Spotlight On: Tales of Monkey Island Chapter 3: Lair of the Leviathan

The third chapter of Telltale Games' Tales of Monkey Island episodic adventure game series will be called "Lair of the Leviathan," and is headed for the PC and the Nintendo Wii later this month. The game will continue the lighthearted adventures of kind-of-a-pirate Guybrush Threepwood, who, as a part of the series' storyline, is trying to reverse the effects of an evil voodoo plague. Guybrush's quest for the mystical Voodoo Sponge, which is said to have the power to soak up the pestilence. When we last left off with our hero at the end of episode two, he was captured and held at swordpoint by by the sassy pirate hunter Morgan LeFlay...when they were all swallowed by a giant manatee.

Can Guybrush put a stop to...the CURSE??

The new game begins in the belly of the beast, who is late for an amorous encounter at the giant manatee breeding grounds. It seems the manatee has lost its cornea, and with it, all sense of direction, so it's been swimming in circles for some time. Guybrush must recover the cornea from a trio of pirates who, with Morgan, have been swallowed up. As a result, the first half of the episode takes place in the guts of the spacious sea cow, as Guybrush must win acceptance into the pirates' secret society by performing a number of humorous tasks. In the meantime, he reacquaints himself with Murray, the Demonic Talking Skull, whom Guybrush finds in a treasure chest and rescues--Murray and his unique abilities will come in handy later in the game. Though Guybrush is usually an upbeat fellow, in Lair of the Leviathan, he has clearly started to succumb to the onset of the voodoo curse; his skin is covered with green boils, and occasionally becomes possessed by an angry madness that causes him to threaten everyone in the vicinity. Can he thwart the curse and save the Caribbean? (Hint: Probably.)

Later, Guybrush does manage to escape the belly of the manatee, and learns that the mystical sponge he seeks is actually rumored to be hidden at the giant manatee mating grounds. And as it happens, the sponge is, in fact, there...guarded by a giant lady dugong, so it's up to Guybrush and his uncanny ability to hold his breath while walking on the ocean floor, to give the sea cow he rode in on a few dating tips. (Let's just say the big fella isn't exactly a lady's man...atee.)

You can set sail with Guybrush and his buddies later this month.

Lair of the Leviathan is planned to launch at the end of the month. Telltale also suggests it may announce some additional promotions starting this weekend (is it International Talk Like A Pirate Day already?).