You know, despite all the worry that filled my brain when it was announced that Telltale were going to be given the Monkey Island series to run with, the last couple of episodes had done quite a bit to soothe my concerns. The first slice of Threepwood – Launch of the Screaming Narwhale – provided an interesting opening even if it fell foul of a couple of traits that the Sam and Max series fell afoul of on occasion, and last month’s The Siege of Spinner Cay took the baton and ran with it, offering some clever puzzles and some genuinely amusing moments along the way.

Lair of the Leviathan had a pretty tough job in these circumstances, as the gaining momentum of the previous two surely couldn’t be continued once more. Call me a cynic, call me a pessimist, but something somewhere in my brain just couldn’t begin to accept that somehow Telltale were going to go and trump the last two Monkey Island games with their first effort. Nope, at some point, things had to lull. Having played through LotL to completion and revisited parts a couple of times, I have (once again) been proven to be completely and utterly… wrong.

Things kick off with Guybrush and his random collection of chums waking up in surroundings somewhat unfamiliar, although those who have played episode two will probably know exactly where everyone’s favourite pirate has landed. Via a chat with a nearby marooned adventurer you learn not only why being in your current location is such a boon, but also what you must do to take advantage of it. Puzzling ensues.

The general way in which the episode pans out is relatively similar to the last couple in that you are given a starter task, followed by a section in which you have three that can be completed in any order you wish. This time around you have to convince three slightly odd pirates that you are trustworthy enough to be in their brotherhood, the benefits of which include gaining a crucial item that will guide you further in Guybrush’s quest for the sea sponge that will cure the pox he accidentally inflicted upon the world.

Once again Telltale have pretty much nailed the puzzle side of this, with just enough different locations and items so that whilst you do have to think about things and apply a little logic, you are never left scratching around and clicking random things in the hope that it’ll trigger something. There are a selection of puzzles that need solving via dialogue options and, in one case, collecting and pulling a number of different pirate faces, and again these are just the right side of taxing so that you have to use the old grey matter a bit, but not to the point where your head will explode out of frustration. By mixing the puzzles between using items on things and using your own wit in conversation, the episode strikes a fine balance, and one that you have to hope is carried over to future episodes.

In addition to this, the game provides a number of proper laugh-out-loud moments. The phrase ‘moist but expedient!’ seems to now be lodged in my brain (you’ll have to find out for yourselves why), and some of the dialogue options are brilliantly delivered. Heck, even pulling stupid faces to convince a particular pirate that you are worth a vote into the Brotherhood leads to some hilarious results, with some of them looking like what would happen if someone had motion captured Pob and stretched Guybrush’s face over the top of the framework.

Another bonus that springs for from this is that Lair of the Leviathan has by far the most memorable supporting cast I can remember in a Telltale adventure to date. Returning members such as Winslow and the dashing-yet-slightly-gullible Morgan LeFlay have a couple of additional layers slathered on their characters, whilst the new additions for this episode are actually memorable and have had a bit of time and effort put into making them stand out more. Oh, and Monkey Island fans of old need to keep an eye out for the return of a series favourite who brings some utterly wonderful dark humour and silly giggles to proceedings along the way.

See, this latest episode not only continues the upward spiral that the previous two had started – it takes it and jumps it up another notch or two again, with some great puzzles, some brilliant writing and – shock horror – a memorable, amusing supporting cast. It’s a brilliantly enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours, and it’s won the heart of even the most ardent Monkey Island fanboy. Episode four cannot arrive soon enough.