (left) developed the first two Monkey Island games with Ron Gilbert and Tim Schafer, while Michael Stemmle (right) co-designed the fourth game in the series.

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| image1 = Dave Grossman - 920448657 - barret.jpg

| alt1 = A Caucasian man with short brown hair and a convention pass on a lanyard around his neck smiles for a camera. Part of the Telltale Games logo is visible in the background.

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| image2 = Michael Stemmle.jpg

| alt2 = A Caucasian bald man with a black beard looks to the left while speaking into a microphone. A plaque with the Comic-Con logo on the table reads "Mike Stemmle".

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Developed by Telltale Games, under license from LucasArts,{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/faq |title=Tales of Monkey Island – Frequently Asked Questions |publisher=Telltale Games |date=2009-06-01 |access-date=2009-06-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605063409/http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/faq |archive-date=2009-06-05}} Tales of Monkey Island marked a first collaboration between the two companies. Telltale Games had been founded by former LucasArts employees in the wake of the 2004 cancellation of Sam & Max: Freelance Police. Following that event, LucasArts appeared to have abandoned the adventure game genre.{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsitem.php?id=1900 |title=Tales of Monkey Island swing into action in July |publisher=Adventure Gamers |date=2009-06-01 |first=Jack |last=Allin |access-date=2009-06-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608053059/http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsitem.php?id=1900 |archive-date=2009-06-08}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2009/06/01/new-monkey-island-games-confirmed/1 |title=New Monkey Island games confirmed |publisher=Bit-tech |date=2009-06-01 |first=Joe |last=Martin |access-date=2009-06-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613024040/http://www.bit-tech.net/news/gaming/2009/06/01/new-monkey-island-games-confirmed/1 |archive-date=2009-06-13}} While Telltale Games had considered developing a Monkey Island game since their inception, the company's design director, Dave Grossman, credited the greenlighting of Tales of Monkey Island to the correct alignment of interested parties. This included the then-new president of LucasArts, Darrell Rodriguez, who helped push for adventure game development within his company.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/a-tale-of-monkey-island-interview |title=A tale of Monkey Island |first=Robert |last=Purchase |date=2009-06-23 |access-date=2009-06-23 |publisher=Eurogamer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626005706/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/a-tale-of-monkey-island-interview |archive-date=2009-06-26}} Mark Darin, co-designer and writer for Tales of Monkey Island, attributed the revival of interest to the rise of digital distribution within the video game industry, which—by reducing financial risk—allowed companies such as Telltale to develop "something different from the endless clones of popular games".{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/wiiware/tales_of_monkey_island_interview_14303.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907012402/http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/games/wiiware/tales_of_monkey_island_interview_14303.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-07|title=Tales of Monkey Island: Interview|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|access-date=2009-12-18}} Telltale started designing Tales of Monkey Island in late 2008; production commenced early in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132459/back_in_the_water_the_monkey_.php?page=4 |title=Back In The Water: The Monkey Island Interview |work=Gamasutra |publisher=UBM Techweb |last=Remo |first=Chris |date=2009-07-06 |access-date=2012-10-06 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110233315/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/132459/back_in_the_water_the_monkey_.php?page=4 |archive-date=2012-11-10}}

File:Ron Gilbert PAX 2009.jpg

Following hints by Telltale Games that they would soon announce a major new series,{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/telltale-has-new-episodic-series-for-e3 |title=Telltale has new episodic series for E3 |publisher=Eurogamer |date=2009-05-15 |first=Robert |last=Purchase |access-date=2009-06-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519005432/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/telltale-has-new-episodic-series-for-e3 |archive-date=2009-05-19}} Tales of Monkey Island was unveiled at the June 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo. Its roughly 50 person development team was headed by Dave Grossman, who co-designed the first two Monkey Island games. Escape from Monkey Island and Sam & Max Hit the Road co-designer Michael Stemmle contributed design and story writing, in collaboration with Mark Darin and Sean Vanaman.{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/team |title=Tales of Monkey Island – The Team |publisher=Telltale Games |date=2009-06-01 |access-date=2009-06-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602093804/http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/team |archive-date=2009-06-02}} Series creator Ron Gilbert was involved in brainstorm sessions for the game, but did not have a large role in its development; the development team asserted that Gilbert's "thumbprints are all over [the game]".{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1024 |title=Preview: Tales of Monkey Island first look |publisher=Adventure Gamers |date=2009-06-02 |first=Dante |last=Kleinberg |access-date=2009-06-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605064538/http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C1024 |archive-date=2009-06-05}} Tales of Monkey Island counterparts a LucasArts-developed enhanced remake of The Secret of Monkey Island.{{cite news|url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/06/01/lechuck-me-monkey-island-returns/ |title=LeChuck Me: Monkey Island Returns |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |date=2009-06-01 |first=Alec |last=Meer |access-date=2009-06-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605053431/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/06/01/lechuck-me-monkey-island-returns/ |archive-date=2009-06-05}} On his blog, Gilbert wrote that he was "very excited" for both Telltale's adaptation and LucasArts' reimagining of the original game, and stated that "it's strange and humbling to see something you created 20 years ago take on a life of its own".{{cite web|url=https://grumpygamer.com/stuff_and_things_and_monkey_island |title=Stuff and Things and Monkey Island |first=Ron |last=Gilbert |date=2009-06-01 |access-date=2009-06-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005013914/http://grumpygamer.com/8280380 |archive-date=2011-10-05}}

While Gilbert and Grossman were engaged in the development of Tales of Monkey Island, the third co-designer of the original two games, Tim Schafer, was not associated with the project.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/e3-new-telltale-series-is-monkey-island |title=E3: New Telltale series is Monkey Island |publisher=Eurogamer |date=2009-06-01 |first=Robert |last=Purchese |access-date=2009-06-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605065653/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/e3-new-telltale-series-is-monkey-island |archive-date=2009-06-05}} Grossman said that Gilbert's leadership role at Hothead Games had made procuring his assistance "legal wrangling", and that including Schafer as well would have been too much trouble. Schafer later said that he was "really happy" for the new game, and that the project was in good hands under Grossman's lead.{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/interview-tim-schafer-and-the-art-of-selling-out/ |title=Interview: Tim Schafer and the art of selling out |publisher=Joystiq |first=Ludwig |last=Kietzmann |date=2009-06-09 |access-date=2009-06-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612022201/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/interview-tim-schafer-and-the-art-of-selling-out |archive-date=2009-06-12}} The game's limited-edition slipcover artwork was painted by Sam & Max creator Steve Purcell, who was responsible for the box art of both The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge.{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174530|title=Telltale Announces Tales of Monkey Island Pre-Order Bonus|publisher=1UP.com|date=2009-06-02|first=Kat|last=Bailey|access-date=2009-06-02}} Purcell created three different rough covers to present to Telltale Games, though the company valued Purcell's own opinion on which was best. Having not been satisfied with Elaine's appearance on the cover of The Secret of Monkey Island, Purcell was keen to have another attempt to portray the character in his artwork. The final artwork, showing Guybrush and Elaine brandishing cutlasses on a ship emerging from fog, was favored as Purcell felt it was appropriately eerie.{{cite web|url=http://spudvisionblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/tales-of-monkey-island-roughs.html |title=Tales of Monkey Island Roughs |publisher=SPUDVISION |first=Steve |last=Purcell |date=2009-01-04 |access-date=2011-01-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708065134/http://spudvisionblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/tales-of-monkey-island-roughs.html |archive-date=2011-07-08}}

