Return to Monkey Island

I'd like to say I enjoyed Return to Monkey Island and for a decent portion of it, I did. However the game is built upon two assumptions: 1. You're a Monkey Island fan. 2. You want to see the series come to a satisfying conclusion. As such, a lot of the game is built around old tropes of the series and continuously makes references back to old jokes and events from previous titles. This is fine in and of itself but something that I found made Monkey Island 1-3 continuously interesting and fulfilling was the willingness to expand its own world and venture into new territories. RtMI doesn't really tread any new ground aside from a few new locations in the latter half of the game. The story is pretty much beating a dead horse and hoping something exciting happens. And when nothing exciting happens we're supposed to sit back and laugh at ourselves for being so gullible as to expect the creators to do something satisfying with what is supposed to be the ultimate love letter to their series. Also, I'm not a fan of being given hints. Yes, it speeds the game up when you're stumped. But this is a Monkey Island game. You're supposed to sit scratching your head at least a few times thinking "What the hell do they want me to do here?" until you eventually rub the right items together and bam, puzzle solved. Giving a book of hints just takes away all the satisfaction of eventually coming to the answer by yourself. I can see what the creators were going for here. A little homage to their body of work and the nostalgia that the series evokes. I get it. But that's not an excuse to be lazy.

Always been a huge fan of monkey island as a kid. This one is just as great as the previous ones, def worth a playthrough!

I've read a lot of sour commentary online, which is never a good idea. It was fun. Either you like the graphic style or you don't--I thought it was fine and give them props for doing something different and not cookie cutter (although I will always love the 2D animated one the best--I think the 3rd one). Lots of nostalgia and jokes. The game felt a bit short and I had my normal reactions of frustration with stupid puzzle stuff that doesn't really make sense (went for help a few times), but I'd just say that it's a 3 out of 4 star game, rather than 4 out of 4. Except for the ending. The ending kinda sucks. But that's not what you play for, is it? I've been playing these since the original came out in 1990. My tastes as a gamer have changed, as have the options available, but... it's still worth the few hours to play it.

Long time fan of the series. Started with Monkey Island 3, I got it from my Cousin as a present and she got it cheap with a computer magazine. Played and replayed all the rest a few times over the years. I even like the Telltale version. The one I didn't like was Monkey Island 4, and Return to Monkey Island only ranks just above that one. So in my opinion it's the 2nd worst of the series, and to sum it up in one word: Unfulfilling. The art style is meh - I can live with it, but still just, meh. The music doesn't fit the game at all, it doesn't give you that nostalgic feeling with goosebumps the older games do. It's just...off. Gameplay is ok, it's point and click, though I did miss some better controls, like advancing dialogue with a mouse click. I feel the GUI could have been slightly better, but still, overall ok. One good point, walking/running happens at a decent pace. At no point are you sitting there just waiting for Guybrush to walk from point A to point B, double click and he runs pretty fast. Storywise...is my biggest letdown. Not only is there no conclusion to the game, it feels like they got funding cut at 95% just before the finish line, and then they serve you a really weird ending. I get that it's better to [spoiler]"not know the secret"[/spoiler] - but the way it's presented is just bad. Also Murray was a bit letdown, I felt like he was more there as an slightly atagonistic side character, rather than the comidic partner with delusions of world domination, that he was in prevous games. Also Guybrush really left a lot of damage behind him, and not in a good way. [spoiler]Breaking the crown. Stealing Herman's key[/spoiler] in the way he did was just bizarro. And then that whole part of the storyline was just left dangling. Overall the story was the weakest part of the game and left me feeling very unfulfilled.

I just love the monkey island games so much and this one felt very much like the originals just with improved playability. Coudln't recommend these games more, they are my happy place.

Recomendado para los nostálgicos, aunque nada va a superar la versión pixelada y pierde un poco el humor ácido, igualmente sigue siendo una linda aventura gráfica. Me encantaron los dibujos, estilo recorte de papel: recuerdos de Angela Anaconda, South Park y Obrero y Parásito xD

