Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Title: Return to Monkey Island
Type of Game: Adventure, Point-and-Click
Developer: Terrible Toybox
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Released: September 19, 2022
Platforms Available: PC Game, Mac Game, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Android,
Platform Reviewed: Mac Game, Android
Level of Maturity: Teen
Story of Guybrush Treepwood
The Monkey Island series is a true breakthrough in point-and-click adventures, hailing from a distant era. Back in 1990, when the game graced Amiga computers and early PCs with pre-VGA graphics, it wasn’t exactly a visual masterpiece. The CGA and EGA versions were, let’s face it, pretty ugly. But graphics weren’t the game’s selling point. What made it stand out was the sheer love poured into its creation and the strength of its characters – even the most comical ones left an indelible mark.
I remember when it first came out. I fell head over heels for Guybrush Threepwood, the perfect anti-hero. He was this awkward, adolescent wannabe pirate with a geeky charm and a knack for witty banter. Those legendary insult sword fights? Pure gold. While nothing was revolutionary in the strictest sense, the fun factor was off the charts from the get-go. It was a beautiful mix of pure love and subtle mystery, wrapped in layer upon layer of humor.
The challenges were mostly logical, though sometimes they veered into the realm of the absurd. You’d find yourself chatting up every character in sight, trying to piece together solutions that often defied conventional logic. But that was part of the charm. You’d love the characters, curse them when stuck, and you would never, ever forget good ol’ Guybrush Threepwood. So that’s how the game was, a perfect blend of humor, mystery, and engaging puzzles that kept you coming back for more.
The Prodigal Pirate Returns
Fast forward to today, and we’ve got a new Monkey Island game on our hands. What’s really interesting is that this game is from Ron Gilbert, the original mastermind behind the Monkey Island series. The franchise took a bit of a detour with Monkey Island 3, which is actually a great game, but it wasn’t by Ron Gilbert. Then we had the Telltale series on the iPads, which worked quite okay, but the charm was already gone, and the game was like some other games on the platform – you wouldn’t notice anything very spectacular about them. But this new game? It’s come back like a direct sequel, and that’s great. Yeah, it’s really great.
Gilbert knows he’s dealing with a whole new generation of gamers, maybe even a generation and a half away from the original. But he still very charmingly introduced the characters and their funny sides, cleverly and smartly adapting them for the new audiences of today’s gaming world. And actually, they’ve done a good thing, because you can play the game everywhere – on your mobile, on your iPads, on your computer, on your Mac, you can play it on your PC, of course. I’m not quite sure if Monkey Island is on the consoles, but if it is, that’s worth mentioning too.
The story evolves from where it left off – I don’t want to do any spoilers, but the mysterious tale of Guybrush and LeChuck continues to unfold. What’s new is that they’ve made it easier for you by adding a hint system along the way, which wasn’t possible in the original games. But now it is, because everybody’s used to that kind of help these days. So it’s not like the hardcore version of the original games, but that’s what contemporary times require from games. Still, it’s quite challenging – sometimes even the hints might get you stuck, and you have to think it out.
I need to mention that you can play it in two modes: an easy version and the full version of the game. Definitely go for the full version at first. If you struggle, then you can switch to the easier mode. But trust me, the full experience is worth it.
Art and Senses of the Monkey
Graphically, the game is lovely. It’s art, yeah, it’s an art style that’s like hand-drawn graphics. The sceneries are very classic – nothing has fundamentally changed, just the fidelity of the graphics. There are no sprites anymore, but more complex personas moving around in a more graphical world. Still, it has this cubist feel to it. The faces aren’t realistic; they’re very cartoonish and stretched out a little. It looks like something between Picasso and Salvador Dalí – you know, that other guy who had these melting clocks and things. So it’s somewhere between these two famous Spanish painters, I’d say.
It’s like a handmade game. You can get it for about 20 bucks, and the price isn’t going down much since it’s still relatively new. But yeah, you can have it – maybe do some checking on where to get it and how much you can get the game for in your area.
Sound-wise, the audio reminds you of the old days, but it’s still fresh and engaging. I think the story will be engaging for the new audience for sure. What’s great is that you can see through this old Monkey Island, piracy stuff that Pirates of the Caribbean definitely had a very strong inspiration here. The comparison between Jack Sparrow and Guybrush Threepwood is interesting – although Guybrush is a wannabe pirate at heart, and Sparrow is a real pirate. But still, that charming, fairytale-y, super funny, point-and-click adventure of Monkey Island is here with us again.
The Magic Lives On
I’m happy to see Ron Gilbert and Dave Grossman are doing the games again, and that they really, really enjoyed this and their previous Thimbleweed Park project, which actually was even more classic because of the pixels being used, like in games from the early ’90s. It was their previous work, and I really enjoyed that game too.
You know, although the graphics in Return to Monkey Island aren’t what you’d call top, super-contemporary graphics, it’s made, again, with love. I think the soul of the original game is there, and yeah, the guys are still with us, doing great fun and enjoying the game-making process. That’s what we love to see.
We’re definitely thrilled to see another game from the studio, Terrible Toybox, which will hopefully be coming out with something very soon. The team has proven once again that they have the magic touch when it comes to creating games that surprise, delight, and leave us wanting more.
Return to Monkey Island bridges the gap between nostalgia and modern gaming sensibilities, offering something for both long-time fans and newcomers to the series. Whether you’re revisiting the world of Monkey Island or stepping into it for the first time, you’re in for a treat – a game that’s as much a labor of love as it is a rollicking good time. So grab your grog, sharpen your wit, and set sail for adventure – Guybrush Threepwood and the gang are waiting for you!
Where to Buy Return to Monkey Island
Steam (PC): Available for $24.99. You can purchase it directly from Steam.
Epic Games Store (PC): Available for $24.99. Purchase it from the Epic Games Store.
Nintendo Shop (Switch): Available for $24.99.Purchase it from the Nintendo Shop.
PlayStation Store (PS5): Available for $24.99. You can find it on the PlayStation Store.
Xbox Store (Xbox Series X/S): Available for $24.99. Check it out on the Xbox Store.
Play on you IOS , download Return to Monkey Island on Appstore.
Play on your Android , download Return to Monkey island on Play Store
Official Page: Visit the official Return to Monkey Island page for more information.
Subreddit: Join the discussion on the Monkey Island Subreddit.