Grossman said that the game's simultaneous release on Windows and WiiWare was due to Telltale's business model; the company alternates its game releases between WiiWare and Xbox Live Arcade, as they want to "give the Wii a little love as well". The concurrent development of the Wii version created issues; last minute changes to the PC version could put an episode over the size limit for WiiWare games. The first episode was released for Windows on July 7, 2009, with the Wii version following twenty days later. Telltale distributed the game through their own website, and later made it available for download from Steam and Amazon.com.{{cite web|url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/31170/ |title=Tales of Monkey Island Complete Pack |publisher=Valve |access-date=2010-08-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808181350/http://store.steampowered.com/app/31170 |archive-date=2010-08-08}}{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-489 |title=Get Tales of Monkey Island individual episodes on Amazon.com! |publisher=Telltale Games |first=David |last=Eggers |date=2009-08-13 |access-date=2010-08-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930213950/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-489 |archive-date=2009-09-30}} Xbox Live was omitted from the initial release, as both Telltale's Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures, and LucasArts' special edition of The Secret of Monkey Island, were debuting on the system.{{cite web|url=http://www.videogamer.com/pc/tales_of_monkey_island/news/making_point-and-click_cool_again.html|title=Making point-and-click cool again|work=VideoGamer.com|publisher=Pro-G Media Ltd.|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|date=2009-06-22|access-date=2010-01-04}}

While Telltale had not announced plans to port Tales of Monkey Island to Mac OS,{{cite magazine | url = http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/213792/tales-of-monkey-island-coming-to-the-mac-ipad-version-imminent/ | title = Tales of Monkey Island coming to the Mac. iPad version imminent? | first = John | last = Davidson | date= 2010-01-30 | access-date =2010-02-11 | magazine = GamePro |publisher=IDG|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407030805/http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/213792/tales-of-monkey-island-coming-to-the-mac-ipad-version-imminent/|archive-date=2010-04-07|url-status=dead}} they did so on February 11, 2010;{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-572 |title=Yep, Telltale is making Mac games. See you at MacWorld! |publisher=Telltale Games |date=2010-02-11 |access-date=2010-02-11 |first=David |last=Eggers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214184950/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-572 |archive-date=2010-02-14}} it was among the first games available for the newly released Mac OS Steam client.{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/63759 |title=Steam for Mac Launches |first=Chris |last=Faylor |date=2010-05-12 |access-date=2010-05-12 |publisher=Shacknews |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515034549/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/63759 |archive-date=2010-05-15}} A PlayStation Network version was released in June 2010, due to consumer demand generated by the game's original announcement.{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-631 |title=Tales of Monkey Island headed to the PlayStation Network next week |publisher=Telltale Games |first=David |last=Eggers |date=2010-06-11 |access-date=2010-08-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110102074632/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-631 |archive-date=2011-01-02}} A PlayStation 3 release had not been possible at launch, as Telltale's game engine was not built to run on the platform. An iPad-enhanced iOS port was being developed in 2010; the first episode was released on the App Store in December, and the rest of the episodes followed on June 23, 2011. As a bonus, players were offered the chance to download the first episode for free until July 22. Telltale Games has not ruled out the option of porting the game to Xbox Live and Linux. A port for the iPhone-enhanced iOS version was developed, and the first episode was released in November 2011, with the four remaining episodes that followed suit in a few months, ending with the release of Chapter 5 on February 23, 2012.

Telltale Games had gone into bankruptcy proceedings and closed down in 2018, and as a result, several of its games including Tales were pulled from digital storefronts, believed to be due to assets from Telltale being sold off to recover debt.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamesn.com/telltale-games-steam | title = Telltale games are disappearing from Steam amid bankruptcy proceedings | first = Dustin | last = Bailey | date = November 18, 2018 | access-date = June 27, 2020 | work = PCGamesN}} A new version of Telltale Games was launched in late 2018 by LCG Entertainment who had acquired the remaining Telltale assets with help of Athlon Games as a financial partner, which were able to reacquire rights to the delisted games and republish them. A repackaged version of Tales under LCG Entertainment and Athlon Games reappeared on storefronts by June 2020.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/telltales-delisted-monkey-island-game-returns-to-steam-and-gog/ | title= Telltale's delisted Monkey Island game returns to Steam and GOG | first = Jody | last =McGregor | date = June 27, 2020 | access-date = June 27, 2020 | work = PC Gamer}}

File:Guybrush Threepwood TMI concepts.jpg

As with Telltale's other products, Tales of Monkey Island was developed and released in five episodic segments; Grossman explained that Telltale prefers to tell stories this way, rather than as continuous narratives that are too long for people to play comfortably. Unlike their previous games, each episode is not a standalone tale; it is a single chapter in a larger plot.{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/990/990268p1.html |title=E3 2009: Tales of Monkey Island Preview |publisher=IGN |date=2009-06-02 |first=Steve |last=Butts |access-date=2009-06-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619200649/http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/990/990268p1.html |archive-date=2009-06-19}} This allowed Telltale to advance the story like that of a television series, in which character relationships develop in the minds of the audience over several months. Each episode is designed to be gratifying on its own, with a satisfying conclusion; however, it then provides a cliffhanger to "tantalize the player a little more". According to Grossman, Tales of Monkey Island is set after an "imaginary" Monkey Island 5, which he views as "a blockbuster, epic 40-hour gigantic experience like the earlier games". Its story would have followed Guybrush's actions in the time between Escape from Monkey Island and Tales of Monkey Island; the beginning of Tales of Monkey Island would have marked its conclusion. Grossman maintained that both the story and gameplay of Tales of Monkey Island were designed to be accessible for newcomers to the series, and commented that "knowledge of the characters and their history will add a nostalgic layer to the sly references, but is by no means necessary".{{cite web|title=Tales of Monkey Island'' – the interview |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2009/jul/02/pc-games |access-date=2011-01-11 |date=2009-07-03 |last=Howson |first=Greg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150129155901/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2009/jul/02/pc-games |archive-date=2015-01-29}}

Stemmle likened the game's episodic development to a relay race, and the development of a full game, such as Escape from Monkey Island, to a "marathon". This production method meant that certain aspects, such as the game's graphics, were worked on until the release deadline.{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/tales-of-monkey-island-q-a-with-telltale-designer-mike-stemmle-137500.phtml |title=Tales of Monkey Island Q&A with Telltale Designer Mike Stemmle |publisher=Destructoid |date=2009-06-25 |access-date=2009-06-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628091720/http://www.destructoid.com/tales-of-monkey-island-q-a-with-telltale-designer-mike-stemmle-137500.phtml |archive-date=2009-06-28}} Each episode took around four months to complete. Only a few environmental resources were reused between episodes; while Telltale Games had built previous games such as Sam & Max Save the World and Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures around one set of locations, using the protagonists' homes and nearby streets consistently in each episode, the developers forwent such central hubs and "comfort zones" in Tales of Monkey Island, instead having each episode move off to a new primary location, only occasionally revisiting past locations. However, reusable skeletons and animations were developed for the supporting cast, including generic body types that could be visually altered to suit each character. While four of these were created, size constraints resulted in only two being included in the final game. By the game's third episode, Telltale became unsatisfied with this system, and began diversifying facial features, and providing supporting characters with unique silhouettes and animations.

