It's hard out here for a pirate.
As someone who's played console games all his life, I've not only missed out on a lot of computer games, but also a lot of genres. Real-time strategy (RTS) games and adventure games, for example, are rarely produced for home consoles. But now I'm making up for lost time. After playing StarCraft two years ago, I hold RTS games in high esteem, and look forward to playing more. And now, after playing The Secret of Monkey Island, I'm anxious to see what other wonders the genre can provide. Monkey Island is quite unlike any other game I've played before. It's a subversive game, to be sure, one that bucks video game traditions, breaks the rules (and the fourth wall), and preys upon the preconceptions of its audience. It's also the funniest game I've ever played by a safe margin.
Adventure games may have gone the way of the Western, but The Secret of Monkey Island retains its relevance today, 22 years after its debut.
Monkey Island is a point-and-click adventure game, and the controls couldn't be simpler. If you own a mouse you can play the game. Items are stored in inventory slots, from which they can be used, opened, or combined with other items. If you want to talk to a NPC, you simply click on him or her. If you want to walk down an alley, just click on your desired location. It's a good thing the controls are easy to master, because the puzzles -- which make up the core of Monkey Island -- can be difficult indeed. Overall, however, the game has an appropriate difficulty level. Moreover, the game's hero, Guybrush Threepwood, cannot die (a significant departure from previous adventure games), which allows players to focus on puzzle-solving and exploration.
The story in Monkey Island starts off fairly innocuously, but then talks a few strange and hilarious turns. It all revolves around would-be pirate Guybrush who, in his eagerness to become a swashbuckler, finds himself in the middle of a plot involving ghost pirates, health-conscious cannibals, and rubber chickens. It's a purposefully silly, over-the-top story with plenty of sight gags, parodies, and one-liners. In fact, the writing in Monkey Island, along with its brilliant "pirate reggae" music, is the main attraction. I doubt a funnier game exists in the world.
Monkey Island is not a long game, but it may take some time to solve some of its more challenging puzzles. In this way it's similar to Metal Gear Solid, which can be beaten in approximately three hours if one skips all the cut-scenes and knows exactly what to do. Yet even now, knowing all the clever tricks and riddles in the game, I am still drawn back to Monkey Island for an encore.
I hesitate to write more about the plot, characters, and puzzles, because these are all best experienced first-hand. It is sufficient to say that The Secret of Monkey Island is a great, enduring adventure game with inspired puzzles, brilliant writing, and some very memorable music and set pieces.
Note: LucasArts released The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition in 2009. This remastered version features updated graphics and voice over work, plus the ability to toggle between the new and original versions of the game.
Adventure games may have gone the way of the Western, but The Secret of Monkey Island retains its relevance today, 22 years after its debut.
Monkey Island is a point-and-click adventure game, and the controls couldn't be simpler. If you own a mouse you can play the game. Items are stored in inventory slots, from which they can be used, opened, or combined with other items. If you want to talk to a NPC, you simply click on him or her. If you want to walk down an alley, just click on your desired location. It's a good thing the controls are easy to master, because the puzzles -- which make up the core of Monkey Island -- can be difficult indeed. Overall, however, the game has an appropriate difficulty level. Moreover, the game's hero, Guybrush Threepwood, cannot die (a significant departure from previous adventure games), which allows players to focus on puzzle-solving and exploration.
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| Yes, that's his real name. |
The story in Monkey Island starts off fairly innocuously, but then talks a few strange and hilarious turns. It all revolves around would-be pirate Guybrush who, in his eagerness to become a swashbuckler, finds himself in the middle of a plot involving ghost pirates, health-conscious cannibals, and rubber chickens. It's a purposefully silly, over-the-top story with plenty of sight gags, parodies, and one-liners. In fact, the writing in Monkey Island, along with its brilliant "pirate reggae" music, is the main attraction. I doubt a funnier game exists in the world.
Monkey Island is not a long game, but it may take some time to solve some of its more challenging puzzles. In this way it's similar to Metal Gear Solid, which can be beaten in approximately three hours if one skips all the cut-scenes and knows exactly what to do. Yet even now, knowing all the clever tricks and riddles in the game, I am still drawn back to Monkey Island for an encore.
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| You'll never find a more wretched hive of SCUMM and villainy. |
I hesitate to write more about the plot, characters, and puzzles, because these are all best experienced first-hand. It is sufficient to say that The Secret of Monkey Island is a great, enduring adventure game with inspired puzzles, brilliant writing, and some very memorable music and set pieces.
Score: 9.5
Note: LucasArts released The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition in 2009. This remastered version features updated graphics and voice over work, plus the ability to toggle between the new and original versions of the game.
I am so excited that this got a 9.5. Needless to say I think this is the best game ever, and without question it has spoiled me on all other games because I expect them to be funny, and made in the same mold. I'm starting to learn the ropes of the other game genres out there, but I will always put Monkey Island first.
ReplyDeleteOkay Evan- time for the special edition (because it's tremendous) and LeChuck's Revenge hehehe..
Also, a side note- special editions are now available for iPhone, iPad, and MacBook through the App Store. :)
good nic share
ReplyDeleteThe Secret of Monkey Island