Customer Reviews

Escape from Monkey Island

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I'd never really been all that keen on the Adventure game genre, up until yesterday -- the turning point was when I was over at a friend's house, watching his son play Escape from Monkey Island. What a blast! I went directly out and bought a copy for myself, and was up until 5:00AM playing.

I used to think that adventure games were not involved enough -- there was just never enough depth in most of the ones I'd played. But this one is great on so many different levels -- story, humour, puzzles, dialog, voice acting, graphics (okay, the graphics aren't exactly cutting edge, but the setting really drew me in). I have developed an affinity with the main character.

According to my friend, most of the LucasArts adventure games are as fun as this one, and the reason the adventure genre is supposedly dead, is because at one point the market was saturated with FMV garbage (probably the stuff I had played).

If EMI is any indication of how fun LucasArts adventure games are, I'm going to have to buy a bunch more -- let my wife knock on the computer room door all she wants, but I'm not coming out for at least a year! :-)

Let's be honest. Monkey Island 2 (MI2) was not much of a technological improvement from The Secret of Monkey Island (MI1). The Curse of Monkey Island (MI3) brought with it many things... much higher resolution, more colors, really good stylized animation... talented voice actors... the list goes on and on. There is still much debate over whether or not it was any better then the first two. (According to Lucasarts all three are liked more or less equally.) In any case, it was very different. Now Escape From Monkey Island (MI4) is coming out and it's taking a whole new direction. The graphics didn't particularly impress me at first... why 3D? Wasn't the series doing okay as it was? Why does Guybrush look like a character from Final Fantasy? Rather concerned, I checked out one of the short movies on the lucasarts web site. After watching that, I feel I can safely say that MI4 will (knowing Lucasarts) be very enjoyable. The 3D graphics don't really look right unless they are moving, and therefore no screenshot can really do this game justice.

For anyone who has played any of the earlier MI games, expect a lot of in-jokes, old jokes and good jokes. It seems that many of the characters and locations are going to be familiar.

If you haven't played any of the Monkey Island games before, then I'm sure you will be brought up to speed quickly, but I still recomend playing the other ones first.

Anyway, it looks as if lucasarts is about to finish yet another great game. I would recomend this highly just based on their consistantly great adventure games.

I pre-ordered Escape from Monkey Island about 2 months before it came out, and I can gladly say that, excluding a few minor errors, I think the final product is great. The reviewers who said the game was not as good as The Curse of Monkey Island are right. It is not as good as the first game in the series(Secret) or the third(Curse), but it is better than LeChuck's Revenge.

Although it may not be quite as good as two of the previous games, I still highly recommend this great game. The graphics, while not as good as some newer games, are still creative and suit this colorful game very well. The controls are not as good as they should be for a game that requires some tight manuevering at times, but I was able to get around ok.

One thing I miss from previous MI games was the constant "laugh-out-loud" humor I enjoyed in Secret(MI1) and Curse(MI3). The game is funny throughout, but the humor is not as funny as it was in the previous games. Even Revenge(MI2) seemed to be a bit funnier.

The puzzles are difficult, but not as tough as they should be...and Lucas Arts should NEVER have included a walk-through with the game! It is too tempting to open it up and cheat. That's what the internet is for...if you can't figure the puzzles out, you go online for answers!

All in all, Escape from Monkey Island is a great game that will suit both hardcore adventure fans and fans of the Monkey Island series(wait....those are the same people). I would recommend this game to anyone who likes adventure games.

I have read a lot of bad reviews for this game. Lots and lots. I have absolutely no idea where they come from! I have never experienced any glitches with this game, nor had any problem with the dumb jokes or difficult puzzles. I rather ENJOY the dumb jokes and difficult puzzles. I find it difficult to trash the apex of Lucas Arts' Monkey Island series.

For those who are familiar with the series (i.e. have spent long, long nights sword fighting or talking to Murray): THIS GAME IS FOR YOU! You will be pleasantly reminded of all the fun in these games.

For those who are not yet familiar with the series (i.e. have not spent any nights sword fighting, and are probably wondering who Murray is): THIS GAME IS FOR YOU! Yes, even novices, newbies, and greenhorns will enjoy this game.

So what are you waiting for?

Being a huge and loving fan of the Monkey Island games since the birth of point and click, I would have to say that this is not one of LucasArt's best additions. I think the guys there need some direction and stronger sense of humor and inventiveness.