File:Tales of Monkey Island ship battle.jpg

The game's artistic direction was developed by former LucasArts members Derek Sakai and Dave Bogan; both of them had worked on The Curse of Monkey Island, Escape from Monkey Island, and several earlier LucasArts adventure games. The game's final art direction was an attempt to combine the realistic look of the first two Monkey Island games with the whimsical, stylized graphics of the third. While those games feature entirely two-dimensional graphics, and their successor, Escape from Monkey Island, is largely pre-rendered, Tales of Monkey Island is rendered in full 3D. Grossman explained that both Telltale's art department and game engine are oriented toward 3D graphics development, and that the company enjoys the benefits 3D offers in the areas of animation and cinematography. Improved capacity for the latter resulted in the appointment of a "cinematic director": someone to help the designers locate scenes needing more dramatic activity, and to assist the animators and choreographers in creating it. During development, the necessity of this position was highlighted by a ship battle scene in "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal", which was initially static and unexciting. This was remedied by changing the time of day from dusk to night, adding rain and other weather effects, and using camera movement to simulate rough waters.

Regarding the puzzle design in Tales of Monkey Island, Stemmle said that he and his fellow designers—when they were younger—believed that they needed to "stump the player", but Stemmle now considers it "a lot better to make the players feel smart". Therefore, the designers included a hint system to prevent players from becoming stuck. Grossman explained that Telltale's designers would bear in mind how players would mentally progress through the puzzles, and consider "what realisations we expected them to have and whether those expectations are realistic". Due to a tight development schedule, puzzles in the first episode were not optimized for the game's control system, which was re-designed late in development. Initially, the game was to feature point-and-click controls, as had been used in the majority of Telltale's previous games, but a "direct control" method—similar to the one seen in Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures—was decided upon after much of the first episode had been planned. As the direct control in that game had been designed for an Xbox controller, the developers reworked the idea into a "click-and-drag" mouse system for Tales of Monkey Island. Telltale believed that this control method made for a less passive and more engaging player experience, and provided more freedom for cinematic camera work than was possible with point-and-click.

Aside from providing the Monkey Island license to Telltale, LucasArts' role in the game's development involved collaboration and approval of the game's script, character concept art and puzzle design. As the remake of The Secret of Monkey Island had begun development before Tales of Monkey Island, LucasArts shared their art style guide with Telltale, so that the two products' art direction would be similar.{{cite web|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/536/ |title=Craig Derrick – LucasArts – Interview |publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming |first=Mark |last=Newheiser |date=2009-12-02 |access-date=2009-12-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205230126/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/536 |archive-date=2009-12-05}} In particular, LucasArts wished that the character of Guybrush would be comparable to the appearance of the character in the special edition. LucasArts largely based their vision for Guybrush's new visuals in Tales of Monkey Island on how the character appeared in The Curse of Monkey Island, integrating various aspects from LeChuck's Revenge that commonly resonated through fan art, such as the character's blue coat and beard, in addition to using their own stylized art direction. Telltale concept artist Ryan Jones worked closely with LucasArts' Jeff Sengalli on developing the appearance of Guybrush and other characters, Sengalli providing feedback and refinement in such areas as character silhouettes, facial features and clothing. Vanaman noted that LucasArts was open to Telltale's creative direction for the game, and did not "put their foot down" over any aspects of their vision.{{cite web|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/515/ |title=Sean Vanaman – Telltale Games – Interview |publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming |first=Mark |last=Newheiser |date=2009-09-26 |access-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203195009/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/interviews/515/ |archive-date=2009-12-03}}

File:Dominic Armato cropped.jpg

Michael Land, the composer behind preceding Monkey Island games, returned to score Tales of Monkey Island.{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58892 |title=Tales of Monkey Island Announced, Secret of Monkey Island to Be Revamped |publisher=Shacknews |date=2009-06-01 |first=Alice |last=O'Connor |access-date=2009-06-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603054601/http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/58892 |archive-date=2009-06-03}} In-house Telltale composer Jared Emerson-Johnson said that his own role in the game's music was "technical and administrative", and that, while he had been willing to assist Land, "the sound of the Monkey Island universe is all about Mike’s vision, so he was left alone to 'do his thing' as only he can".{{cite web|url=http://talesofmi.net/?p=777 |title=Jared Emerson-Johnson Interview |first=Andrei |last=Constantinescu |work=The Tales of Monkey Island Blog |publisher=LFNetwork, LLC |date=2009-12-12 |access-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214085844/http://talesofmi.net/?p=777 |archive-date=2009-12-14}} The soundtrack was recorded in MIDI format to reduce the data size for the Wii version; for the Windows version, the files were converted to WAV for increased quality. In each episode's production, music was among the last elements to be finalized, as it could not be finished until all cutscenes were properly timed.{{cite journal|first=Emily|last=Morganti|title=Postmortem: Tales of Monkey Island|journal=Game Developer|publisher=United Business Media|location=San Francisco|date=May 2010|issue=5|page=20|volume=17}}

Dominic Armato, the voice actor of Guybrush from The Curse of Monkey Island onward, reprises his role as that character. LucasArts encouraged Telltale to retain as much of the original cast as possible—particularly Armato, who was described by LucasArts' David Collins as "the ultimate Monkey Island fanboy". Armato enjoyed his opportunity to voice Guybrush again; he had believed that the series would never be continued, due to the length of time since Escape from Monkey Island{{'}}s release. Armato voiced the character in both Tales of Monkey Island and the special edition of The Secret of Monkey Island; in the former game, he attempted to make Guybrush sound more mature and experienced than his younger incarnation in the latter.{{cite web |url=http://www.g-wie-gorilla.de/content/view/1147/18/ |title=Interview with Dave Grossman, Mike Stemmle and Dominic Armato |first=Thomas |last=Nickel |publisher=G Wie Gorilla.de |year=2009 |access-date=2010-01-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090818212922/http://www.g-wie-gorilla.de/content/view/1147/18/ |archive-date=2009-08-18}} Because of Armato's understanding of the character, the voice directors gave him considerable flexibility in his performance.

