all games are not created equal

This comparison is based off of the VGA version of Space Quest I, which is slightly different than the original version.

Both of these games are your standard point n' click adventures, with a similar aspect of basing the gameplay around comedy.  However, in many ways, Space Quest trumps Monkey Island.

First of all, the VGA version of Space Quest looks prettier overall than the original version of SoMI.  The environments are detailed and varied, and the characters are drawn and animated well.  Background animations also help flourish the environments, and therefore bring the world to life that much more.

The writing for the game is a bit more for opinion, but Space Quest I always keeps the comedy coming at every turn.  There is rarely ever a statement said or an observation made without some sort of satirical or sarcastic comment.  Monkey Island does get credit for having a more colorful cast of characters, however.

Speaking of which, your star character in Space Quest is a member of the starship Arcada.  The Arcada houses the Star Generator, a man-made device that's capable of terraforming a lifeless planet into one that is capable of hosting life.  It can also drain the life from a planet to make it lifeless as well.  You start off playing as a member of the very important crew of the arcada... as a janitor.  You are starship janitor Roger Wilco.

As much as I love Guybrush Threepwood, I have to say that Roger's backstory is a lot more thought out than "Hi!  I want to be a pirate!"  This is all a matter of opinion of course.

One final thing that Space Quest does that actually annoys me is how easy it is to die, or make yourself stuck.  In space quest, there are many chances where you can miss an item for pickup, but you won't need that item for man scenes later.  By the time you realize you missed something, you can't go back and get it.  Not only this, but just about any wrong action you make can get you killed, which forces saving and saving often.
Monkey Island is more thought out that you can't ever screw yourself over.  Plus, you won't die either.  While that takes some precaution out and may enable people to combine everything with everything, it does take out quite a bit of frustration overall.

So there you go.  Two completely different point n' click series, with two different designers, and two different takes on a great genre.  For me, the graphics and the writing of Space Quest I overtakes SoMI, but which one I will play will always depend on my mood.