Return to Monkey Island

After playing MI1 and MI2 in all their Amiga-glory, I thought I'd give Return to Monkey Island a chance. I thought it was an average game with some good and some not-so-good puzzles. The thing which turned me off on it the most was including Covid-politics and opinions in the game. No thanks. When I play a game I want to forget politics and not receive a lecture.

Target audience is age 0-9 kids with their parents playing on tablets. This tells you about the complexity of the game. The story ends with an anti climactic ending and a "it was all a dream" twist(!), which throws away all your time and effort and gives you the middle finger. Actually it's double "dream" because you know it's just a story to begin with. Of course this is an amazing twist if you are a 9 years or younger who is new to life.

Return to Monkey Island is a triumphant and heartfelt revival of one of gaming’s most beloved adventure franchises. Developed by Terrible Toybox and helmed once again by series creator Ron Gilbert, the game marks a return not only to the swashbuckling antics of Guybrush Threepwood, but to the whimsical spirit, clever humor, and point-and-click brilliance that defined the golden age of adventure games. While it carries the weight of legacy, Return to Monkey Island embraces that heritage with grace, delivering a modernized experience that respects its roots while carving out new ground. The story picks up years after Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge, continuing the never-ending rivalry between Guybrush and the undead pirate LeChuck. From the outset, the game manages to strike a delicate balance between nostalgia and innovation. It’s filled with references and callbacks that longtime fans will appreciate, yet it smartly avoids relying solely on them. New players won’t be lost either—the game includes a well-written scrapbook that recaps the saga so far, presented with charm and warmth. What emerges is a narrative that’s both a continuation and a new beginning, exploring themes of legacy, change, and the stories we tell ourselves. One of the boldest changes is the new visual art style, which trades pixel art and classic cartoon aesthetics for a stylized, storybook-like design. While it initially divided opinions, it quickly proves to be a perfect fit for the quirky tone of the series. The characters are expressive, the environments are colorful and alive, and the visual humor is on point. Every island, ship, and bizarre location is packed with visual detail and personality, enhancing the sense of adventure and wonder. The UI is clean and modernized, and while it simplifies some of the classic point-and-click mechanics, it never sacrifices the depth or the joy of exploration. Puzzle design remains central to the experience, and Return to Monkey Island excels in delivering clever, satisfying conundrums that range from logical problem-solving to delightfully absurd solutions. The puzzles feel tightly integrated into the story, often requiring keen observation and a healthy dose of creative thinking. Importantly, the game includes a dynamic hint system that feels organic and avoids frustration, making it approachable without sacrificing the satisfaction that comes from solving things on your own. This system, along with a smart inventory interface and contextual dialogue, keeps the game flowing smoothly while preserving the classic feel. Voice acting and writing are stellar across the board. Dominic Armato returns as the voice of Guybrush Threepwood, bringing his trademark charm and wit, and the supporting cast is equally strong, featuring familiar faces and new additions that fit seamlessly into the world. The writing is sharp, witty, and frequently laugh-out-loud funny, but it also has moments of poignancy and introspection. The humor is never forced, and it’s clear that the developers have a deep love for these characters and this universe. From ridiculous pirate bureaucracy to heartfelt conversations about the passage of time, the game constantly surprises with its emotional range. Musically, Return to Monkey Island delivers a beautiful and thematically rich score that blends the iconic Monkey Island themes with new compositions that enhance the mood of each location. The audio design is detailed and immersive, helping bring the world to life—every creak of a ship, splash of the sea, or parrot squawk feels purposeful and adds to the atmosphere. It’s a game that sounds as good as it looks and plays, reinforcing the overall polish of the experience. Though Return to Monkey Island is largely a resounding success, it’s not without small flaws. Some puzzles might still feel obscure to those unfamiliar with the genre’s quirks, and a few returning characters could have benefited from more screen time or development. Additionally, while the streamlined mechanics are mostly a strength, they might leave purists longing for a slightly more complex interface or inventory system. However, these are minor issues in a game that otherwise respects its legacy while confidently embracing the modern era. Ultimately, Return to Monkey Island is a love letter to fans and a bold reminder of what makes adventure games special. It captures the heart, humor, and sense of wonder that defined the series while pushing the genre forward with smart design decisions and emotional depth. Whether you’re a longtime fan eager to continue Guybrush’s story or a newcomer ready to discover what makes Monkey Island so iconic, this game offers a rich, rewarding, and unforgettable journey. It’s not just a return to Monkey Island—it’s a return to form for narrative-driven games at large. Rating: 8/10

I grew up on the Monkey Island and other LucasArts adventure games of the 80's and 90's. They're very special to me. Return to Monkey Island is a look back on Guybrush Threepwood's life and is clearly a labour of love. The graphical style fits in perfectly with the spirit of the series (shoutout to Stan's jacket) and is beautiful to behold. The puzzles are varied and sufficiently challenging. The included hint book, which sits in your inventory throughout the game, gives you conversation-style hints for the active puzzles, increasing from vague to specific the further you go into the conversation. This is brilliant because it doesn't give you the answer right away, but truly gives you clues so that it still feels like you solved the puzzle yourself. This is a brilliant design. All in all, if you even remotely like point-and-click adventure games, get this one. If, like me, these games have special nostalgia value for you then you'll already have bought this :)

重返猴岛：猴岛的续作，冲着2022金摇杆奖来玩的，几块钱的key还算值。 1：轻松的解谜游戏，手柄玩的轻松，而且有内置提示书，不会牢。 2：有5章，6小时通关。内容丰富，剧情诙谐，音乐很怀旧，童年的感觉上来了。。。 3：全成就比较坑，其一因为2个成就要困难模式才有（简单没剧情），其二是限时通关，其三找到岛屿（找岛需要收集问题，花了3小时）没强迫症不建议。 总体还是很优秀的游戏，玩的尽兴，有机会打算玩前面几作。

As a person who never played any of the Monkey Island games, it wasn't bad, but it also wasn't that good for a point & click game I feel like the twist ending wasn't really what I expected it to be? The game sort of build it up as the secret won't be what Guybrush is looking forward to and is not worth all the 'eggs he cracked along the way'. But the ending doesn't follow through with any of this

Great Adventure, worthy Monkey Island Title. I think the artstyle is fine, fits the story even more than some other entries of the series. The Puzzles and Dialogue are good and it was fun all around. I did not like the ending(s). Mainly because how it was presented, not the idea itself. It is a bad trope at this point to do something like this if you run out of ideas. And to be honest: I know that I am playing a game and have to go back to real life when it's over. I can have a game tell me this, but I don't have to praise it for it. Because, in the end, I play for a little escapism, not to be condescended for exactly that. I bet there are more subtle ways to get that message across and make me think how I spend my time - even the subtext: It's always the same story with a new coat of paint... But in the end, this does not take away the fun I had while playing, so I would still recommend it despite the "lazy" ending.