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This article is so strange in its discussion of the “cul de sac” that Gilbert wrote into the ending of Monkey Island 2, to “sequel-proof” it deliberately. Rot! For people who haven’t played it, (mild spoilers coming up soon, in just a moment, as soon as I close these parentheses) the final shot of the game literally has the older brother mug the camera (behind Guybrush’s back) while his face morphs back to LeChuck’s ghoulish grin and some decidedly unnatural magical flares and sparks dance around.
(Spoilers mostly done)
The entire premise of Guybrush being trapped in an illusion cast by LeChuck was already baked in. And I think that helping Guybrush realize that and to escape could’ve been an excellent first chapter of a third game, but unfortunately the designers decided to basically handwave the whole thing and start the their story back in “reality”.
I have vaguest memory of reading somewhere the eyes was something Ron was forced to put in and didn’t want. Seems to track with reveals in Return To Monkey Island.
Either way I remember the end of MI2 feeling jarring and feeling a little cheated out of a real ending. I’m not sure if I still feel that way with everything we now know about the intent (keeping it spoiler free for anyone who’s not played RtMI).
I love CMI so much though I agree with the article about how perfectly the puzzles and humour land. I have played it at a number of different ages and it always works for me.
