Launch of the Screaming Narwhal
From Monkey Island wiki
| Launch of the Screaming Narwhal
The "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal" title card
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| Developer(s) | Telltale Games |
| Designer(s) | Dave Grossman |
| Series | Tales of Monkey Island |
| Engine | Telltale Tool |
| Release date(s) | July 7, 2009 |
| Genre(s) | Graphic adventure game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player video game |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows, Wii |
| Media | Download, DVD |
| System requirements | 2.0 GHz CPU 512 RAM 64 MB video card[1] |
| Input | Keyboard and mouse, Wii Remote, Wii Nunchuk |
| Preceded by | Escape from Monkey Island |
| Followed by | "The Siege of Spinner Cay" |
"Launch of the Screaming Narwhal" is the first episode of Tales of Monkey Island. It was released first on PCs on July 7 2009. The WiiWare release was on July 27 and 31 in North America and Europe respectively, the only time an episode of Tales would be released on the same week in both territories.
Contents |
Plot
After several years of swashbuckling, Elaine Marley-Threepwood is captured by LeChuck, who continues in his efforts to impress her with his powerful deeds. In a showdown at the Rock of Gelato, Guybrush Threepwood comes to the rescue wielding the Legendary Cursed Cutlass of Kaflu, which he has constructed using a recipe obtained from the Voodoo Lady. An act of unfortunately-timed showboating botches Guybrush's attempt at wielding the weapon, though, and finds the Mighty Pirate™ struggling to throw together a substitute at the last possible moment. Guybrush engages in battle with LeChuck, eventually stabbing the Demon Pirate through the chest with the glowing cutlass; however, rather than destroying him, the attack causes LeChuck's voodoo energy to dissipate, contaminating Guybrush's left hand with LeChuck's sickly mojo and turning LeChuck back into a human! The evil power contained in Guybrush's infected hand causes an explosion on the deck of Elaine's ship, sinking it and sending a screaming Guybrush hurtling skyward.
Guybrush awakens on the shore of Flotsam Island, his mind set immediately to thoughts of escape. However, he quickly learns that the winds there are not so favourable—all winds on Flotsam flow toward the center of the island. Guybrush sets out to find a way to change that.
He learns of an informant to the local newspaper—codenamed "Deep Gut"—and causes a newsworthy (and pirate-flavoured) ruckus on the island in order to meet with the mysterious figure. Meeting at a creepy shack at the far end of the island, Guybrush learns that Deep Gut's true identity is none other than the Voodoo Lady. She informs him of a possible way to rid himself (and the rest of the Caribbean) of the "Pox of LeChuck" he unwittingly unleashed at the Rock of Gelato: an enormous and powerful voodoo-sucking sponge called La Esponja Grande.
Meanwhile, he meets an adversary trying to corrupt his attempts to leave. A scientist named the Marquis De Singe is extremely interested in Guybrush's own-willed hand, and is trying everything to get to know more about it.
In order to get off the island, Guybrush needs a ship, and must commandeer the Screaming Narwhal, the only vessel on the island. He succeeds in overcoming incumbent captain Reginald Van Winslow, who subsequently signs on as Guybrush's first mate.
Finally Guybrush changes the winds, and he sets out to another island to rescue his beloved Elaine from the clutches of LeChuck. He arrives at his destination, but gets interrupted by an unknown character—with a blade to his throat... →
Characters
- Guybrush Threepwood
- Elaine Marley
- LeChuck
- Voodoo Lady
- Flotsam Island Resident (Marshall)
- Davey Nipperkin
- Reginald Van Winslow
- Rockrib the Doorman
- Hemlock McGee
- Joaquin D'Oro
- Unseen Club 41 Members, including Bosun Krebbs
- Gaffer Crimpdigit
- Marquis De Singe
- Jacques the Monkey
- Threatening Voice
Notes
- When Guybrush carves the eyes on to the cheese, as he says the word "Cheese" he raises his hands and waves them slightly. This is a nod to Wallace of the Wallace and Gromit series, known for his love of cheese and the same hand waving. An episodic form of Wallace and Gromit, also created by Telltale Games, preceded Tales of Monkey Island.
- When Guybrush and LeChuck start talking about the ritual, LeChuck says that with his power he'll "make the seas run red with the blood of [his] enemies". He says the same thing in Escape from Monkey Island when he's talking with Guybrush and Elaine about the Ultimate Insult.
- One or two of Morgan LeFlay's Fliers have found their way to Flotsam, although Morgan LeFlay herself is known only through legend (many of the islanders believe her to be a man).
Fast Forward
- If Guybrush talks to LeChuck in the intro, the player can choose a few kinds of conversation topics as follows:
- LeChuck will say that the Monkeys of Montevideo hold dark and powerful "[s]ecrets that will make me a demon pirate king." This is foreshadowed when he becomes a Demon Pirate God in "Rise of the Pirate God".
- If asked when he would release Elaine, LeChuck will say that Elaine "is destined to be MY bride", another one foreshadowed in "Rise of the Pirate God".
- When Guybrush says that LeChuck is not marrying Elaine, annoying him, she gets impatient and says, "Oh, for pity's sake. Just run him through with the cutlass so we can all go home," to which LeChuck obliges, thinking that she said that to him, not Guybrush. In fact, this foreshadows the event when the villain does run Guybrush through with the same Cutlass of Kaflu in "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood".
- When Guybrush shows LeChuck his Wedding Ring, he says that he (Guybrush) and Elaine are married eternally "till death do us part". This one also foreshadows what happens to Guybrush and Elaine in "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood", and also the scene in "Rise of the Pirate God", when Guybrush, as a zombie, says, "I've told you a million times, LeChuck, I'm already married to--" before LeChuck interrupts with, "'Till DEATH do you part,' Threepwood! And that part has already been taken care of!"
- Also, when Guybrush examines the quarters door in Elaine's ship or on the Screaming Narwhal, he says, "I'll sleep when I'm dead. Or later tonight." This is not only a reference to the song by Warren Zevon, but it also foreshadows Guybrush's own demise from his fatal stab wound as he closes his eyes and falls into an "eternal sleep" with his mouth open in "The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood".
- After Guybrush completes the three tasks for Davey Nipperkin, he gives the Deep Gut file to our hero and warns him not to let anyone know about this, "or my editor'll put me on deep cover on the obituary beat." In "Rise of the Pirate God", Guybrush now comes upon Davey's gravestone in the Gateway of the Crossroads, which says, "R.I.P. Davey, a pirate reporter. / His stories were long, but his obit was shorter."
