I got a lot out of the new tall tale. Between the puzzles and my own amusing blunders, it was a fun experience. To avoid making one huge wall of text, I am going to divide my tale into parts.
Clearing the fog:
I had missed the dialogue where I was told that I only needed to find the items to do the three trials, but I did hear the part where I had to go to Guybrush. I went over to the mansion, got the storage chest key, and looked for a place to use it. After I did not see any places, I decided to search the other locations on the island. Thankfully, a few minutes into my search, it occurred to me that there was no reason that guy brush would bother getting a storage chest key for someone else's storage chest, and that I had missed something at the mansion. Sure enough, it was in the one place I had not looked. After getting the ink, I needed a writing quill. Once again, I searched the mansion to no avail, and went to the church and general store, where I thought I might find a quill. Upon finding no quill at either of the areas, I realized I had overlooked it at the mansion. After I entered the mansion, I passed within grabbing distance of where it was, which was in the one room I had not looked (although, looking back on it, it was fairly obvious). However, I had no idea what to sign with it. Since I had missed the dialogue stating that I only needed to prepare for the three trials, and not make the potion, I had been on the right track for the wrong reasons. I thought, from the voodoo lady's comment about finding a replacement about silver, that I had to find it for the potion. Little did I know that she meant store credit. At one point, I decided to forego searching for a replacement for silver, and decided to talk to the citizen, who had the map, which I knew I needed. I had conversation about the map, and finally found out how to get the map. I also talked to the general store manager, and got the note for store credit. Things were starting to fall into place. I signed the note for the store credit, and after some difficulty caused by searching the wrong rooms in the mansion (again), I found the chart to trade for the map. After I secured the items for the trial, I decided to carry out by futile search for a silver replacement that I had already found. After going to the voodoo lady, to see if I had misinterpreted her words, I found that I had completed the task, and did not need any kind of silver replacement for the potion. I went to the lookout, cleared the fog, and started the next stage of both the tall tale and my blunders. As you read the next three parts keep in mind that all three parts where happening pretty much simultaneously.
The treasure-huntery trial:
I had been going to the places pointed out to me by the three shady characters outside the voodoo shop, and came across a wide stretch of land with camps, shacks, and objects scattered about. It struck me that this was probably where the treasure hunters-trial took place. While I was correct, I did not know that this was where the third part of that trial took place. After finding what looked like the "forest gate" mentioned in the beginning of the trial, which was right near what could pass for a forest, I began my hunt. After finding nothing that corresponded no any of the other clues for that part of the trial, it occurred to me that I was mistaken. After a blunder that occurred during the start of my sword fighting trial (which is mentioned in the part below this one), I found the forest gate near the path to the lookout. After going through it, I was able to find the first location with ease, dug up the chest, and found... another set of clues to another location. The other locations were found with little difficulty, and I completed the trial.
The sword-fighting trial:
After finding Captain Smirk's hut, I found that I needed the mighty pirate sword. I was somewhat confused as I thought I already had it, and took this to mean that I had yet to receive the sword. I figured I must have not picked it up or something, and that it was back at the general store. Little did I know that the armory at Smirk's hut was not just for people who had forgotten to equip a sword, but who had forgotten to equip the mighty pirate sword. I returned to the general store, found that the sword was not there, and realized that there was either a glitch, or I made another blunder. Sure enough, when I checked the armory, the mighty pirate sword was in there. I decided I would not waist time going all the way back up to the lookout, and decided to fire myself out of one of my ship's cannons. I aimed it towards the island, put it at a 45 degree angle, fired, and fell short of my target, landing on the path to go to the lookout. After I finally made it back to Smirk's hut, I started the training. After completing the training, I started learning insults and retorts from the ghost pirates, and was finally able to go find the sword master. Once I engaged in the fight for the sword-fighting trial (which was against one of LeChuck's crew and not the sword master), I found it odd that they had an insult that was not covered in the other fights with the ghost pirates. I figured that I had missed said insult, but after the third insult that I had not heard, I realized that I was supposed to get creative and choose the retort that best suited the insult, as opposed to memorizing the retorts for every insult I had come across. As a result, I found the fight a lot more fun than I had expected, and while I died the first time due to by lack of observation, I was prepared the second time. I defeated LeChuck's crewmate, and completed the trial.
The thievery trial:
This was the hardest trial I undertook. It was not difficult because it was hard, but because of a huge blunder on my part. Said blunder was probably the worst one I had made in the whole Monkey Island tall tale series so far. After looking at the ships Stan had to offer, and missing the most vitally important clue for the trial, I headed to hook island, the only place I had not been so far. After hours of trying (and failing) to find a way to capture "the beast" I stumbled upon the wood planks. I thought that perhaps I could use the wood planks to lure the beast out somehow (which goes to show you how desperate I was at that point). It then occurred to me that maybe I had to use the campfire in some way. I went through the forest, found the campfire, lit it... and nothing happened. I went back to Stan to see if there was anything I had missed, and found the conversation about how the headless monkey was already owned by someone else. I missed the conversation where I could press Stan for information, and get the bill of sale that was required for me to complete the trial, and figured I had gotten everything I could out of him for this part of the trial. After more futile searching for clues that did not yet exist. I returned to Stan once again to make sure I had not missed anything. Sure enough, I saw the conversation about pressing Stan for information, and finally got the bill of sale. After that, it was smooth sailing (or would it be smooth saleing), and I was finally able to capture the beast. After getting the bill of sale, and what seemed like an eternity (it was probably only three minutes, but after everything I had gone though to get to this part of the trial, it certainly felt like an eternity) of listening to Stan talk about his wares before I could distract him, get his key, and get the idol. I had finally completed the last trial.
I thought it had a nice conclusion and was a good tall tale overall. Looking forward to the third one next month.