Elaine Marley's voice actress in The Curse of Monkey Island, Alexandra Boyd, was also brought back for her role.{{cite video|people=Grossman, Dave |date=2009-06-01 |title=Tales of Monkey Island First Look Interview |url=http://e3.gamespot.com/video/6210456 |medium=Streaming media |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=2009-06-02}}{{dead link|date=October 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Boyd was unable to travel to Telltale's studio in California; instead, she recorded her lines in London, while communicating with the voice director via Skype.{{cite web|url=http://talesofmi.net/?p=736|title=Alexandra Boyd Interview|work=The Tales of Monkey Island Blog|publisher=LFNetwork, LLC|first=Andrei|last=Constantinescu|date=2009-11-25|access-date=2009-11-26}} Earl Boen—the original voice actor for LeChuck—had retired from acting, and was not initially available to reprise his role.{{Cite podcast|url=http://www.lucasarts.com/games/monkeyisland/podcast/monkey1se_audiointerview_dcollins_dofarrell.mp3 |title=The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition Audio Interview |publisher=LucasArts |host=Brown, Brooks |date=2009-07-08 |access-date=2010-08-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203193726/http://www.lucasarts.com/games/monkeyisland/podcast/monkey1se_audiointerview_dcollins_dofarrell.mp3 |archive-date=2010-12-03}} The character was instead voiced by Adam Harrington in the first episode, and replaced by Kevin Blackton as the human LeChuck in chapters two to four. Boen returned to voice the demon LeChuck at the end of the fourth episode, and stayed on for the game's fifth and final chapter. Telltale later had Boen re-record the lines for LeChuck's demon incarnation in the first episode for the DVD release.{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1172 |title=Tales of Monkey Island Collector's DVD giveaway |publisher=Adventure Gamers |date=2010-06-16 |access-date=2011-01-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101120072400/http://adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C1172 |archive-date=2010-11-20}} To make the actors' portrayals more forceful, Telltale implemented a lip sync system capable of presenting a large range of facial expressions on character models.

To promote Tales of Monkey Island, Telltale Games posted a series of fan-made Flash short films on their website.{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/episodes |title=Tales of Monkey Island – An Epic Tale of Adventure in Five Parts |publisher=Telltale Games |access-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091214223517/http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland/episodes |archive-date=2009-12-14}} Entitled I Wonder What Happens in Tales of Monkey Island, the series was created by German animator Marius Fietzek, who co-wrote it with Andrei Constantinescu. The series' artwork was produced by Martin Koehler. Presented as a cartoon version of Tales of Monkey Island, the shorts speculated on the game's story and content, and depicted hypothetical events for the upcoming chapters. The first episode debuted on July 5, 2009, two days before the release of "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal".{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-470 |title=Tales of Monkey Island: I wonder what happens.. |first=Jake |last=Rodkin |publisher=Telltale Games |date=2009-07-05 |access-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221082041/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-470 |archive-date=2009-12-21}} The second and third episodes followed on August 6 and September 16, respectively;{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-486 |title=Spinner Cay: I wonder what happens.. |publisher=Telltale Games |first=David |last=Eggers |date=2009-08-06 |access-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129102336/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-486 |archive-date=2009-11-29}}{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-500 |title=Lair of the Leviathan: I wonder what happens.. |publisher=Telltale Games |first=David |last=Eggers |date=2009-09-16 |access-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130134756/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-500 |archive-date=2009-11-30}} the penultimate episode was released on October 22.{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-516 |title=Trial and Execution: I Be Wonderin' What 'Appens.. |publisher=Telltale Games |first=Nikki |last=Harper |date=2009-10-22 |access-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201030749/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-516 |archive-date=2009-12-01}} For the final installment, released on December 4, Fietzek recruited Smudo of the German hip hop band Die Fantastischen Vier to do a musical number.{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-544 |title=Rise of the Pirate God: I wonder what happens? |first=David |last=Eggers |publisher=Telltale Games |date=2009-12-04 |access-date=2009-12-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207071858/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-544 |archive-date=2009-12-07}} Emerson-Johnson described the series as "absolutely fantastic", and said that "it really seems like these games appeal to people in a way that spurs huge amounts of excellent creative energy". He noted that Telltale "was passing [the videos] around for a good week" after they were posted.

A week after the release of the first episode, Telltale held a contest called "Game Designer for a Day", which gave fans the opportunity to submit and vote for a line of dialog to be used as an accusation against Guybrush.{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-474 |title=Accuse Guybrush Threepwood of wrongdoing! |first=David |last=Eggers |publisher=Telltale Games |date=2009-07-14 |access-date=2011-05-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917005319/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-474 |archive-date=2011-09-17}} The winning line, "He dug up my perfectly good X!", was submitted by Liz Johnston of Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada, and was subsequently added to the trial scene in the fourth chapter while Johnston's name was included in the chapter's credits.{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-498 |title=PAX Wrap-up |first=David |last=Eggers |publisher=Telltale Games |date=2009-09-11 |access-date=2011-05-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111105131514/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-498 |archive-date=2011-11-05}}{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-530 |title=Designer for a day: PAX memories |first=Liz |last=Johnston |publisher=Telltale Games |date=2009-11-10 |access-date=2011-10-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115214404/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-530 |archive-date=2010-01-15}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/23/telltale-announces-tales-of-monkey-island-game-designer-for-the-day-contest-winner |title=Telltale Announces Tales of Monkey Island "Game Designer for the Day" Contest Winner |publisher=IGN |date=2009-09-23 |access-date=2011-10-21 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121220055103/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/09/23/telltale-announces-tales-of-monkey-island-game-designer-for-the-day-contest-winner |archive-date=2012-12-20}}

Telltale produced Tales of Monkey Island merchandise, which they sold from their online store. These included a poster print of Steve Purcell's cover artwork for the game,{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-505 |title=Pirates! Posters! |publisher=Telltale Games |date=2009-09-18 |first=Nikki |last=Harper |access-date=2009-12-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201040708/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-505 |archive-date=2009-12-01}} and a set of promotional badges; the latter had previously been available at conventions, such as E3.{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-513 |title=Weekend store happenings: Buttons! |publisher=Telltale Games |first=Nikki |last=Harper |date=2009-10-16 |access-date=2009-12-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201013829/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-513 |archive-date=2009-12-01}} Further merchandise—including a tankard, a set of tarot cards, and a deluxe edition DVD—was made available in early March 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-587 |title=Order the Tales of Monkey Island DVD today! |publisher=Telltale Games |first=Nikki |last=Harper |date=2010-03-10 |access-date=2010-04-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416133434/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-587 |archive-date=2010-04-16}} For the September 2009 International Talk Like a Pirate Day, Telltale Games made the game's first episode available for free on their website. Customers who had already purchased all five episodes were instead eligible for a free episode from one of Telltale's other series.{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-503 |title=Play like a Pirate this Saturday! |date=2009-09-17 |publisher=Telltale Games |first=David |last=Eggers |access-date=2009-09-19 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922183906/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-503 |archive-date=2009-09-22}}