What I didnt like: the fact that there are so many bugs in the programming (it crashed or froze twice during monkey combat and a few around hitting ole H.T. on the head as well as a few minor places), poor transition of 3D graphics and animation (Grim Fandango was muuuuch better), the game just didnt last very long, it was too easy to beat too quickly, the backgrounds were lacking the detail that Curse of Monkey Island held, controls were HORRIBLE and CONFUSING (i stuck to the keyboard), puzzles were wimpy and lacking, and not enough gags and jokes/references.

What I DID like: the 3D cutscenes, Monkey Kombat, X-wing in the swamp, the paradox sequence, the storyline, music, monkey's, lechuck's different forms, the final battle, and about half of the puzzles. Just not enough to keep me happy like the last three did.

Overall, it just doesnt seem like there is a big enough challenge to this game compared to some of the others. It seemed LucasArts was in too big of a hurry to bring this game out and show off their not-so-impressive 3D graphics/animation. The Curse of Monkey Island has to be my favorite. It was just...well, just really well done, it even had more life to it. I think LucasArts is barely holding on. The Star Wars games are getting a bit dry and they just dont have any other creative ideas to keep people's interest. This company has a lot of imagination and potential....if they would just focus on a fewer number of games instead of spreading it thin. Lots of trouble within the ranks is keeping their potential down and lack of personal professionalism. Most of the good people no longer work there. I know.

I'm sure I was like every other fan of the Monkey Island series ..., ready to immerse myself in its latest chapter. What I got ...was a fantastic letdown.

First of all, I have to say I'm a little jaded; Curse (number 3 in the series) is a beautiful, funny, well-written game and arguably the best of the bunch. And in my opinion, the translation to the third dimension fails in every respect. Where is the sense of romance and atmosphere that was so wonderfully conjured in the previous game? The rich, lucious (if computer-dealt) painstrokes, the deep colors, and the caricatrued backgraounds and cast-members? It's all been replaced with low-poly, poorly animated, poorly designed 3D blandness that shapes up to be a major disapointment.

In fact, it's completely devoid of anything that would make it feel like a Monkey Island game. Here again, I think the translation to 3D is entirely to blame. ....With the implementation of the movement arrows, the challenge is no longer in the logic or puzzles area, it's now getting from points A to B. Remember clicking on a guy across the screen to go talk to him? A thing of the past! Make way for a pointless, ugly 3D engine which requires the player to navigate obstacles (most of which actually turn Guybrush in the opposite direction upon contact), make sure the character is looking in the right direction, and then talk to the guy, only to hear five minutes of uninspired dialogue.

Perhaps this would not have been such a monumental disappointment if the maps were laid out well. The whole game seems like it is restricted by the engine: rooms are no longer filled with interesting articles; now simple tables and chairs line the walls in completely monotonous fashion because that's the way it's done in a 3D space. Characters are no longer cartoons; they're horribly disfigured lumps of spheres and cylinders. The entire style of the series is altogether absent, save a few swirly clouds and skewed walls, poor atempts at recreation of once beautiful design. It is the epitome of 3D for the sake of 3D.

The voice acting is all similarly disapointing, but I believe this stems from another huge weekness: the screenplay. Not once did I find myself caring about a character or wondering what was next in store for him or her, not once did I feel like sitting through dialogue (which is your only option, as it is impossible to skip it), and most offensive of all, not once did I find myself laughing. This is the most serious blow to the game; it's not funny.

Throw in some ... logicless puzzles and a few far-reatching references to the previous games (which are the only jokes that are remotely humorous, perhaps sheerly for nostalgia) and you have yourself Escape from Monkey Island, whose only redeeming value is a guy named Guybrush Threepwood that I vaguely remember once being funny. Would that there were a 1.5 star ranking.

