Take a classic adventure game, remaster the audio and visuals, and you wind up with an even better classic!
By today's adventure game standards, Monkey Island is a primitive game. The story is short and a lot is taken for granted. You only visit a few locations, and you visit them repeatedly. The gameplay is comprised primarily of solving inventory puzzles and navigating dialog trees. And you can complete the entire adventure in just a few short hours. But you need to remember… this is a game based on computer technology of two decades ago!
This is a rare case where the game's obsolescence doesn't detract from the enjoyment. The dialog is laugh-out-loud funny, the puzzles are humorous and challenging, and the overall blast of nostalgia makes the game well worth the $10 price.
You have the option to play the original game with the original graphics, sound and interface. But most people will want to play the re-mastered version, with new artwork and completely modern audio, including full voiceovers for all characters and music. You have the ability to switch between the two versions on the fly at any time, and it's amazing to see just how faithfully the new style represents the old. The user interface with the re-mastered version is a bit clunky, and it's a little jarring to see modern graphics with legacy animations, but those are really the only gripes I have about the whole game.
The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition has proven that 20 year old classics can provide viable gaming in today's day and age. Hopefully it will herald a return of the rest of the Monkey Island series in re-mastered form, as well as perhaps some other classic LucasArts, Sierra and other adventure games.