Guybrush Threepwood is dead and at the crossroads.  The final chapter of Telltale Games “Tales of Monkey Island” begins ominously as Guybrush must find his way back to the real world, and his body, as he clings on to a thread of life.  Tales of Monkey Island has been Telltales strongest selling franchise so far.  The final chapter is sure to please the legions of fans who signed up for the season 6 months ago.

The game has been released monthly as 5 episodic chapters. Chapter one began strongly setting up the overarching storyline about the Pox of LeChuck.  Chapter 2 was the season’s only misstep with some mixed puzzle design and comedy.  The funniest episode of the series was chapter 3.  The sharp, witty dialogue helped deliver plenty of laughs. In chapter 4 the storyline and characters came together to set up the inevitable showdown between Guybrush and LeChuck.

Rise of the Pirate God triumphs on the narrative.  It is Telltales greatest achievement in storytelling.  Plot development will have you glued to your computer screen. The final chapter draws you in, you can’t wait to see what will happen next.  This tale is strong, and there are many dramatic moments that make you feel for the characters.  The fact that the series was cleverly plotted from the start has made sure that it ends with everything hurtling to a thrilling climax.

The puzzle difficulty is set at a moderate level.  My 10 and 8 year old niece and nephew joined me while playing, they were quick to solve many of the puzzles themselves.  The obvious solution is not always the correct one. There are a few tricky puzzles to stop you in your tracks, but nothing too fiendish. This ensures the game progresses at a steady pace and the story is emphasized.  Chapter 1 and 4 were standouts in puzzle design as there were often multiple steps needed to achieve the solution, even if you had it. Those puzzles did require a higher level of thought than most found in this chapter.  This is a long chapter. Towards the end some puzzles simply involved acquiring different items.  Walking through the locations became tiresome but thankfully the boat in the crossroads cut down time.  Over 8 locations are featured, so it feels like a bigger game than previous Telltale episodes. They employ smart re-use of old locations such as the bar and jail from Flotsam Island.

The depth of the characters is a highlight of the series.  The supporting cast has been just as strong as Guybrush, Elaine and LeChuck.  They are well defined. It’s easy to see why Morgan LeFlay and Reginald Van Winslow became so popular.  The voice acting is again superb and the graphics are a real improvement, The Crossroads look particularly good.  The Telltale engine has come a long way from the first Bone game to the lush colors and eerie lighting found in Rise of the Pirate God.

There is plenty of comedy.  Look for a hilarious scene with a decapitated victim of LeChuck out for a sword fight. Hear extensive details about Van Winslows relationship with an underwater creature. Laugh at the banter between Guybrush and LeChuck.  Enjoy stealing items from a theif, who then steals items from you.  “What’s a few stolen items between thief’s?”

The control scheme is functional but not great for the PC.  I quickly settled on the keyboard and mouse control.  The hassle of moving Guybrush around was quickly forgotten as I became immersed in the game.  It will work great on consoles, let’s hope for a future Xbox360 and Ps3 release.

This chapter is longer, clocking in at over 6 hours of gameplay.  If you averaged about 4 hours for each of the previous chapters, that would make the season tremendous value.  $35 for over 20 + hours of quality entertainment.

It’s too early to rank ToMI against the previous Monkey Island games.  It clearly has been a successful reboot of the 20 year old franchise. Telltale have done justice to Monkey Islands’ legacy.  The final chapter finishes off a strong season of storytelling and humor with a thrilling climax.  Tales of Monkey Island is a game where you think, laugh and are told a compelling narrative. Buy it.