Do you remember that funny Guybrush Threepwood who would make us laugh for hours in the trhee previous MIs?He is not himself any more. Remember those beautiful backgrounds and cartoonish graphics which made Curse of Monkey Island my favorite game? Not here anymore. Instead they have been replaced by monotonous 3D which, in my opinion, does not even match Grim Fandangos quality. Remember those puzzles which would keep us up all night long trying to figure them out? All gone. It took me only 5 days to complete Esacpe from Monkey Island taking in account that I dedicated only part my an afternoons to the game. As you might have noticed, I was pretty dissapointed with this game. The game is full of bugs and errors, in fact, the game even congratulates you when you have found a bug, since a message appears telling you an error has occured in the game and its title is "Congratulations! You have found a bug!" This type of errors were the ones that stopped me from enyoing the end of the game since they caused the game to run EXTREMELLY slow at the final monkey kombat and caused the end cinematics to run really slowly. By the way, what was that!! Monkey Kombat? I prefer the funny insult sword fighting in MI3 where the insults and their answers rhymed adding humour to the game. The control was confusing at first but then you get used to it, even though I miss the point and click interface, which, in my opinion, is one of the most important elements of graphic adventures, perhaps the one which distinguishes them from other genres. Most of the dialogue is not even funny anymore. As I write this review I start to appreciate the previous Monkey Islands much more. Curse of Monkey island is still my favorite. To conclude, I want you to know, in case someone ever reads this, that I do not hate this game, but I was deeply dissapointed. As soon as i ordered this game, I couldn't wait for it to arrive.When the day when it was in my hands came, I immediately went to my computer and started playing. Six days later I found myself writing this review. I hope there is a Monkey Island 5, but I wish they make it similar to the first three.

Escape from Monkey Island is the forth game in the Monkey Island series which started out in 1990. With each new release of each Moneky Island sequel, there was always something new and fun to do. for example, in the third release : Curse of Monkey Island, the hero Guybrush Threepwood went for a complete make over to become a goofy, lanky, lovable pirate in a long interactive animated cartoon. Escape from Monkey Island is no exception. It has something new to offer for everyone.

Let's start with the storyline. It continues from Curse of Monkey Island where Guybrush and Elaine returns from their honeymoon to find out that they were pronuced "dead". Apart from that, Melee Island was about to be taken over by a villian Charles. L. Charles (For die-hard Monkey Island fans, no prizes for guess who that is). The plot thickens when an Australian real-estate tycoon buys over the Tri-Island Area and turns it into a tourist spot. And somehow, all this seems to be linked to a voodo artifact- The Ultimate Insult, in which Guybrush has to find out.

What I liked about this game as with all other Monkey Island games is its humour. The game makers pokes fun at today's hip and happenin' culture, for example, on one of the island there is a guy called Hugo selling perfumes. Apart from that, its wicked usages of puns will here you brusting with laughter-perfect for anyone who is feeling down.

The music: Let me say this- it is fantastic. Although most of it is repeated from Curse of Monkey Island, the music really puts you in a tropical mood to sail around the Caribbean.

The voice acting: The actors has done a pretty good job doing the voice acting for the characters, bringing them to life!

The graphics: Escape from Monkey Island is different from all other Monkey Island game because it is in gorgeous 3D. That means you have to have a 3D acclerator card to play this game. The way the game designers took time to model the 3D areas really pays off, the graphics are "smooth" and bright and beautiful to look at.

What I dislike about this game is its controls and some of the puzzles. The game interface is difficult to master and to have Guybrush lined up in a particular manner, e.g to enter a room,is frustrating. Another thing with this game is that if you accidentally have Guybrush stand to close to a door he may enter the room automatically, which a again is frustrating as you may not want him to enter the room.

Some of the puzzles in the game makes no sense. It will have you tearing out your hair when you can't solve it. For example, you have to cause a parrot by giving it beer so that it can help you solve the puzzle. How logical can that be ?

Overall, this is a fun game to play although it does have some illogical and difficult puzzles to solve that will dampen your mood. However, it is worth your every cent to get it if you are looking for something new to play.

Well you've found one! Actually, you've found one of four! The Monkey Island games are by far THE best games that you could possibly find if you're lookin' for hillarious tounge in cheek humor and a great challenge. The fourth installment in this classic series promises to be one of the best; with blood thirsty pirates, insult arm-wrestling, schmear wizz, and a giant monkey head, all rendered in wonderful 3-D! If you're an old fan of the series or even a newcomer, ye sure to be lovin' Escape from Monkey Island!

Escape form Monkey Island is very impressive. Not in graphics, but in the quality of writing(although the graphics are amazing). If yo have any doubts to the game, download the demo. It is almost 120MB, but it is worth the wait considering the game isn't coming out for another three weeks. The transition is seamless and the dialogue is funny. You probably hear whining about how it is keyboard only. I played with a joystick and it was really easy. Sure to be a classic like the other three before it.