Guybrush Threepwood returns in superior sequel still with loads of great in-jokes and high seas pirate adventure. Superb
However this time it begins in media res as Guybrush hangs from a rope clinging to the treasure of Big Whoop and telling the story of how he arrived at this point to Elaine Marley, now the Governor of Booty Island.
The game then continues in true flashback style on Scabb Island. We find Guybrush re-telling the tale of how he defeated Le Chuck in the first game and where his current adventuring interests lay, the search for the lost legendary treasure of Big Whoop. However, Guybrush cannot begin his adventure yet as an embargo has been placed on Scabb Island by Largo LaGrande, a key villain in the game, and must find a way to leave Scabb Island. Scabb Island itself is an island reminiscent of Melee Island, not only due to the fact its always night time but you find familiar characters here such as the 3 pirates of Low Moral Fibre and the Voodoo Lady.
After breaking the embargo the game really opens up, this time Guybrush must navigate his way between the 3 islands in order to piece together the map that will take Guybrush to Big Whoop. However, unknown to Guybrush, the ghost pirate Le Chuck has returned and is seeking his revenge on our treasure seeking hero. By piecing together the map Guybrush can now locate Dinky Island and with it Big Whoop, taking the player into the final stages of the game. Throughout the game you are helped by old characters and new, Wally B. Feed, a cartographer, (who appears in later MI games) helps piece together the map and Herman Toothrot, now residing on Dinky Island (whether you left him behind or not in the first game) as a professor of Philosophy. The later parts of the game become more linear but still as fun to play, when you finally reach the point where the game started (in a hole, and a mess) you feel a sense of achievement, but then realise the final battle is still to come.
Le Chucks Revenge is a game that feels as good to play as the first one but adds more depth to the characters and a storyline that doesn't feel as linear or short. Guybrush has more islands to explore this time and doesn't restrict which island he visits first, this makes the central part of the game longer and more enjoyable as the puzzles are not so obvious to solve.
Le Chucks Revenge offered the player two levels of puzzle difficulty. In some versions, before starting the game, the player is prompted to choose between regular "Monkey Island 2" and "Monkey 2 Lite", a relatively easier version of the game that bypasses many puzzles entirely. If you've played the first game then it is best played with all puzzles otherwise it becomes to short and a little too easy, the lite version recommended for beginners.
Taking point again was Ron Gilbert, Tim Schafer and Dave Grossman. The Secret of Monkey Island 2 is as funny and entertaining as the first, if not better, with better music (Michael Land again), graphics, puzzles and story line, (aside from the ambiguous ending, flimsily explained away at the beginning of Curse of Monkey Island), Le Chucks Revenge is a superior sequel. It has that familiar feel and great humour with lots of in-jokes to keep game and movie fans searching for references. A favourite part of the game for me is the brief return to Melee Island which can be reached using the lift near the end of the game. It makes you want to kick down those traffic cones and play the first one all over again.