Return to Monkey Island Part Three is as literal as it gets, as we finally return to Monkey Island. Return to Monkey Island is a return to form as well, a game for fans of the originals. Part three has some tricky puzzles, and requires some decent memory. Here are all the steps you need to take to complete Return To Monkey Island Part Three.
- Still struggling with Return to Monkey Island Part Two? We have a guide for that.
Return To Monkey Island Part Three: X Marks The Spot
Part Three begins with Guybrush on the ocean floor. Luckily, a nearby sign lets us know that it is only a six-minute walk to Monkey Island, so make the short trek to wind up on the beach. Now you can open the map you stole from LeChuck to find out where the Secret is. The map isn’t really a map, so much as a list of directions. The directions begin at the red berry bush, so head into the jungle to find it.
When you transition to the map screen, you will see the red berry bush near the centre of the island. Go there, and you will be in a thick jungle, with two other paths you can take. Much like the dark forest on Melee Island, you need to use landmarks to find your way. LeChuck’s “map” has the directions you need to follow, so take the path laid out on it. First is the giant monkey hand, then the wooden chicken, and finally, take the path beside the beehive to reach your destination.
When you reach the end, a large X on the ground quite literally marks the spot. Someone has conveniently left a shovel here to make digging up the Secret even easier. Interact with the shovel, then try to act surprised when it turns out this is a trap. The pirate lords from Melee set the trap and then gave the map to LeChuck, hoping to trap him. They are disappointed to find Guybrush snared instead, as they need some of LeChuck’s personal information to access the map they stole from him. To avoid being tortured to death, Guybrush tells the pirates that he can still access LeChuck’s unboardable ship as he was never officially fired, so he can get the information they need.
- Here’s a full guide to Return to Monkey Island Part One.
Return To Monkey Island Part Three: Getting Back On Board
To begin with, although you can physically reboard LeChuck’s ship, you are Guybrush again and you will be thrown off if you are caught. Guybrush isn’t exactly a master of stealth, so you will need a foolproof disguise. To begin with, head to Volcano Beach, then go into the water. Walk out the sea and use the anchor to climb up to LeChuck’s ship. You can go up on deck, but Flair will catch you and throw you off.
Instead, go along the side and back to the rudder. Gullet is still down there, and if you go down to see him you will find him writing. Ask him about it, and eventually, he will tell you that he was writing poems. Help him finish some of them, then show him the card you got from the museum curator/editor. This will get you Gullet’s poetry book. Take it, then head for the giant monkey head.
While on volcano beach, or while exploring, you might have noticed a skull on the ground. It isn’t Murray, as Guybrush assumes, but you can pick it up. There are six skulls around the island you need to collect. One to the left of the anchor on the sea floor, one on the left side of volcano beach, one on the left side of the beach you started on, one on the right side of the cliff you can visit at the top of the map, and one on the beach with the shipwreck. The last skull is over by the giant monkey head, you can’t miss it. Pick those up at some point, you will need them later.
Now speak with the pirate lords, and tell them you need a disguise. Lila will say she can make you magical disguise, but she needs a private item from a member of the crew. This is where Gullet’s poetry comes in, hand it over and Lila will cast a spell on it. Now, whenever Guybrush speaks a poem from the book, he will transform into Gullet. With this, you can head back to LeChuck’s ship and safely go aboard.
Return To Monkey Island Part Three: LeChuck’s Personal Info
Now you have three objectives. You need LeChuck’s catchphrase, theme song and favourite food. First, head below the deck. Go to LeChuck’s cabin, his diary can be found on one of the shelves at the back. His catchphrase can be found within, he changes it multiple times throughout the diary so you need the most recent one. It is easily worked out, but we will come back to this later.
After that, head over to the galley and speak to Putra. Ask her about LeChuck’s favourite food. She will blow you off, but if you tell her you respect her and refer to her as Chef Putra, she will acquiesce and tell you what you want to know. His favourite food is tentacles in daisy sauce. As it happens, there is a dead squid on volcano beach, so head over to it and use your knife to cut off a tentacle. Bring it to Putra to get LeChuck’s favourite food.
The last item you need is his theme song, which you will have heard Flair say she is currently working on. To get it from her, ring the bell to call a vote, and while everyone is distracted, slip downstairs and take the sheet music from the barrel beside the galley. Now that you have everything you need, head back over to the giant monkey head.
Return To Monkey Island Part Three: Reading The Map
Speak with the other pirates to let them know you have everything you need. They will tell you that the first thing you need to do is play LeChuck’s theme music. Your instrument is Murray, who has been shish kebab-ed on a stick. There are six other sticks, to place your other six skulls on. Do so, then pick up the arm bone on the ground nearby. You can use the arm bone to smack the skulls, each one singing a single note.
Once you hit each one once, you can then see which note they play. Now, you don’t need to do this, but you can then take the skulls down and put them in the proper order, going do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-ti, from left to right. It isn’t necessary, but it helps. The tune you need to play is do-do-mi-sol-fa-fa-re. Bonk the skulls in that order to play the song, then it’s on to the next part.
Now you need to recite LeChuck’s catchphrase. His current catchphrase is in the February 17th entry, and it is “Plunder the quivering cutlasses!” This seems like the kind of puzzle that can shuffle around to change the answer, but each time we have tried it it has been the same answer. If that answer isn’t right, consult his diary to check if there is a different catchphrase on February 17th.
The final step is an easy one, although not so for Guybrush. He needs to eat LeChuck’s favourite food, the tentacle in daisy sauce. With that, the map is revealed, and Guybrush is quickly double-crossed. After an unfortunate accident at the top of the cliff, Guybrush ends up incapacitated on a stump. Elaine finds him, and Murray shows up with the map. This invigorates Guybrush to get back to work finding the secret.
All you need to do now is go with Elaine to the wreck of the Sea Monkey and rebuild it. For a handy achievement, run back over to the giant monkey head first and grab the skulls. Then you can add the skulls to the Sea Monkey for decoration. Use the ship repair manual on the wreck and you are headed to Return To Monkey Island Part Four.