It's a good game. I especially enjoyed the writing, but some of the puzzles can be random when it comes to what you need to do. Still a fun game though, but you might want a guide around for the times when you get really stuck.
I'll have you know this is my first playthrough of the game and I only had to ask for 4.7 hints
A história e os personagens são tão bons que até me fazem relevar alguns puzzles horríveis e confusos que tem no jogo, graças a deus que nessa versão tem botão de hint, se não acho que dificilmente ia conseguir termina-lo.
The writing in this game may be great, but what sells it to me is how LucasArts achieves humor through puzzle design first, screenwriting second. They understood the way to make a game hilarious is letting you as a player come up with the silly logical (or not) connections instead of forcing the comic situations into the script.
Ground-breaking, funny, smart, charming... but dear God is it hard
“The Secret of Monkey Island” might be one of the very first video games I played as a child. Even though I couldn’t even read English, I remember playing the demo at least a dozen times. It had the troll standing at the Mêlée docks to prevent you from getting out. No matter if I couldn’t figure out any of the puzzles, I just loved walking around and enjoying the setting and atmosphere.
My parents got me a legit copy a couple of years later, and despite the game not being the experience I had expected, I was totally blown away by the humor. Just like Guybrush, I was dreaming of an epic pirate adventure, and in the end, I had to come to terms with the fact that I was just another clumsy kid unfit for pirate life, but with the heart in the right place.
The plot is merely an excuse for what is essentially a genre parody littered with puns and pop culture references. Things play out as you would expect for the most part. yet I thought the twist they got with Elaine’s characters wasn’t as obvious back then.
The puzzles are part of the humor, to the point that many times the puzzles are the jokes and vice versa. The solutions are slightly more intuitive than the average LucasArt graphic adventure, with only a few absurd item combinations and pun-led tasks that could get frustrating. The pacing is generally tight, and the variety of things to do is impressive for a game this old. However, walking back and forth between areas can sometimes get a little tiresome.
About the “special edition”: it’s essentially a carbon copy of the original with a new user interface, revamped graphics, and especially made voice acting. The controls have been changed into an action wheel with a separate inventory menu. While it might have been a choice to make the game more accessible on mobile devices, nothing beats the original interface. The voice acting is on par with the other games in the series, and I have to say I’m not a big fan. Deadpan wry humor is obviously an essential feature of the Monkey Island series, but I thought the performances here were simply flat rather than genuinely deadpan. Many jokes felt funnier read in my mind rather than being acted out.
My parents got me a legit copy a couple of years later, and despite the game not being the experience I had expected, I was totally blown away by the humor. Just like Guybrush, I was dreaming of an epic pirate adventure, and in the end, I had to come to terms with the fact that I was just another clumsy kid unfit for pirate life, but with the heart in the right place.
The plot is merely an excuse for what is essentially a genre parody littered with puns and pop culture references. Things play out as you would expect for the most part. yet I thought the twist they got with Elaine’s characters wasn’t as obvious back then.
The puzzles are part of the humor, to the point that many times the puzzles are the jokes and vice versa. The solutions are slightly more intuitive than the average LucasArt graphic adventure, with only a few absurd item combinations and pun-led tasks that could get frustrating. The pacing is generally tight, and the variety of things to do is impressive for a game this old. However, walking back and forth between areas can sometimes get a little tiresome.
About the “special edition”: it’s essentially a carbon copy of the original with a new user interface, revamped graphics, and especially made voice acting. The controls have been changed into an action wheel with a separate inventory menu. While it might have been a choice to make the game more accessible on mobile devices, nothing beats the original interface. The voice acting is on par with the other games in the series, and I have to say I’m not a big fan. Deadpan wry humor is obviously an essential feature of the Monkey Island series, but I thought the performances here were simply flat rather than genuinely deadpan. Many jokes felt funnier read in my mind rather than being acted out.
When I finished this one years ago, I enjoyed it for what it was but didn't think I would revisit it. PnCAs are not my thing and neither are pirates. I got the hankering for it though thinking back to its rich humour and gave it another spin. Had myself a good time!
Special Edition mode this time around. I don't think there's a mode I prefer because while the old-school presentation of the original 1990 mode is charming, I hate the pervasive silence and the pixelly photorealistic character art on some closeups. The special mode? Guybrush's field sprite looks weird and some of the background art makes certain things inscrutable, like the map features on Monkey Island itself.