[h1][b] Reseña de Return to Monkey Island[/b][/h1] [h2]Resumen del Juego[/h2] Return to Monkey Island es una aventura de apuntar y clic que vive de dos cosas: chistes (buenos) y nostalgia (peligrosa). Vuelves a ponerte el sombrero imaginario de pirata para acompañar a Guybrush Threepwood en otra vuelta al Caribe más caricaturesco, con rompecabezas, diálogos con mala leche y ese tono “para toda la familia”… si tu familia tolera el humor meta y la gente discutiendo por el “verdadero” Monkey Island como si fuera religión. La primera impresión es clara: esto es una carta de amor dibujada a mano, colorida y estilizada, que quiere ser cómoda (casual) sin dejar de ser aventura clásica. Y sí, tiene “las elecciones importan”… en el sentido de que importan lo suficiente para que sientas que importan, no para que el mundo se reinicie en otra línea temporal épica. [h2]Lo que el Pirata Saquea y lo que el Pirata Se Traga[/h2] Lo Bueno: Rompecabezas con personalidad: más ingenio que relleno, con lógica de aventura clásica (la mayoría del tiempo). Comedia y guion con colmillo: humor autorreferencial bien medido, sin sentirse meme de internet. Estilo 2D dibujado a mano: visualmente distintivo, colorido y con vibra noventera bien cuidada. Compatible con mando + Steam Cloud: perfecto para jugar “un ratito” y terminar pensando “bueno, otro ratito más”. 39 logros: suficiente carnada para completistas sin convertirlo en trabajo de oficina. Lo No Tan Bueno: Ritmo “casual” que a veces se pasa de relajado: hay tramos que se sienten más paseo turístico que aventura pirata. La nostalgia es arma de doble filo: si vienes buscando que tu infancia te aplauda, también puede juzgarte. “Las elecciones importan”… pero no esperes consecuencias tipo tragedia griega: más matiz que terremoto. Algunos acertijos pueden sentirse demasiado “amables”: ideal para nuevos, debatible para veteranos con ego. Comunidad actual bajita (16 jugadores): no afecta al single-player, pero sí al “hype” social del momento. [h2]Tabla de Evaluación[/h2] [table] [tr][th]Aspecto[/th][th]Puntuación (0-10)[/th][th]Comentario[/th][/tr] [tr][td]Jugabilidad[/td][td]8[/td][td]Apuntar y clic pulido; cómodo y directo.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Dificultad / IA[/td][td]7[/td][td]Más accesible que cruel; la “IA” aquí es tu paciencia.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Contenido[/td][td]7[/td][td]Sólido para una aventura; sin inflar horas artificialmente.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Gráficos / Video[/td][td]8[/td][td]2D estilizado, caricaturesco y muy reconocible.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Historia[/td][td]8[/td][td]Buena trama con humor y guiños; sabe lo que es.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Ambientación[/td][td]8[/td][td]Piratas + nostalgia noventera, bien servidos.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Efectos (VFX)[/td][td]7[/td][td]Cumplidores; acompañan sin robar cámara.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Música[/td][td]8[/td][td]Encaja perfecto con el tono aventurero y cómico.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Voces[/td][td]8[/td][td]Aportan carisma y timing al chiste.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Diversidad[/td][td]7[/td][td]Tono familiar y moderno sin sentirse panfleto.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Rendimiento[/td][td]8[/td][td]Experiencia estable para un 2D narrativo.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Rejugabilidad[/td][td]7[/td][td]Más por gusto y detalles que por ramas gigantes.[/td][/tr] [tr][td][b]Total Puntuaciones (Excelente)[/b][/td][td][b]7.6[/b][/td][td]Aventura muy sólida: no reinventa, pero sí encanta.[/td][/tr] [/table] [h2]Conclusión (Excelente)[/h2] Return to Monkey Island es el tipo de juego que te hace sonreír mientras te recuerda que creciste: sigue siendo divertido, sigue siendo inteligente, y sigue teniendo ese corazón de caricatura pirata… pero también se permite ser más amable, más “para todos”, y ahí es donde algunos veteranos van a gritar “¡blasfemia!” desde su altar de los 90. Con 8235 recomendaciones totales, está claro que la mayoría salió feliz del viaje. Que hoy haya 16 jugadores no lo hace peor (es un single-player), pero sí evidencia que no vive del ruido constante: vive de que lo juegues, lo termines, y lo recomiendes como quien pasa un mapa del tesoro… con sarcasmo incluido. [h3]Recomendación de Compra (Recomendado)[/h3] Puntuación Total: 7.6/10 Número de jugadores activos al momento de hacer esta review: 16 Descuento máximo registrado: -70% Veredicto: [i]Recomendado: humor, nostalgia y rompecabezas bien hechos; no para quien exige revolución.[/i] Si te gustan las aventuras narrativas de apuntar y clic, la comedia y los rompecabezas con encanto, vale totalmente la pena. Si vienes buscando que esto destruya el género, te cambie la vida y además te devuelva la juventud… mejor ve comprando una crema anti-edad y baja expectativas.

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Getting angry at a video game for changing its art style when every single entry in the series over the last 30 years was stylistically unique is crazy. I think it looks great! My favorite is probably Monkey Island 2 Special Edition, but I love the art direction on this game as well. The puzzles, the writing, the voice acting, all on point. Lots of fan service for older players as well, right down to the Ask Me About Loom guy sitting miserably in the Scumm Bar. And I love how the game ends on Guybrush just sitting there, taking in his life and being happy for a moment. It was a rare genuine moment of peace from a guy who has left a lot of unfortunate destruction in his happy go lucky path.