A lot better than you might expect, knowing that the three main creatives of the previous games didn't work on it. I was extremely impressed with how good the writing still was even without them - it's not as meta or cynical as the first two, but it's every bit as sharp and funny. Turns out losing a bit of that Ron Gilbert edge doesn't make it feel particularly compromised, or inauthentic. (The excellent VA helps with this too - I've found that Gilbert's particular style tends to not work as well when voiced (I'm currently experiencing this with THIMBLEWEED PARK) but this slightly altered tone seems fully written with it in mind, and the actors are all old hands - they crush it.)
I'm also a big fan of the look, and although it's heresy to say it, I might put it above MONKEY ISLAND 2 in that category. That game had some really gorgeous painted backgrounds that are rightly celebrated, but they clashed with the more traditional spritework on the characters (a pet peeve of mine). Here, the animation is practically seamless between the characters and background elements, and it does feel at times like you're playing a live cartoon. It's leagues better than other adventure games that tried for this style back then like TOONSTRUCK, KING'S QUEST VII, and even this team's previous FULL THROTTLE. Tons of charm and personality. For once I don't lament an evolving series moving away from my beloved chunky sprites!
On that stuff alone, and the fact that they managed to keep this series going in fine form presentation- and humor-wise without the main dudes, this should score higher, but the puzzle design is pretty lacking and repetitive (almost always just trying to figure out how to get a thing from a guy), the middle section with the ship combat/insult swordfighting is awkward, and the ending is abrupt and unsatisfying. All those knock it down a bit. You could also complain about some of the absurd puzzle solutions, if you wanted to, but I don't, really. They're par for the course for this period (although that shouldn't be an excuse), but I am absolutely willing to give them a pass in this instance because they are complicated, unbelievable, and stupid not only to be difficult, but in service of gags, and on that level they work bigtime. This is a genuinely funny game.
A pleasant surprise. Just a hair away from the overall quality of the other two, even with its differences.
I'm also a big fan of the look, and although it's heresy to say it, I might put it above MONKEY ISLAND 2 in that category. That game had some really gorgeous painted backgrounds that are rightly celebrated, but they clashed with the more traditional spritework on the characters (a pet peeve of mine). Here, the animation is practically seamless between the characters and background elements, and it does feel at times like you're playing a live cartoon. It's leagues better than other adventure games that tried for this style back then like TOONSTRUCK, KING'S QUEST VII, and even this team's previous FULL THROTTLE. Tons of charm and personality. For once I don't lament an evolving series moving away from my beloved chunky sprites!
On that stuff alone, and the fact that they managed to keep this series going in fine form presentation- and humor-wise without the main dudes, this should score higher, but the puzzle design is pretty lacking and repetitive (almost always just trying to figure out how to get a thing from a guy), the middle section with the ship combat/insult swordfighting is awkward, and the ending is abrupt and unsatisfying. All those knock it down a bit. You could also complain about some of the absurd puzzle solutions, if you wanted to, but I don't, really. They're par for the course for this period (although that shouldn't be an excuse), but I am absolutely willing to give them a pass in this instance because they are complicated, unbelievable, and stupid not only to be difficult, but in service of gags, and on that level they work bigtime. This is a genuinely funny game.
A pleasant surprise. Just a hair away from the overall quality of the other two, even with its differences.
DJSCheddar
9 months ago