The voice acting is pretty good, and I do like the general style they go for with the remake's animation. There's a lot more ambient sound that breaks the silence the original had.
How was the game experience? I can see why this game holds up, even now. It's a very trim, charming, and humourous PnCA. It's got a lot of personality and a memorable story. Even if it's parody, I like the Guybrush/Elaine romantic angle– although that's helped by their main love theme, which is a piece of music I love so much. Song of the year material, and this remake's updated soundtrack is pretty good across the board.
The Secret of Monkey Island was nice to revisit. I don't think a third time is necessary but I could play the sequels.
Special Edition mode this time around. I don't think there's a mode I prefer because while the old-school presentation of the original 1990 mode is charming, I hate the pervasive silence and the pixelly photorealistic character art on some closeups. The special mode? Guybrush's field sprite looks weird and some of the background art makes certain things inscrutable, like the map features on Monkey Island itself.
The voice acting is pretty good, and I do like the general style they go for with the remake's animation. There's a lot more ambient sound that breaks the silence the original had.
How was the game experience? I can see why this game holds up, even now. It's a very trim, charming, and humourous PnCA. It's got a lot of personality and a memorable story. Even if it's parody, I like the Guybrush/Elaine romantic angle– although that's helped by their main love theme, which is a piece of music I love so much. Song of the year material, and this remake's updated soundtrack is pretty good across the board.
The Secret of Monkey Island was nice to revisit. I don't think a third time is necessary but I could play the sequels.
One of the best adventure games ever made.
sehr schönes Point & Click adventure, finds auch schön, dass die Rätsel nicht alle ersichtlich sind
I can see why people like it. A little too passive in action for me tbh.
👾 The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition (🇺🇸 1990/2009)
Biased opinion here since it’s my favourite graphic adventure of all time. The special edition gives a great facelift to the classic and the brilliant writing never gets old. It should be in a museum.
🎮 Played on Steam Deck
Rating: 🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒
Biased opinion here since it’s my favourite graphic adventure of all time. The special edition gives a great facelift to the classic and the brilliant writing never gets old. It should be in a museum.
🎮 Played on Steam Deck
Rating: 🐒🐒🐒🐒🐒
6/10
The One and only reason I give this 5 Stars is because this abomination of a remake the comes with a file of the original. Take that file and use it to make the Ultimate talki version of the game, wich is a mod made by fans. Than you have the best version of a timeless classic with great puzzles and writting.
I love the original game, but the Special Edition is a travesty. 1.5 stars for the main cast's acting (they were drunk casting some of the other characters) and because I respect Jesse Harlin's interpretations of the original music, even if I don't loooove it.
It was nice. I had a few problems with the mechanics, such as fighting with the pirates on the paths (you had to stop in the middle, not click on them, that was specified nowhere) For example, I think that some things could use an improvement, such as the boat at Monkey Island, that could be a lot faster, or that the map could be open everywhere, so I wouldn't have to walk all the way back each time I need something, at least in this one you get to skip the dialogues if you want. Overall, it was enjoyable, the characters were unique, and the dialogue options didn't disappoint The atmosphere mixing blue and red (thanks god for the limitations of the old pcs) gives a special vibe even at the town.
A game many consider to be an adventure game classical staple for many generations before and after its release, and while definitely good, I don't necessarily think its great. The humor is definitely the highlight here. The story and humor find a great balance between everything like set-up, delivery, and punchline. So many iconic lines I know understand after having played through this game. The puzzles though? Surprisingly really easy. I only got stuck on one part at the end of the game, but other than that I was genuinely surprised at how easy most of the puzzles in this game were. Some are intentionally easy as part of the joke, but then some aren't so. Not to mention the game stalls out a little in the first half with Insult Swordfighting and the Grog Prison Puzzle. It does a good job laying the groundwork for the rest of the series to come.
Monkey Island 1 is an undeniable classic. From the memorable locales of Melee Island, to the iconic Insult Swordfighting sequence, to the parodic breakdown of various piratey tropes, I can't by any means disregard the status this game has among point 'n click games. As for me, I'm a Monkey Island fan too, but... my relationship with the series is a roller coaster ride, there's ups and there's downs. The first Monkey Island is like that moment where you ride the uphill track, bracing yourself for the exciting ride downwards, except the coaster ride breaks and you get stuck up there until the maintenance guys pull you out in an hour.
