Return to Monkey Island

Finally, after all this time, we are here to Return to Monkey Island. The previous Monkey Island game came out in 2009, so it has been quite a while. Return to Monkey Island is the sixth game of this quirky point-and-click adventure franchise. However the writer and developer of this game are the same people that did Monkey Island 1 and Monkey Island 2. Still, I’m glad that he does acknowledge all of what happened in the series, even though Monkey Island 4 and Tales of Monkey Island mostly get passing references.

Let’s all pray Return to Monkey Island. Find it on Steam.

Return to Monkey Island seemingly picks up from the end of Monkey Island 2, but it soon puts it into a new context. And then the game begins, and you are told a story about Guybrush’s most fervent attempt to suss out the true secret of Monkey Island.

The style of the game is light-hearted and humorous. They even still keep on making Star Wars references, though only the original trilogy, nothing from the prequel trilogy or the sequel trilogy. There are times when it gets more grim and dark. But they all fit together well into one game. Still, Guybrush does do more and more questionable things in his quest.

LeChuck is back once again, of course. He and Guybrush are forever nemesis, both going after the same thing: The Secret of Monkey Island. The first act of the game is really going for nostalgia as you are once again in Melee Island getting things together for a venture to Monkey Island. Only the island now is more run-down than before. There are new pirate leaders, and they don’t care about the island much at all.

Still, most of the classic places are there looking much the same, only in a new art style. The island doesn’t feel as alive, though. The NPCs are relatively still, making things feel not as lively, and there is nothing really going on in the world maps.

It’s odd why I feel this way specifically about this game. It’s hard to quantify since this doesn’t do anything different from other point-and-click adventures. Yet I somehow expected the world to feel more vivid. Perhaps it’s just rose-tinted glasses.

All of the characters you know and love are back, such as Elaine, The Voodoo Lady and Wally. But there are many new people to interact with as well such as LeChuck’s crew. It’s just a fun time all around to go talk to people.

After the initial bit of nostalgia, the game opens up into new places, with many fun locales. Of course there is still the visit to Monkey Island. Though once again, it doesn’t feel as lively as compared to the first game. I think overall, though, the areas feel simpler when compared to other games. Areas only consist of a few screens with mainly static NPCs. You mainly get around by world map, which is also just a static picture.

The puzzles are still great, though. There are some challenging things. The solutions are humorous. Sometimes, you can see the bad results from far away, but you still gleefully go do it to see what happens. The game is overall less interactive, though, since Guybrush won’t even entertain using certain items on other items. In other games, he would at least make a comment. Here, the option just isn’t available.

Helping out players, there is a built-in hint book as well as a interact-able location highlighter. I didn’t use the hint book much but I did like the interact-able highlight function.

The voice acting in the game is still great. I know they got the same voice actor for Guybrush. Dominic Armato is the one and only voice for our pirate hero. I know LeChuck has a new voice, though the new one is still fitting. I think Elaine has her same voice actress as well. It’s great hearing them again. The music is great and catchy. The classic theme is back, of course, and it brings a nice life to the game.

Return to Monkey Island is a welcome addition to the series. It has some nostalgia, some new stuff, and maybe, just maybe there will be the answer to what is the secret of Monkey Island. Or maybe not. You’ll just have to play it for yourself to find out.

Find it on Steam.