Tales of Monkey Island was a commercial success, and it exceeded Telltale's sales projections. While no figures for the game have been released,{{cite web|url=http://www.videogamer.com/news/monkey_island_telltale_s_best_performing_title_ever.html|title=Monkey Island Telltale's 'best performing' title ever|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|work=VideoGamer.com|publisher=Pro-G Media Ltd|date=2009-07-30|access-date=2009-12-29}} the game was the company's most successful project,{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=222043 |title=Telltale: Tales of Monkey Island "most successful" series yet |work=Computer and Video Games |publisher=Future plc |date=2009-08-26 |access-date=2009-08-26 |first=Gavin |last=Ogden |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090828040919/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=222043 |archive-date=2009-08-28}} until it was outstripped by Back to the Future: The Game, which was released a year and a half later.{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/back-to-the-future-is-telltales-most-successful-franchise/ |title=Back to the Future is Telltale's 'most successful' franchise |first=David |last=Hinkle |publisher=Joystiq |date=2011-02-18 |access-date=2011-06-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629123735/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/18/back-to-the-future-is-telltales-most-successful-franchise/ |archive-date=2011-06-29}} Telltale CEO Dan Conners noted that the game had been the top selling product on Steam for "a few days". According to Telltale's marketing department, the game was predominately purchased as a full season, rather than as individual episodes. This was attributed to the strong narrative between episodes, in contrast to Telltale's previous work.

{{VG series reviews

|gr=no

|game1=Launch of the Screaming Narwhal

|mc1=PC: 79%{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-sc/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 1: "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal" (PC: 2009) Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2009-10-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100813084325/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal |archive-date=2010-08-13}}
Wii: 79%{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-sc/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 1: "Launch of the Screaming Narwahal" (Wii: 2009) Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2009-10-03 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824044613/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal |archive-date=2010-08-24}}

|game2=The Siege of Spinner Cay

|mc2=PC: 77%{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-2-the-siege-of-spi/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: "The Siege of Spinner Cay" (PC: 2009) Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2009-08-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201154656/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-2-the-siege-of-spinner-cay |archive-date=2010-12-01}}
Wii: 79%{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-2-the-siege-of-spi/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: "The Siege of Spinner Cay" (Wii: 2009) Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2009-12-27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824041414/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-2-the-siege-of-spinner-cay |archive-date=2010-08-24}}

|game3=Lair of the Leviathan

|mc3=PC: 82%{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-levi/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: "Lair of the Leviathan" (PC:2009) Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2009-11-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906143646/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan |archive-date=2010-09-06}}
Wii: 80%{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-levi/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: "Lair of the Leviathan" (Wii: 2009) Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2010-01-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824044618/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan |archive-date=2010-08-24}}

|game4=The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood

|mc4=PC: 80%{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-4-the-trial-and-ex/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4: "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" (PC:2009) Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2010-01-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830082015/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-4-the-trial-and-execution-of-guybrush-threepwood |archive-date=2010-08-30}}
Wii: 84%{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-4-the-trial-and-ex/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4: "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" (Wii:2009) Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2009-11-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819152451/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-4-the-trial-and-execution-of-guybrush-threepwood |archive-date=2010-08-19}}

|game5=Rise of the Pirate God

|mc5=PC: 81%{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-5-rise-of-the-pira/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 5: "Rise of the Pirate God" (PC:2009) Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2010-01-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906144753/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-5-rise-of-the-pirate-god |archive-date=2010-09-06}}
Wii: 83%{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-5-rise-of-the-pira/critic-reviews/?platform=wii |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 5: "Rise of the Pirate God" (Wii:2010) Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=2010-04-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819124334/http://www.metacritic.com/game/wii/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-5-rise-of-the-pirate-god |archive-date=2010-08-19}}

}}

Critics believed that the first chapter, "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal", was a respectable start to the game.{{cite news|title=A Whale of a Time; After Nine Years Away, Monkey Island Returns With a Splash|author=Lynch, Kevin|newspaper=The Mirror|date=2009-07-17}} Ryan Scott of GameSpy wrote that the puzzles "generally challenge [the player] just enough without becoming too frustrating",{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/tales-of-monkey-island/1002571p1.html |title=The Consensus: Tales of Monkey Island: Episode 1 Review |publisher=GameSpy |first=Ryan |last=Scott |date=2009-07-09 |access-date=2010-01-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714232606/http://uk.pc.gamespy.com/pc/tales-of-monkey-island/1002571p1.html |archive-date=2009-07-14}} while Eurogamer's Kristan Reed stated that their quality was "bang-on time after time".{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal-review |title=Tales of Monkey Island: "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal" |first=Kirsten |last=Reed |publisher=Eurogamer |date=2009-07-08 |access-date=2010-01-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121192048/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal-review |archive-date=2009-11-21}} In contrast, criticism was directed toward certain puzzles' designs{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/100/1001756p1.html |title=Tales of Monkey Island—Episode 1: "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal" Review |publisher=IGN |first=Jason |last=Ocampo |date=2009-07-07 |access-date=2010-01-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710231253/http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/100/1001756p1.html |archive-date=2009-07-10}}—particularly toward that of one maze puzzle. The writing and story were lauded, with several reviews commending the dialogue's humor.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/5900075/Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Episode-1-video-game-review.html |title=Tales of Monkey Island: Episode 1 video game review |work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Tom |last=Hoggins |date=2009-07-24 |access-date=2010-01-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813122959/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/5900075/Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Episode-1-video-game-review.html |archive-date=2009-08-13}}{{cite web|url=http://www.giantbomb.com/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal/61-26776/reviews/ |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 1: "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal" |publisher=Giant Bomb |first=Ryan |last=Davis |date=2009-07-07 |access-date=2010-01-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127182601/http://www.giantbomb.com/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-1-launch-of-the-screaming-narwhal/61-26776/reviews/ |archive-date=2010-01-27}} Adventure Gamers staff writer Evan Dickens felt that writing did not match up to the quality of LeChuck's Revenge.{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1037 |title=Review: Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 1 – "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal" |publisher=Adventure Gamers |first=Evan |last=Dickens |date=2009-07-07 |access-date=2010-01-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211123808/http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C1037 |archive-date=2010-02-11}} Although the chapter's supporting cast was considered weak, critics enjoyed the introduction of de Singe to the series. The voicework for the main characters was praised, as was Land's soundtrack.{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3175085&p=1|title=Tales of Monkey Island (PC)|first=Justin|last=Haywald|publisher=1UP.com|date=2009-07-07|access-date=2010-01-08}}{{cite web|url=http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/TMI_Ep1_Narwhal/Narwhal.shtm|title=Tales of Monkey Island Episode 1: "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal"|first=Al|last=Giovetti|publisher=Just Adventure|date=2009-08-05|access-date=2010-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212055220/http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/TMI_Ep1_Narwhal/Narwhal.shtm |archive-date=2009-12-12}} Critics were mostly complimentary toward the episode's graphics, with New Straits Times{{'}} Bruno Chan and The Sunday Times{{'}} David Phelan praising the updated interpretation of The Curse of Monkey Island{{'}}s art style{{cite news |title=More monkey business, more fun |author=Chan, Bruno Dieter |newspaper=New Straits Times |date=2009-07-27}}{{cite news |title=Tales of Monkey Island|author=Phelan, David |newspaper=The Sunday Times |date=2009-07-19}} while 1UP.com's Bob Mackey called Guybrush "the most convincingly expressive Telltale character yet";{{cite web | url = http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8998329&publicUserId=5631527 | title = Three Reasons Tales of Monkey Island Got It Right | first = Bob | last = Mackey | date = 2009-07-14 | access-date = 2009-07-14 | publisher = 1UP.com}} however, concerns were voiced over erratic graphical quality between characters. The game's controls were subject to reproof by a number of reviews; several preferred the keyboard controls over Telltale's new "click and drag" system.

