Monkey Island returns, with a vengeance
This is a resurrection of a dead series, yes... not even death can kill Guybrush Threepwood.
After the crime that is called "Escape from Monkey Island", I thought the series was dead. So I stuck with the ScummVM and the classic trilogy. Then last year, I heard this news about a Tales Of Monkey Island and a remake of the first one... And I was the most excited person in the world. I mean a series I grew up with, one of the first games I've ever played (Secret Of) , will be resurrected?
Yes this game satisfied my hype.
Let's talk about the art. In every Monkey Island there has been an artistic change (apart from the first two) from the pixelated but fascinating art; the cartoonish, wonderful and atmospheric art and the erm... 3D art (Maybe I do hate the 4th installement a little).
Tales Of Monkey Island has a memorable art. It is good. It is also a reference to Bill Tiller's art from "The Curse".
The gameplay has also changed a bit from Monkey Island 4. Both keyboard and mouse can be used for the movement and only the mouse can do the actions (Point-and-click anyone?)
The only problem I've had with the gampley was the combination of objects. You won't drag an object over another then click, This time you have to drag the objects into the respective "combination slots" and click the button. Albeit this minor confusing problem, I was satisfied.
The story is a classic Monkey Island story, althought with a twist. LeChuck is back to human form and you have to remove a curse Guybrush released. Along the way you will find characters that will enter the notable characters in the series. But one in particular stands out. It was a cliff-hanger character at the end of the first episode and then (quite unexpectedly) it's Morgan LeFlay, who is quite a remarkable new entry. I loved her, she's also well developed. She was always meant to be a secondary character and a memorable one.
One little problem though... I want more Elaine in the next season!
The voice acting is very good, and notably Dominic Armato's acting has been always good. He IS Guybrush, no doubt about it. The absence of Earl Boen as LeChuck wasn't very missed.. until the ending. He can make LeChuck a fearsome zombie pirate. Also to note that Alexandra Boyd is back from Monkey Island 3, and has quite some change of personas; and Nikki Rapp's acting make Morgan LeFlay alive. Yes, it is good.
So here's me writing this review after finishing the fifth and last episode, while expecting the second season and the remake of Lcecku's Revenge.