Like it's predecessor, there's plenty of references to the Star Wars series - along with Indiana Jones. Much like those films, this goes the 'dark second act' way, though it's still laugh-out-loud funny all the way through. A plot twist at the climax is even a direct riff of The Empire Strikes Back.
Guybrush, now a mighty pirate, is unfortunately still a little shallow in the brain department. When we first see him, he's dangling on a rope, a large chest in his hand, holding on for dear life. Elaine Marley suddenly turns up, abseiling down, and asks Guybrush how he got himself into this mess. Guybrush proceeds to tell his tale... and the game proper begins.
One factor I didn't mention in a review I posted for the first game, was the excellent music that played a big part in the game's appeal. This game's soundtrack surpasses that game and never lets up - though the Amiga version, awesome as it was, wasn't as technically proficient.
When we start, we see Guybrush, on Scabb Island, telling the tale of his defeat of LeChuck to some pirates. It seems though, that he's been telling this tale far too often as everyone has become bored of hearing it - though they never quite remember it accurately, one version of the tale being a pirate drank so much root beer than when he burped he exploded...
Like the previous game, its split in four parts, essentially four acts.
Part 1, The Largo Embargo, reveals Guybrush, searching for the legendary treasure of Big Whoop, is trapped on Scabb Island along with everyone else thanks to a ludicrously extortionate embargo courtesy of the bullying Largo LaGrande. A chance meeting with a voodoo priestess, who he'd met in the previous game, allows Guybrush to create a voodoo doll to rid the island of Largo, who it is revealed was a former accomplice of LeChuck's. When Guybrush however, starts boasting to Largo that he slew LeChuck and presents him LeChuck's beard as proof, Largo snatches it before escaping. Guybrush has inadvertently given him the means to resurrect his undead nemesis.
Part 2, Four Map Pieces sees Guybrush flit between Scabb, Phatt, and Booty Islands to track down the four pieces of a map that will reveal the island Big Whoop is buried on. As revealed by the voodoo priestess, Big Whoop holds the key to defeating the now-zombified LeChuck, who has sworn vengeance.
Part 3, LeChuck's Fortress, sees Guybrush smuggle himself into LeChuck's creepy fortress after a cartographer, Wally B Feed, is kidnapped to prevent him revealing Big Whoop's location to Guybrush. Guybrush soon discovers Wally is bait for a trap. LeChuck has set up an elaborate means to kill Guybrush - fortunately, our hero's entry into a spitting competition earlier comes in handy...
Part 4, Dinky Island sees the story come full circle as Guybrush locates Big Whoop. Right after finishing his story, Guybrush once again finds himself in a showdown with his undead nemesis.
The ending of the game is it's only real sour note. It seems like they either didn't know how to end it, were going over schedule and simply rushed it, or they wanted to leave things open for another follow-up. What we get anyway is a strange Twilight Zone-ish ending, where it initially seems like it was all a dream, but then we discover, it's far from over...
Mixed feelings about the ending aside, a masterpiece.