It’s almost hard to believe it’s true. A brand new “Monkey Island” game. Over 30 years after the classic start of the series. With creators Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman at the helm, even. We are talking about a series that has meant a great deal to the use of humor in the game medium. Games with jokes, skits and crazy tasks as supporting elements. A series that let conventions fall by the wayside in order to experiment with both interactivity and the players’ expectations. Not least, this is also a series that sends warm waves of nostalgia over a gaming generation that is currently in its 40s and 50s. It is possible that I am such a person. The gang is back together There are some expectations in the air here, so to speak. And it is a real pleasure to report that expectations are being met. The story continues immediately after “Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge”, which is the last game in the series Gilbert and Grossman created before leaving LucasArts. You meet both Guybrush Threepwood, Elaine, LeChuck and many other well-known characters from the series. PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: “Return to Monkey Island” is the creators of the original’s first game in the series since 1992. The music is made by the same composers, the actors from the original are back and – yes of course – “Return to Monkey Island” is a fun pirate -adventure with stylish task solving, lots of humor and wonderful dialogue. Here it is actually so well made that I think it stands shoulder to shoulder with the first two games in the series. This is the sequel we’ve been longing for for over 30 years. Time-crunch-friendly “Return to Monkey Island” has removed one of the most immersive elements from the originals. You no longer have to stand still for hours while you ponder how to solve the ko-ko tasks, the game has both its own “casual” mode and a hint system that points you in the right direction. This hint system is optional, but can probably be a bit tempting for players who really want to find solutions on their own. It takes away a bit of the feeling of mastery when the solution is always a few clicks away. OVER LONG: Over 30 years after the first game, “Return to Monkey Island” has now been launched. Photo: Devolver Digital At the same time, it is a gift from above for well-grown fans pressed for time. These friendly nudges in the back can be seen as a necessary modernization of a genre known to be quite gnarly. But even if you end up disappointing yourself by using a tip or two too many, there’s plenty else to enjoy. The sophisticated and well-functioning meta-layers, for example. Because it is the expectations and the status of the first two “Monkey Island” games in particular that are the framework for the entire game. You get exciting, honest, interesting and often funny reflections on what “Monkey Island” means, both for players and for the two creators. A lot of meta fun “Return to Monkey Island” is a game that is in many ways about looking forward to a new “Monkey Island” game. The expectations of the fans. 30 years of nostalgia. The game really shines when it confronts so-called toxic fans. Here it becomes acutely relevant, after both angry Twitter howls about the game’s graphic style and fan reactions to content in “Star Wars”, “House of the Dragon” and “Ringer of the Mighty”. TIMELY: Retro in appearance, but the jokes and content also meet the spirit of the times in 2022. Illustration: Devolver Digital Grossman and Gilbert also hit the mark when they (usually indirectly) look back on 30 years as the creators of “Monkey Island”. The importance it has had on their lives and careers. This is like Monty Python reuniting. Grossman has made a name for himself as a screenwriter in Telltale Games, and Gilbert has, among other things, created the excellent “Thimbleweed Park” – but they will always be defined as the creators of “Monkey Island”. And when I draw such a parallel, I have to point out that this “Monkey Island” reunion is like a Monty Python comeback without John Cleese. Because the razor-sharp pen of Tim Schafer, the third key person behind the first two “Monkey Island” games, is missing. “Return to Monkey Island” would possibly have become even more enjoyable with a touch of the script magic Schafer demonstrated in, among other things, the brilliant “Psychonauts 2”. SITTING COMEBACK: The magic of the 90s is preserved, and will appeal to fans of the first game. Illustration: Devolver Digital Infrir – and well so. At the same time, the absence of Schafer’s madness has probably made room for a more mature and gentle humour. Because “Return to Monkey Island” is still a fun game, and I think the script suits the intention and motivation of Grossman and Gilbert. “Return to Monkey Island” is a warm reunion with a series I’ve loved ever since I got serious about games. It may not be as fun as the two originals, but the clever self-reflection elevates the experience and gives this comeback its own modern identity. Truth be told, it exceeds my own expectations. news reviews Photo: Devolver Digital Title: “Return to Monkey Island” Genre: Adventure game Age limit: 12 years Developer: Terrible Toybox Publisher: Devolver Digital Platform: PC, Switch and Mac Date: 19 September 2022 Hello! I’m a freelancer and write about play for news. On a daily basis, I work at Level Up Norway. If you want to read more about games, I can recommend my reviews of the excellent games “God of War”, “Elden Ring” and “Gran Turismo 7”.
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“Return to Monkey Island” – Reviews and recommendations