Okay, what the fuck am I talking about? Let's get the positives out of the way. A lot of these positives have to do with the additions the Special Edition brought. The game looks stellar. I never tire looking at those water graphics, especially with the bridge area with the moonlight shining off the ocean surface. This game looks real nice. Don't like how it looks? Press a button, and you can immediately switch between the new and old graphics on the fly. Do you prefer dialogue-heavy games to have voice acting? Special Edition adds that. Tired of all the LucasArts puzzle logic impending your progress? There's a built-in hint system.
I can tell there was a lot of care put behind this remake, while still retaining the optionality of making it aesthetically closer to the original if you so wish. It's a good way to experience the first entry, and it's one adventure that I think everybody should give a shot.
So, that was what I consider the objective take. Now for something that only reflects how I feel about it: The game's just okay. It's, fine. There's memorable moments in it for sure, but I feel like the writing and voice acting isn't doing enough to really sell the whole thing.
That's not to say that those things are done poorly, they're perfectly passable. But for a comedy game, I need more than that. There's a purposefully dry tone that permeates this game, and it extends to the delivery of the dialogue, which often fell flat. Due to the way the dialogue is structured, there will be a lot of awkward pauses that give off this unnatural voice direction. Jokes that were clearly delivered in one take, get cut up into multiple lines with pauses in-between. Meanwhile, other line deliveries lack enthusiasm, or feel like the actors are constantly restarting their speech cadence rather than building up or varying their tone of delivery towards the punchline. All of this makes the writing hit softer rather than harder.
It actually makes me wonder if playing the game with text-only would've enhanced the effect of the jokes, seeing as I would've been able to imagine my own delivery alongside it, but... I'm sure the actors did their best, it's just the way this game is built does not allow for natural-sounding voice acting. But then, what about Monkey Island 2? Curse of Monkey Island? I thought those games did a better job with their voice acting, it felt like the performances were more lively and natural there. It's really difficult to explain, but there's just something stilted about this first game. Something that makes it more average. Something that I respect still, but don't find myself coming back to often compared to the later games.
Okay, what the fuck am I talking about? Let's get the positives out of the way. A lot of these positives have to do with the additions the Special Edition brought. The game looks stellar. I never tire looking at those water graphics, especially with the bridge area with the moonlight shining off the ocean surface. This game looks real nice. Don't like how it looks? Press a button, and you can immediately switch between the new and old graphics on the fly. Do you prefer dialogue-heavy games to have voice acting? Special Edition adds that. Tired of all the LucasArts puzzle logic impending your progress? There's a built-in hint system.
I can tell there was a lot of care put behind this remake, while still retaining the optionality of making it aesthetically closer to the original if you so wish. It's a good way to experience the first entry, and it's one adventure that I think everybody should give a shot.
So, that was what I consider the objective take. Now for something that only reflects how I feel about it: The game's just okay. It's, fine. There's memorable moments in it for sure, but I feel like the writing and voice acting isn't doing enough to really sell the whole thing.
That's not to say that those things are done poorly, they're perfectly passable. But for a comedy game, I need more than that. There's a purposefully dry tone that permeates this game, and it extends to the delivery of the dialogue, which often fell flat. Due to the way the dialogue is structured, there will be a lot of awkward pauses that give off this unnatural voice direction. Jokes that were clearly delivered in one take, get cut up into multiple lines with pauses in-between. Meanwhile, other line deliveries lack enthusiasm, or feel like the actors are constantly restarting their speech cadence rather than building up or varying their tone of delivery towards the punchline. All of this makes the writing hit softer rather than harder.
It actually makes me wonder if playing the game with text-only would've enhanced the effect of the jokes, seeing as I would've been able to imagine my own delivery alongside it, but... I'm sure the actors did their best, it's just the way this game is built does not allow for natural-sounding voice acting. But then, what about Monkey Island 2? Curse of Monkey Island? I thought those games did a better job with their voice acting, it felt like the performances were more lively and natural there. It's really difficult to explain, but there's just something stilted about this first game. Something that makes it more average. Something that I respect still, but don't find myself coming back to often compared to the later games.
Nunca me senti tan estupido como jugando esto
these games make me feel dumb