Response to "The Siege of Spinner Cay" was similar to that of the preceding episode. Critics were divided over the quality of the chapter's puzzles: Destructoid reviewer Brad Nicholson criticized their design as "tight and constricted",{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-2-145068.phtml |title=Review: Tales of Monkey Island, Chapter 2 |publisher=Destructoid |first1=Conrad |last1=Zimmerman |first2=Brad |last2=Nicholson |date=2009-08-20 |access-date=2010-01-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122002046/http://www.destructoid.com/review-tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-2-145068.phtml |archive-date=2009-11-22}} and Dickens felt that they varied wildly in quality.{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1059 |title=Review: Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 2 – "The Siege of Spinner Cay" |first=Evan |last=Dickens |publisher=Adventure Gamers |date=2009-08-24 |access-date=2010-01-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205202212/http://adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C1059 |archive-date=2010-02-05}} In contrast, they were praised as "pleasantly non-linear" by Reed,{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-two-review |title=Tales of Monkey Island: "The Siege of Spinner Cay" |publisher=Eurogamer |first=Kirsten |last=Reed |date=2009-08-25 |access-date=2010-01-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125031306/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-two-review |archive-date=2010-01-25}} and called logical and sensible by PALGN{{'}}s Adam Ghiggino.{{cite web |url=http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/15089/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-2-the-siege-of-spinner-cay-review/ |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: "The Siege of Spinner Cay" Review |first=Adam |last=Ghiggino |website=PALGN |date=2009-08-20 |access-date=2010-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712053552/http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/15089/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-2-the-siege-of-spinner-cay-review/ |archive-date=2010-07-12}} The need for extended travel between locations, in order to complete mundane tasks, was criticized. The episode's writing was lauded by reviewers;{{cite magazine|url=http://gparcade.blogfaction.com/article/110421/pc-review-tales-of-monkey-island-episode-2-the-siege-of-spinner-cay/|title=PC Review – Tales of Monkey Island Episode 2: "The Siege of Spinner Cay"|first=Sean|last=Ely|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG|date=2009-08-20|access-date=2010-01-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817104026/http://gparcade.blogfaction.com/article/110421/pc-review-tales-of-monkey-island-episode-2-the-siege-of-spinner-cay/|archive-date=2010-08-17|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamersdailynews.com/article-2069-Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Ep-2-The-Siege-of-Spinner-Cay-Review-PC.html |title=Tales of Monkey Island Ep. 2: "The Siege of Spinner Cay" Review (PC) |first=Jim |last=Cook |year=2009 |publisher=GDN Network |access-date=2010-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204161505/http://gamersdailynews.com/article-2069-Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Ep-2-The-Siege-of-Spinner-Cay-Review-PC.html |archive-date=2010-02-04}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mygamer.com/index.php?page=gameportal&mode=reviews&id=555495 |title=Tales of Monkey Island: "The Siege of Spinner Cay" |publisher=MyGamer |first=Dan |last=Gillman |date=2009-08-20 |access-date=2010-01-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622084705/http://www.mygamer.com/index.php?page=gameportal&mode=reviews&id=555495 |archive-date=2011-06-22}} particular praise was bestowed on the chapter's opening scene, which introduces Morgan LeFlay.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/tales_of_monkey_island_chapter_2_siege_of_spinner_cay_pc_review |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: "Siege of Spinner Cay" |publisher=GameZone |first=Dan |last=Liebman |date=2009-08-28 |access-date=2010-01-18 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616050905/http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/tales_of_monkey_island_chapter_2_siege_of_spinner_cay_pc_review |archive-date=2012-06-16}} Nevertheless, the story was disparaged by Reuben Lees of the Herald Sun for feeling "more like a bridge to open up further plotlines in the later episodes",{{cite news|author=Lees, Reuben|title=Puzzling lack of puzzles|date=2009-09-13|newspaper=Sunday Herald Sun}} a point echoed by other reviewers. While the supporting cast was again criticized, reviewers enjoyed the development of the main characters' roles.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/monkey-island-chapter-2|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123235953/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/monkey-island-chapter-2|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-23|title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 2: "The Siege of Spinner Cay" – PC|publisher=Game Revolution|first=Eduardo|last=Reboucas|date=2009-09-10|access-date=2010-01-18}} Critics admired the chapter's audio work, with Dickens calling Kevin Blackton's rendition of the human LeChuck a "real standout". Graphical tweaks over "The Launch of the Screaming Narwhal" were also appreciated.

