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Escape from Monkey Island

Escape from Monkey Island

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Your Price: $14.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Somewhat of a Disappointment
Review: 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.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Enjoyable addition to the Monkey Island series
Review: I gave this 4 stars because I feel that 5 stars are given out too easily and should be given for a game that gets me more addicted to the play and storyline. And the four stars come from my enjoyment with the puzzles and characters development so far. Escape from Monkey Island has done a good job with it's new technology venture into 3D, which creates an interesting pinnoccio effect. The OpenGL and Direct3D work well(although I can't distinguish between them in this game). And when you add that with the musical score it creates a swashbuckling effect while in play. The gameplay interface is completely through the keyboard or joystick. I preferred the previous interface (from Return to Monley Island), which the game itself comicly refers to in their inability in providing one. Some of the characters I've encountered so far have a slight jar-jar-binks feel, which can simlify characters. But like jar-jar you get used to how they interact. Also, make sure to check out the other games in the series, the plot and jokes will be even funnier. Finally, I recommend you purchase the game because of the GREAT value ... AND because it's entertaining with much thought put into it on their part and ours.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: has it's flaws but it continues the Monkey island legacy
Review: I loved the original monkey island games when they were 2-d and voiceless, the recent updates including the curse of monkey island, which was amazing, now comes the 4th escape from monkey island. Its enjoyable from every aspect, now with a dandy new, 3D format, Monkey island 4 is a wonderful gaming expierience. The basic story brings the loveable yet goofy Guybrush Threepwood and his newly wed wife Elaine, they return from their honeymoon to find a new governer set to run against Elaine in the upcoming election, and this puts elaine to work on her new campaign (...), yet bluntly, this opposing governer turns out to be the dreaded ghost pirate Le'chuck, who is planning to take over the seven seas with the ultimate insult. So in light of the return of Le'chuck, Guybrush sets out on another journey to find the ultimate insult and finally put le'chuck to his demise. The only drawback of this game, is the monkey combat, it gets really annoying after a while and i admit I took a break from the game for almost a month because of it, yet I returned to it and realized the simplicity of it. You have to remember that ,this game takes a bit of time to conquer if you do not have the strategy guide, but other than the monkey combat aspect, this game kicks major ass! its an essential for any Monkey island fan.

-

November 3, 2003

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great Game...
Review: 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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Arr! ESCAPE FROM MONKEY ISLANDtm shud be yer next purchase!
Review: I was amazed... stunned... and schocked by this latest installment of Monkey Island. The graphics are terrific (not to mention the cutscenes), and the plot is funny and twisted. Guybrush gets us again with familiar run-on jokes and hundreds of new ones. The first part of the game is dissapointing for a long time fan... mostly because Melee Island has locations omitted and stores and shops moved around... but the puzzles are easy there and you'll soon be whisked off to Lucre Island, Jambalya Island, and Monkey Island, which are totally amazing. LucasArts also takes us back to the insults, we do a little insult armwrestling, insult swordfighting, and insult monkey jibberish! Buy it today and see if you can ESCAPE FROM MONKEY ISLANDtm!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: No really, when's the fourth Monkey Island coming out?
Review: 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.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Can't Go Wrong With Monkey Island
Review: I've been following the Monkey Island series since it's debut. Needless to say, I have extreme respect for Lucas Arts and their work. This is a series that I have enjoyed more with each addition to the line. For past Monkey fans, the largest change will be the conversion to the 3D engine. My biggest caveat is the navigation system, it's keyboard only. Having said that, I found it to be usable, yet it is a far cry from the extremely pleasent and functional point and click system of Curse of Monkey Island (Monkey Island 3). Having acknowledged this, the game is up to Monkey Island standards, and immerses you in the satirical world of Guybrush Threepwood, famous pirate. As always, Guybrush blunders his way through the game, with peril nipping at his feet.

For Monkey fans and new players alike, this series is already a classic, pick up Lucas Arts' new star.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: In the MI series Curse is still the best.
Review: One thing's for sure, this game wouldn't have been as half as enjoyable if I hadn't played the previous versions of Monkey Island because of the inside jokes and re-encountering old characters. It has very funny parts (I mean, really laughing out loud parts), but the game is not an improvement from what was Curse of Monkey Island. I remember enjoying 'Curse' a whole lot more--not to mention Grim Fandango (the best adventure game i have ever played, by the way from LucasArts too and in 3-D). If you've played Grim Fandango you'll have no problem with character movement. I don't know why people can't figure it out so easily.

Technologically, I did have a few problems with the game. It froze once, but I had it saved so no prob. What really got on my nerves was the memory recovery for H.T. part (you'll know when you get there) which didn't work even though I had done every necessary steps. I had to redo all over that part of the game and surprisingly it worked then. **Advice: keep a bunch of saved games cause it does have it's glitches.**

I should've waited 'til this one was in the 'Outlet'. I think it's the last time before I buy a no-review new release just based on the series reputation.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The 4th Chapter in a Classic Series
Review: The Monkey Island Series is a remarkably excellent computer game series. Each of the three games has been deeper, more entertaining, and more artistically pleasing than the cookie cutter stuff Hollywood shovels on us these days. This game blends excellent graphics, top-notch acting, and hilarious writing to make a game worthy of an Oscar, if there was such an award for computer games. Children, in addition to adults, will love this game as well as its three predecessors: The Secret of Monkey Island, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, and The Curse of Monkey Island.

This game is an adventure game, so it builds problem solving skills and stimulates the brain. Parents, you can't go wrong with getting this game for your kids. It will give them hours of (educational) entertainment, without them even knowing they're building brain power. It is also clean and non-violent. Hats off to LucasArts for a stellar performance.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It's Gr-rrr-rrr-eat!
Review: This game is great, mind you I've only made it to the second island. It's especially good for all you people who have trouble figuring out the more time consuming problems because it comes with a "starter" clue book that can help you through the first couple secrets. I think that people who purchased and loved the other Lucas Arts great Grim fandango would also fancy Escape from Monkey Island 4. It features the same killer graphics, cool problems, hilarious jokes, and best of all ... an accompanying clue book. Now bare in mind that the clue book only takes you so far, I am wondering where to find the complete clues (Yes, I do want to cheat...), and am hoping that Amazon will pick it up soon. None the less I hope that you buy the game because it is loads of fun. Enough said I think I'll go play it now...


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