The Secret of Monkey Island

From Sega Retro

For the 2020 aftermarket re-release, see The Secret of Monkey Island (Limited Run Games).

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SecretOfMonkeyIsland title.png

The Secret of Monkey Island
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher:
Sega Mega-CD
JVC Musical Industries (US)
Sega Mega-CD
Victor Entertainment (JP)
Developer:
Original system(s): IBM PC
Peripherals supported: Sega Mouse
Genre: Action[1], Adventure[2]

















Number of players: 1
Official in-game languages:
  • English
  • 日本語
  • Release Date RRP Code
    Sega Mega-CD
    JP
    ¥8,800 (9,064)8,800e[3] T-60044
    Sega Mega-CD
    US
    $49.9549.95[5] T-60035
    Non-Sega versions

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    The Secret of Monkey Island, known in Japan as Monkey Island: Yuurei Kaizoku Daisoudou! (モンキー・アイランド ユーレイ海賊大騒動!), is a Sega Mega-CD graphic adventure game developed by LucasArts. A port of the computer game of the same name, it was first published in the United States by JVC Musical Industries in September 1993, and was later brought to Japan by Victor Entertainment two months later.

    Gameplay

    The Mega-CD version of Monkey Island derives from the 1992 VGA re-release of the game for IBM PC compatibles, which features an updated interface (based on the 1991 sequel Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge) and CD audio soundtrack. However, with only a single speed CD-ROM drive, the Mega-CD conversion has longer load times which affect every transition in the game.

    With only 64 on-screen colours at any one time, the Mega-CD version of Monkey Island makes graphical cutbacks over its VGA counterpart, but is still able to display more colours than most versions of the game. The 1990 IBM PC edition, for example was written to accommodate 16-colour EGA, 4-colour CGA and 2-colour Hercules modes, while the Amiga and Atari ST conversions can only produce 32 and 16 on-screen colours, respectively.

    As with the PC CD version, the Mega-CD port of Monkey Island removes the infamous "stump joke". In older versions of the game, a tree stump in the forest maze can be examined, with Guybrush claiming it to lead to a series of catacombs. As he attempts to squeeze through, the game asks for "disk 22" (then 36, then 114) to be inserted, after which Guybrush states he'll have to "skip that part of the game". These disks did not exist (the original game shipped on eight 5¼-inch disks), but LucasFilm Games were nevertheless bombarded with phone calls and letters by confused players thinking they could access that part of the game. Newer versions remove the interaction completely.

    The Mega-CD version does not support the CD BackUp RAM Cart, meaning a four-digit password system is used to access later parts of the game. The system is limited as does not keep track of the player's location, minor items and decisions that have been made.

    Some light censorship was undertaken for the Mega-CD version.

    Versions

    Localised names

    Also known as
    Language Localised Name English Translation
    English (US) The Secret of Monkey Island The Secret of Monkey Island
    Japanese モンキー・アイランド ユーレイ海賊大騒動! Monkey Island: Yuurei Kaizoku Daisoudou!

    Production credits

    Core Design Team
    • Additional Design: Noah Falstein
    • Additional additional Design: Everyone else at Lucasfilm Games
    • Sword Fighting Insults: Orson Scott Card
    • Last Minute Assistance: Tami Borowick, Ron Baldwin
    • Additional Art: Avril Harrison, Jim McLeod, Gary Winnick
    • Special Guest Film Director: Hal Barwood
    • Bulletproofing: Kerner Complex
    • Chocolate Supply Supervision: Andrea Siegel, Alexa Eurich
    • Lucasfilm Games General Manager: Steve Arnold
    • Managing Director: Doug Glen
    • Director of Operations: David Fox
    • Marketing Manager: Stacey Lamiero
    • Public Relations: Betsy Irion
    • Art Department Supervisor: Gary Winnick
    • Associate Marketing Director: Kelly Flock
    • Manufacturing Coordinator: Meredith Cahill
    • Product Support: Brandy Wilson (supervisor), Liz Nagy, Carla Green
    • Production Assistants: James Wood, Carol Traylor
    • Administrative Support: Wendy Bertram, Alexa Eurich, Paula Hendricksen, Debbie Ratto, Andrea Siegel, Lisa Star
    • Additional Testing: Lisa Star, Tami Borowick, Michael Stemmle, Tony Hsieh, Wallace Poulter, Ron Baldwin, Wendy Clark, Sam Chan, Frank Toriello, John Sinclair

    Sam and Max appear courtesy of Steve Purcell

    Cobb™ and Seagull™ appear courtesy of LOOM™

    Soundtrack not available on Cassette or LP

    Book also not available

    The Secret of Monkey Island

    A Lucasfilm Games Production

    TM & (c) 1992 LucasArts Entertainment Company. All Rights Reserved.

    Source:
    In-game credits
    Secret of Monkey Island MCD credits.pdf
    [6]

    Magazine articles

    Main article: The Secret of Monkey Island/Magazine articles.

    Promotional material

    Main article: The Secret of Monkey Island/Promotional material.

    Artwork

    Physical scans

    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Score Source
    {{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
    Based on
    0 review
    Sega Retro Average 
    Publication Version Score
    1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
    60
    [7]
    Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
    60
    [8]
    Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
    55
    [9]
    GameFan (US) NTSC-U
    70
    [10]
    GamePro (US) NTSC-U
    85
    [11]
    Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
    75
    [12]
    Joypad (FR) NTSC-U
    87
    [13]
    Mega (UK) NTSC-U
    91
    [14]
    Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
    87
    [15]
    Mega Machines (UK) NTSC-U
    79
    [16]
    MegaTech (UK) NTSC-U
    93
    [17]
    Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U
    90
    [18]
    Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
    87
    [19]
    Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
    61
    [20]
    Sega Zone (UK) NTSC-U
    90
    [21]
    Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
    73
    [22]
    Video Games (DE) NTSC-U
    78
    [23]
    Sega Mega-CD
    78
    Based on
    17 reviews

    The Secret of Monkey Island

    Mega-CD, JP
    SoMI MCD JP Box Back.jpgSoMI MCD JP Box Front.jpg
    Cover
    TheSecretofMonkeyIsland MCD JP Spinecard.jpg
    Spinecard
    SoMI MCD JP Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Mega-CD, US
    SecretofMonkeyIsland MCD US Box Back.JPGSecretofMonkeyIsland MCD US Box Front.JPG
    Cover
    SecretofMonkeyIsland MCD US Disc.jpg
    Disc
    Secretofmonkeyisland mcd us manual.pdf
    Manual

    Technical information

    Main article: The Secret of Monkey Island/Technical information.

    References


    The Secret of Monkey Island

    SecretOfMonkeyIsland title.png

    Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Magazine articles | Reception | Promotional material | Technical information


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