Critics considered "Lair of the Leviathan" to be stronger than the previous chapters; on the review aggregator sites GameRankings and Metacritic, its Windows version holds the highest rating out of all Tales of Monkey Island episodes.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/961260-/index.html |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: "Lair of the Leviathan" for PC |publisher=GameRankings |access-date=2009-11-05 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202031232/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/961260-/index.html |archive-date=2009-12-02}} The episode's puzzles were commended;{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1077 |title=Review: Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3 – "Lair of the Leviathan" |first=Evan |last=Dickens |publisher=Adventure Gamers |date=2009-10-02 |access-date=2010-04-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205202148/http://adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C1077 |archive-date=2010-02-05}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124000029/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-24|title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: "Lair of the Leviathan" – PC|first=Eduardo|last=Reboucas|publisher=Game Revolution|date=2009-12-08|access-date=2010-04-20}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamingtrend.com/Reviews/review/review.php?ReviewID=1317 |title=Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 3 |publisher=Gaming Trend |first=Ron |last=Lenzi |date=2009-09-29 |access-date=2010-04-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224221732/http://www.gamingtrend.com/Reviews/review/review.php?ReviewID=1317 |archive-date=December 24, 2009}} IGN's Steve Butts opined that Telltale's puzzle design had "moved forward quite a bit", compared to both preceding chapters and their earlier Sam & Max games.{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/102/1029089p1.html |title=Tales of Monkey Island, Episode 3: "Lair of the Leviathan" Review |publisher=IGN |first=Steve |last=Butts |date=2009-09-29 |access-date=2010-04-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005212003/http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/102/1029089p1.html |archive-date=2009-10-05}} One puzzle in particular, involving pirates holding a face-pulling contest, was praised by reviewers.{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-150224.phtml |title=Review: Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3 |first=Brad |last=Nicholson |publisher=Destructoid |date=2009-09-30 |access-date=2010-04-20 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111005326/http://www.destructoid.com/review-tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-150224.phtml |archive-date=2010-01-11}} Dickens described the chapter's story as "strong [and] advancing", and Ghiggino felt that it "continued the fine Monkey Island tradition of being bizarre, hilarious and pretty interesting".{{cite web |url=http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/15345/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan-review/ |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: Lair of the Leviathan Review |website=PALGN |first=Adam |last=Ghiggino |date=2009-09-29 |access-date=2010-04-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606194329/http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/15345/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan-review/ |archive-date=2010-06-06}} Several reviews drew comparisons to the 1883 book The Adventures of Pinocchio, due to the game's setting inside a giant manatee. The episode's writing received near unanimous praise,{{cite magazine|url=http://gparcade.blogfaction.com/article/111052/pc-review-tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan/|title=PC Review – Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: "Lair of the Leviathan"|last=DeLia|first=Joseph|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG|date=2009-10-06|access-date=2010-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328011639/http://gparcade.blogfaction.com/article/111052/pc-review-tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-3-lair-of-the-leviathan/|archive-date=2010-03-28|url-status=dead}} and response to the supporting cast was much improved over the preceding episodes; praise centered particularly around Murray, a demonic, disembodied skull. Criticism of "Lair of the Leviathan" primarily focused on the chapter's brevity and lack of varied locations.

Reviewers were more ambivalent toward the fourth episode, "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood". Reception of its puzzles was mixed; Ghiggino described many as "frustrating for the wrong reasons",{{cite web |url=http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/15526/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-4-the-trial-and-execution-of-guybrush-threepwood-review/ |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4: "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" Review |website=PALGN |first=Adam |last=Ghiggino |date=2009-11-03 |access-date=2010-07-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712053023/http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/15526/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-4-the-trial-and-execution-of-guybrush-threepwood-review/ |archive-date=2010-07-12}} and Dickens, while praising several as "challenging and creative", believed that there were "definite misfires".{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1091 |title=Review: Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4 – "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" |first=Evan |last=Dickens |date=2009-11-09 |access-date=2010-07-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922163537/http://adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C1091 |archive-date=2010-09-22}} Butts criticized the "arbitrary design" of several puzzles, but noted that they were "exactly what we've come to expect from the series".{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/104/1040816p2.html |title=Tales of Monkey Island, Chapter 4: "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" Review |publisher=IGN |first=Steve |last=Butts |date=2009-10-30 |access-date=2010-07-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106123657/http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/104/1040816p2.html |archive-date=2009-11-06}} Nevertheless, the episode's titular trial sequence was lauded. Reaction to the chapter's plot was mostly positive, with Eduardo Reboucas of Game Revolution commenting that it "moves along at a steady pace, and ends with a dramatic bang".{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/monkey-island-chapter-4|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124101153/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/pc/monkey-island-chapter-4|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-24|title=PC Reviews: Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4 – PC|publisher=Game Revolution|date=2009-12-31|first=Eduardo|last=Reboucas|access-date=2010-07-24}} Several reviews praised the twists in the story,{{cite web|url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/544/ |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4: "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" |publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming |first=Mark |last=Newheiser |date=2009-11-03 |access-date=2010-07-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711174106/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/544/ |archive-date=2010-07-11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamingnexus.com/Article/Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Chapter-Four-The-Trial-and-Execution-of-Guybrush-Threepwood/Item2458.aspx |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4: "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" |publisher=Gaming Nexus |first=Chad |last=Smith |date=2009-11-20 |access-date=2010-07-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102031219/http://gamingnexus.com/Article/Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Chapter-Four-The-Trial-and-Execution-of-Guybrush-Threepwood/Item2458.aspx |archive-date=2010-01-02}} although Adventure Classic Gaming's Mark Newheiser opined that the darker turn late in the episode was detrimental to the otherwise light-hearted series. The episode's writing was praised,{{cite web|url=http://www.honestgamers.com/reviews/8519/Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Chapter-4-The-Trial-and-Execution-of-Guybrush-Threepwood.html |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 4: "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" |publisher=HonestGamers |first=Lewis |last=Denby |date=2009-11-17 |access-date=2010-07-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630151836/http://www.honestgamers.com/reviews/8519/Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Chapter-4-The-Trial-and-Execution-of-Guybrush-Threepwood.html |archive-date=2010-06-30}} as was the use of returning Monkey Island character Stan as the trial's prosecutor. Critics were divided over the effectiveness of reusing the setting of "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal".{{cite web|url=http://www.mygamer.com/index.php?page=gameportal&mode=reviews&id=555542 |title=Tales of Monkey Island: "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood" |publisher=MyGamer |first=Dan |last=Gillman |date=2009-11-25 |access-date=2010-07-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622081456/http://www.mygamer.com/index.php?page=gameportal&mode=reviews&id=555542 |archive-date=2011-06-22}}

The final episode, "Rise of the Pirate God", was thought by critics to be a fitting end to the series. Response to the chapter's puzzles was mostly positive,{{cite web |url=http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/15675/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-5-rise-of-the-pirate-god-review/ |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 5: "Rise of the Pirate God" Review |website=PALGN |first=Adam |last=Ghiggino |date=2009-12-10 |access-date=2010-08-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712194314/http://palgn.com.au/pc-gaming/15675/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-5-rise-of-the-pirate-god-review/ |archive-date=2010-07-12}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamecritics.com/tera-kirk/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-five-rise-of-the-pirate-god-review |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter Five: "Rise of the Pirate God" Review |publisher=GameCritics |first=Tera |last=Kirk |date=2010-01-25 |access-date=2010-08-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100809155823/http://www.gamecritics.com/tera-kirk/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-five-rise-of-the-pirate-god-review |archive-date=2010-08-09}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mygamer.com/index.php?page=gameportal&mode=reviews&id=555578 |title=Tales of Monkey Island: "Rise of the Pirate God" |publisher=MyGamer |first=Dan |last=Gillman |date=2010-01-15 |access-date=2010-08-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023140421/http://www.mygamer.com/index.php?page=gameportal&mode=reviews&id=555578 |archive-date=2010-10-23}} though several reviewers maintained reservations about the difficulty and innovation of many of them.{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/105/1053110p1.html |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 5, "Rise of the Pirate God" Review |publisher=IGN |first=Steve |last=Butts |date=2009-12-08 |access-date=2010-08-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213040707/http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/105/1053110p1.html |archive-date=2009-12-13}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/213237/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-5/|title=Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 5|publisher=GamePro|first=Terry|last=Terrones|date=2009-12-14|access-date=2010-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116053720/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/213237/tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-5/|archive-date=2010-01-16|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/review-tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-5-157729.phtml |title=Review: Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 5 |publisher=Destructoid |first=Anthony |last=Burch |date=2009-12-13 |access-date=2010-08-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729163930/http://www.destructoid.com/review-tales-of-monkey-island-chapter-5-157729.phtml |archive-date=2010-07-29}} The level design, which requires players to backtrack between locations, was not well received.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamingnexus.com/Article/Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Chapter-5-Rise-of-the-Pirate-God/Item2485.aspx |title=Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 5: "Rise of the Pirate God" – Review |publisher=Gaming Nexus |date=2009-12-16 |first=Chad |last=Smith |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719185604/http://www.gamingnexus.com/Article/Tales-of-Monkey-Island-Chapter-5-Rise-of-the-Pirate-God/Item2485.aspx |archive-date=2010-07-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,1105 |title=Review: Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 5 – "Rise of the Pirate God" |first=Evan |last=Dickens |publisher=Adventure Gamers |date=2009-12-14 |access-date=2010-08-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100922162830/http://adventuregamers.com/article/id%2C1105 |archive-date=2010-09-22}} The chapter's climactic battle was thought to be sufficient,{{cite web |url=http://www.gamervision.com/users/coop/articles/tales_of_monkey_island_chapter_5_rise_of_the_pirate_god_pc |title=Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 5—"Rise of the Pirate God" (PC) |publisher=Gamervision |date=2009-12-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328093246/http://gamervision.com/users/coop/articles/tales_of_monkey_island_chapter_5_rise_of_the_pirate_god_pc |archive-date=2010-03-28}} though timing issues caused GameCritics' Tera Kirk to describe it as "almost as frustrating as it is clever". Nevertheless, the story received strong praise, particularly for the role reversal between Guybrush and LeChuck; Destructoid's Anthony Burch noted that the chapter "completely and intentionally inverts [Monkey Island{{'}}s] own cliches". Similarly, the writing and dialogue were commended, as was the voice acting, with critics praising Earl Boen's reprisal of the demon LeChuck and Armato's work as Guybrush. Reviewers complimented the graphics for both the ghostly "Crossroads" and the fire-ravaged real world; Butts expressed that "the levels all benefit from great color choices and fantastic lighting effects that really support the mood".

Tales of Monkey Island received awards and award nominations from video game industry publications. Following the game's announcement at E3 2009, IGN named it the "Biggest Surprise" for the PC at the convention,{{cite web|url=http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/992/992655p2.html |title=Best of PC E3 2009 Awards |publisher=IGN |date=2009-06-11 |access-date=2010-01-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616120845/http://uk.pc.ign.com/articles/992/992655p2.html |archive-date=2009-06-16}} and it was a finalist for GameSpot's Best Adventure Game of E3 award.{{cite web|url=http://uk.gamespot.com/special_feature/e3-2009-editors-choice/genres/index.html?page=2 |title=E3 09 Editors' Choice Award – Best Adventure Game |publisher=GameSpot |date=2009-06-11 |access-date=2010-01-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617074223/http://uk.gamespot.com/special_feature/e3-2009-editors-choice/genres/index.html?page=2 |archive-date=2009-06-17}} IGN later nominated the first and third chapters as the best Wii and PC adventure games of the year, respectively.{{cite web|url=http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2009/wii/best-adventure-game.html |title=Wii Best Adventure Game 2009 |publisher=IGN |year=2009 |access-date=2010-01-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229202025/http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2009/wii/best-adventure-game.html |archive-date=2012-02-29}}{{cite web |url=http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2009/pc/best-adventure-game.html |title=PC Best Adventure Game 2009 |publisher=IGN |year=2009 |access-date=2010-01-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091220004245/http://uk.bestof.ign.com/2009/pc/best-adventure-game.html |archive-date=2009-12-20}} Gamasutra gave the game an honorable mention on its list of the year's best PC games;{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26234/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2009_Top_5_PC_Games.php |title=Gamasutra's Best Of 2009: Top 5 PC Games |publisher=Gamasutra |first=Chris |last=Remo |date=2009-12-07 |access-date=2010-01-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209095443/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26234/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2009_Top_5_PC_Games.php |archive-date=2010-02-09}} on their list of the top developers of the year, the site also presented Telltale Games with an honorable mention.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26242/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2009_Top_5_Developers.php |title=Gamasutra's Best Of 2009: Top 5 Developers |publisher=Gamasutra |first=Chris |last=Remo |date=2009-12-17 |access-date=2010-01-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221002710/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26242/Gamasutras_Best_Of_2009_Top_5_Developers.php |archive-date=2009-12-21}} Nintendo Power nominated Tales of Monkey Island for their awards for overall game of the year, best WiiWare game and best adventure game; the publication gave Morgan LeFlay the award for the year's best character.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nintendopower.com/images/NP250_NPA2009.jpg |title=Nominations for the 2009 Nintendo Power Awards |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Future US |date=January 2009 |access-date=2009-01-11 |pages=72–73 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105035208/http://nintendopower.com/images/NP250_NPA2009.jpg |archive-date=2010-01-05}} In its list of the best and worst video games of 2009, OC Weekly named Tales of Monkey Island the "Best Series Revival" of the year.{{cite web |url=http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/video-games---humor/the-2009-game-of-the-year/index.php |title=Best and Worst Video Games of 2009 |first=Peter |last=Mai |work=OC Weekly |publisher=Village Voice Media |date=2009-12-22 |access-date=2010-01-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112104230/http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/video-games---humor/the-2009-game-of-the-year/index.php |archive-date=2010-01-12}} About.com considered the game to be the second best Wii game of the year,{{cite web|url=http://nintendo.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/top10games2009.htm |title=The Top 10 Wii Games of 2009 |work=About.com |publisher=The New York Times Company |first=Charles |last=Herold |year=2009 |access-date=2010-01-11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091212225256/http://nintendo.about.com/od/toppicks/tp/top10games2009.htm |archive-date=2009-12-12}} and PC Gamer US awarded it "Adventure Game of the Year".{{cite web|url=http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-567 |title=Monkey Island DVD, Raves and Graves |first=Nikki |last=Harper |publisher=Telltale Games |date=2010-02-03 |access-date=2010-02-12 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208225903/http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-567 |archive-date=2010-02-08}}

• A Vampyre Story – adventure game similarly by former LucasArts members
• Runaway: A Twist of Fate – Monkey Island-inspired adventure game from the same year

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090606101916/http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland Tales of Monkey Island] at Telltale Games

{{Monkey Island}}

{{Telltale Games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tales of Monkey Island}}

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Category:Monkey Island games

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Category:Point-and-click adventure games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Telltale Games games

Category:Video games about pirates

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Category:Video game sequels

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Category:Video games scored by Michael Land

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